One of my new years resolutions was to get my to-be-read pile under control. The top of my bookcase in my bedroom is a dedicated space where I keep the books i have yet to read. However, that orderly pile has begun spilling from between my bookends, and the overflow has formed two additional stacks. This simply won’t do! I am trying to make time to read more as well as attempting to curb my urge to buy every interesting-looking book that catches my eye. This is proving challenging, particularly as I often feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices each time I begin a new book.
So I felt that this 5 Fandom Friday Prompt was timely and served two purposes. Firstly, it will help me identify five books that I am most looking forward to reading and secondly, it will give you a glimpse at my reading material. Let’s make a start.
- The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
I’m obsessed with Tudor history and historical fiction set in this era always piques my interest. I am a fan of Philippa Gregory’s novels, because I think she does a brilliant job creating strong connections to her characters and it’s fun to imagine what it might have been like to live during those times. The Lady of the Rivers focuses on Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Henry VII’s grandmother in law. Jacquetta was a formidable woman and possibly a witch. I have already read The Red Queen and The White Queen, and Jacquetta was a background character in each of those stories. I’m really looking forward to reading a story with her at the forefront.
2. According to Yes by Dawn French
I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to sit down with this book, because each of Dawn French’s other books has barely lasted a week on my shelf before I’ve torn into it. I absolutely adore her characters and her witty yet heartfelt writing style. From the cryptic blurb on the back, I get the impression that this is going to be a tale of self-indulgence and finally breaking free after a lifetime of denying ones own impulses. And it sounds very juicy indeed.
3. The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett
There’s a reason why this book has been sitting on my shelf for such a long time. Terry Pratchett is my favourite author, and this is the final book that was published after his death. I have been trying to work up the courage to read it, because I know that it’s going to be emotional, almost like saying goodbye to a close friend. The Shepherd’s Crown features one of my favourite Pratchett characters: Tiffany Aching. Tiffany is a young witch who is steely and fierce yet still has all the vulnerability of a teenager. I know I’m going to love this book, but it breaks my heart that once this one is done, there are no more new Pratchett books left to read.
4. The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
Since seeing the film several years ago, I have been burning to read The Colour Purple. The copy on my shelf is battered and dog-eared, having been purchased from a tiny book stall in Melbourne. This story of two sisters in the Deep South, facing unimaginable oppression and fear, promises to be moving and poignant.
5. Aimee & Jaguar by Erica Fischer
A true story of two women who fell in love in Berlin in 1942, and the gut-wrenching realities that pulled them apart. I have been searching for more queer fiction to add to my literary menu, and this story has been on my to-read list for quite some time. I am truly looking forward to being transported back in time by the words and pages, and walking with the two title characters as they discover one another and develop their love.
What have you been reading lately? What’s on your to-read pile?
Nessbow 