Bookstack

I made a vow to myself to only buy Kindle books from now on, with two and a half exceptions: cookbooks, and art books, and any other book that seems like I’d want to have it in physical form to either have as a memento for the wonderful emotional experience of reading it, or because I want to underline and make notes in it. I’ve failed miserably. It is just so hard to resist books! Especially when they leap into your hands and you have them RIGHT THERE, teasing you with a tempting plot and scrummy characters. I think I need to make a new vow: to read however I want to read, whether e-book or physical book or both.

Mid-November Bookstack

I’ve started reading the Jobs bio. It is already fascinating. I mean, what kind of guy calls up another guy and says, “Hey, you should write a book about me.”

Steve Jobs does. Fascinating.

Early November Bookstack

Both these covers are so beautiful they take my breath away. I am expecting another pink covered historical this week (in addition to the bio of Steve Jobs), so of course, I need a picture with all three, but for now, chew on this:

Late October Bookstack II

The second part of my order arrived today:

Mid-October Bookstack

Finally, my new books have arrived. I am so eager to jump in, I don’t even where to begin.

Books Update

I finished Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake and I loved it! It was the best historical I’ve read in ages – I was truly blown away by the sweetness, the characterization, and the hot hot sexxoring. Oh gosh, I just enjoyed it so much.

I also just finished another 1980s Sally Beauman pre-Destiny Harlequin, The Devil’s Advocate. I was puzzled by this book; it lacked Beauman’s usual pizzaz. Beauman’s classic set up and characterization was in place: young, innocent woman and debonaire, wealthy older man, England and Italy, and the inevitable Big Misunderstanding. There was something oddly lacking though — just not quite enough action and a lot of thinking and pondering.

She uses some of the same lines and same images over and over again, which I actually like. I will read anything I can get my hands on by Sally Beauman.

On Dear Author, Jane reviewed self-pubbed, Working Arrangement, which she pointed out had some striking similarities to another 1990s book, In Bed With The Boss. I downloaded Working Arrangement and Jane bought me a copy of In Bed With The Boss for comparison. I’ll try to write up my findings by this weekend.

I also recently had a book swap with a friend. This was my haul:

A final book note, according to Goodreads, I’ve read 50 books so far this year. 90% are romances.

June Bookstack 2

June Bookstack 2

Two impulse buys:

June Bookstack

Banksy’s “Wall and Piece” was probably the best thing I’ve read all year – and keep in mind I read 1984 this year. It was pretty great. I just felt like the pleasure would never end. Every page was just so yummy.

Nalini Singh is a new-to-me author. I recently saw a rave review on Dear Author for one of Singh’s other books, but thought I’d give her a whirl.

I just gave up on a political thriller, Walk-In, because the writing was just too clunky. I’ve started Anne Stuart’s Black Ice but to be honest, I’m not sure I’ll make it even to 50 pages – the writing, again, just isn’t working for me. I started Till We Meet Again by Judith Krantz, which I read for the first time when I was in eighth grade; I’m eager to see if it holds up. I’m in a weird reading mood. One thing is for sure: I loves me some Banksy books.

May Bookstack 6

“Nothing Denied” looked like a quick, sexy, fun read. “State of the Onion” was picked up in a fit of frustration – I just wanted something different and I’ve never tried cozies, so here we go. “My Life From Scratch” is by Sandra Bullock’s sister, who is a baker. And “My Father’s Daughter” by Gwyneth Paltrow goes nicely with my expanding cookbook collection. I hate to say this but I was impressed with some of the dishes when I leafed through it. I’m eager to try them out!