Dec 13, 2015

Sunday Salon: Picky Reading

Welcome to the Sunday Salon where bloggers share their reading each week. Visit The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. 
Also visit Mailbox Monday, and Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Visit It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Book Date. 

I have been getting very fussy with books lately, even though reading more nonfiction. But even these can be put aside for a while, as well as the novels that I discard after the first page, the first five pages, the first ten, even after the first hundred pages. Why? This feeling of "Been there, Read that". The plots and settings and situations of many books seem so familiar after a while. I really crave more originality after having read so much up to this point.

A bunch of cozies showed up at my house, and I winnowed them down to three as definite reads, based on the first pages. Here is what I plan to read:
A Second Chance at Murder by Diana Orgain, to be released January 5, 2016 by Berkley, grabbed my attention right away with the setting - the Pyrenees in Spain, during a reality adventure show being filmed. One of the contestants goes missing during the night, and a woman's body is found, throwing the show into a tizzy. I'm on page 58 and intend to keep on going....
A Wee Dose of Death by Fran Stewart, A Scotshop mystery to be released January 5, 2015. I like Scotties, so the cover of this cozy was a plus for me from the start. And the first sentences grabbed me.
First paragraph: Marcus Wantstring wasn't looking for a place to die. He was looking for a quiet place in the snow-covered mountains of Vermont to get his thoughts together so he and Denby wouldn't look like deadbeats. 
Interestingly, the Scottie in the novel is not a dog but a fourteenth century Scots man who haunts Peggy Win's Scotshop. 


Foreign Eclairs: A White House Chef Mystery by Julie Hyzy, to be released January 5, 2016. 

I love, love eclairs, and the mystery death of a White House staff member adds to the intrigue of this cozy. I hope I will enjoy it - the idea of the eclairs as well as the plot.
And After Many Days by Jowqhor Ile was a surprise and a welcome one. I like international settings and cultures, so this will be a good read, I'm sure. Published by Tim Duggan books, February 16, 2016. 
During the rainy season of 1995, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, one family is disrupted by the sudden disappearance of seventeen-year-old Paul Utu, beloved brother and son. As they grapple with the loss, they embark on a journey which shatters their once ordered family. 

What books are you sure to read in the coming weeks?

18 comments:

  1. These look like books I will enjoy. I have added them to my TBR list. I love cozies even though I have not been reading them.

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  2. Oh, I like the ones you picked....I am also turning more books away after a few pages. When that happens with review books, I am so upset, as I can't quit. Or don't feel that I can. So I will be more prudent in those choices in the future...hopefully.

    Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

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  3. What great cozies! I usually enjoy the Julie Hyzy series and both the Fran Stewart and the Diana Orgain are both on my list. Enjoy your reading!

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  4. I understand your "frustrations" with book reading these days. I just broke my "reading funk" recently and have found some great books that feel fresh and I am enjoying so much, one of which was a graphic novel biography of Pablo Picasso that was visually nice and the written story was amazing. These cozies sound fun too! Enjoy your week!

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  5. I have become a picky reader myself. For me, a lot has to do with the fact that reading time is so scarce and there is so much to read. I do not want to waste time with what is not worthwhile.

    One think that I really do not like in a book is lack of originality. Thus I understand putting book aside when such becomes apparent.

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  6. Julie Hyzy is a favorite of mine, looking forward to finding that one. Currently reading Crewel Yule by Monica Ferris for a seasonal read. Visiting from Sunday Post.

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  7. All of your books look good and I'm a huge fan of cozies. Hope they keep you engrossed:)

    My Sunday Post - http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/12/13/whats-new-on-my-bookshelf-139-and-the-sunday-post/

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  8. It is good to be a picky reader, Harvee, especially during the holidays when it's even more difficult to carve out reading time. The cozies sound tempting!

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  9. I hope the books you chose will capture your interest. I'm down to two left on my NG books and plan to be very choosy in the coming year for the same reasons you mentioned. Have a good week.

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  10. Cozies are perfect for this time of year! I got And After Many Days as well - it should be great.

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  11. I have been frustrated also but I think it is due to book club choices which I did a post on. Hope you find the unique great read soon.

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  12. Your books look interesting!
    I'm learning to let a book go if it's not interesting to me.

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  13. Hope you enjoy the ones selected, they look good at least and yummy eclairs. You'll probably want to eat a few while reading that one!

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  14. Sounds like perfect reading for this time of year! I hope you enjoy. This week I'm returning to a tried and true favourite author!

    Reading With Jade

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  15. Great cozies...ENJOY!!

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Mailbox Monday

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  16. I've found a new author, and I'm just loving her books. She's not really new to others, but to me, she is. I hope you find a book or two to grab your attention

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  17. We're having a mystery reading theme til end of this year - looks like most of what you're sharing here would fit our theme perfectly, thanks!

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I appreciate your comments and thoughts...

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