Episode 3
Since this is the first TBR Thursday for three weeks, you can only imagine how many reviews have tickled my fancy in that time – a stupendous total of 23 made it on to the longlist. Shortlisting has never been so hard, but with a TBR pile which remains stubbornly at 99 (despite my best endeavours), I have been ruthless. So with my usual thanks to all the bloggers who have entertained, intrigued and tempted me, here goes…
The Silver Medallists
With grateful thanks to the reviewers/recommenders, here are the runners-up in this week’s contest:
Rooms filled with blood begin another investigation for Hanne Wilhelmsen…
The Game’s Afoot says: “Blessed Are Those Who Thirst is an extremely rewarding reading. Despite being relatively short, the novel has a wide scope…: a police investigation, the trauma of a rape victim, the private investigation of the victim’s father, the twisted motives of the perpetrator and the further development of some of the characters that we have first met in The Blind Goddess. “
See the full review at The Game’s Afoot
*******
Modern noir from the writer of the brilliant The End of Everything…
Sparkcharms says “Die a Little isn’t just a noir novel, but a commentary that reaches far deeper into our own psyches, whether we’re in LA or Mississippi. There is darkness in all of us, and it’s a beguiling thing, even to the most straight-laced of us. Some are encompassed, and when that happens, disentangling oneself from it becomes excruciatingly hard.”
See the full review at Sparkcharms
*******
A Japanese story about love, family, memory…and mathematics…
Need to Read Blog says “It is a quick read, but will leave a definite mark on your mind. Although I couldn’t understand all of the mathematical formulas within it, it doesn’t matter so much. What is important however, is to understand the professor’s passion, which is so strong that it leaps off of the words on the pages, and right into the hearts of the readers.”
See the full review at Need to Read Blog
*******
The Act of Union of 1707 and the spying of Daniel Defoe…
BooksPlease says “This is a story about spies and the struggle between various factions for power and once I had got the characters sorted in my mind I was swept along with the intrigue and dangers of the times, keen to see how the Union came about. The English Spy is a mix of fact and fiction but A Warning to the Reader at the beginning of the book clarifies that Daniel Defoe had indeed been sent to Scotland…’“
See the full review at BooksPlease
******
And the Gold Medallist is…
Murder and madness with a magical edge…
LitBeetle says “More than anything, I was charmed by their lunacy, and it’s not until later, as the mystery unfolded and with some space from finishing the book, that I realized how disturbing it all is. Make sure you wear a decent shawl while reading this, because–between Merricat’s quietly frightening mind and Jackson’s simple but eloquent writing–We Have Always Lived in the Castle will give you chills.”
Litbeetle’s reviews always inspire me with enthusiasm – time to put it to the test!
See the full review at litbeetle
Now all I have to do is find time to read it…
FictionFan – You have some great reads on your TBR! I do strongly, strongly recommend Die a Little. When you get to it, I’ll be very interested in what you think.
I do love Megan Abbott, so it was very tempting to let it win! But I know it’ll get read one of these days, so went for something a bit different for the gold medal spot.
A great list, I think. Truly, this professor had nothing to do with that Japanese story. Personally, I like the English spy.
Is that–it can’t be–is that Mark Twain in his white suit?????
Didn’t you know Mr Twain starred in Star Trek? He time-travelled to the 24th century – where do you think he got the idea for his time-travelling Yankee?
I liked the English Spy too – and the Professor book. it was an extremely difficult decision this week…
No, I didn’t… It’s an interest. Still shocked is the professor… Hmm… I don’t believe it! Yes, that’s it. Must go listen to Angel Romero to ease the pain…
Pain? Why are you in pain? I wonder if Mr Twain talks about his Star Trek days in his brand new autobiography…perhaps I should check…
I must say the 30-sec snippets of Angel Romero were vastly superior to that dadblamed fish’s recommendation…
You are cruel, aren’t you?
Did you like it? 😀
😈 Who, me?
I did – the Spanish stuff more than the classical. I may even have to add him to my TBL list!
😀 Awesome! The professor is thrilled! Angel (not pronounced how you would think; embarrassed the professor once) is a personal favorite…
Then do you have a particular recommendation for a beginner?
😀 😀 Well, if you like an orchestra and guitar (beautiful) I’d recommend the Concierto de Aranjuez.
There seem to be several options – do you have a particular orchestra or CD in mind?
The professor is honored that you’re actually interested.
Well, “Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez” is a nice CD. You’ll get to hear two other great classical guitarists: Ernesto Bitetti and Julian Byzantine. On that CD Angel is playing with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andre Previn.
Now, I fear, I’m over-professorizing.
Thank you! I shall listen over the weekend. Not over-professorizing at all – I always enjoy being directed towards music I might not otherwise stumble upon. The samples are usually enough to let me know whether it’s worth investigating further and in this case the answer was yes. 😀
😀 Let me know what you think–unless you hate it. Then just make up a good lie that this professor’ll buy. 🙂
I will!
I won’t!
Tragically not available on MP3 so there will be a short delay while I wait for Mr Postman to deliver…
I’m so excited about this! Angel is the best. So fast, smooth. Awesome! Cor!
😆 I hope it arrives soon…I’d hate to see you explode!!
I feel so honored! Make sure you let me know how you like Jackson. As for me, I have four more books to add to my reading list…
A deserving winner! I will indeed let you know – I’m looking forward to reading it. 🙂
Yep, even trying to be iron-willed isn’t helping get my TBR down to manageable proportions…
Time to upgrade to a steel will 😦 I went to the library and accidentally came out with four books. *sigh*
Oh, no! Because you know when you review them, they’ll just end up on my list, don’t you? 😉
Life is hard sometimes! Aren’t you glad you have fellow readers willing to commiserate with you?
😆 We should start a TBR Survivors Support Group…
LOVE IT. “Hi, I’m LitBeetle, and I just added twelve books to my TBR shelf today. *sob*”
I’ll join. The professor is suffering with 6 books, I think, on his TBR list. It’s really horrid.
😆 Yes, think you really do need support.
I wonder if we had a race – my 99 against your 6 – who’d win?
(Have you added the MT autobiography – soon to be published – to your TBR yet?)
I truly do! Especially whilst going through the horrid, dadblame, vexing, horrendous, dadblame, vexing, P&P!
The professor would bet his money on FEF, definitely, wouldn’t you?
In the words of your beloved Lizio: “Insufferable man!”
😆 😆 Still enjoying it then?
I think it would be a close thing…
Listen, pal* – FF may be insufferable, but she is not a man!
*Glaswegian for ‘Oh dear, you’re in big trouble now!’
Immensely.
Which is an embarrassing thing for the professor. It’s very shameful, but true.
That was the interesting part. Nor is Darby.
(Tell BigSister–on the sly, mind you–that Defoe is just plumb horrible, will you? Many thanks!)
😆 😈 😆
See? Dear C-W-W is definitely jealous of Darby…
You tell her – I’m too scared, especially after you encouraging her to take up sword-fighting…
That’s what everyone seems to think…
Oh no. (Darby has been rubbing off on me. I better get out and throw knives. I’m in danger of becoming a coward.)
Darby is NOT a coward! (Though even he might have trembled before the wrath of an enraged, sword-wielding BigSister…or a Giant Worm…)
I fear this disagreement will never be settled. A coward all the way.
Now I’m really scared of BigSister too…
This one sounds interesting, blast you!
I read “The English Spy” when it came out – as a Defoe nut, I thought the fact and fiction were well blended and, after all, the biggest fictionaliser of Defoe was Defoe.
Don’t shoot the messenger! 😉
Yes, like many of the runners-up, I suspect that one might sneak on to my list when I’m not looking…
Thank you very much for the link. I feel much honoured.
My pleasure! Thank you for the interesting review! 🙂
You totally sold me on We have always lived in the castle! The cover is both creepy and mesmerizing.
Isn’t it? There’s another cover too – a rather boring one – but this one is great! And, according to LitBeetle, so’s the book…