Today isn’t Thursday. That means I’m not going to discuss the nonfiction title I’m reading after eight days and ten mysteries. I’ll discuss that tomorrow with “What Are You Reading?” Instead, I’m going to mention the three books on my “Hope to Read Pile”. Most people have a To Be Read Pile. I have piles and piles of those books in three rooms. But, the Hope to Read Pile are the next three books I hope to get to when I finish this nonfiction book.
First up is Anne Tyler’s Clock Dance. It’s next because it’s a library book, and there are people on the waiting list. And, let’s face it. I don’t always finish the literary novels I start, so I need to try this one, and see if it’s what I want to read.
Here’s the description from Barnes & Noble’s page. “A
delightful novel of one woman’s transformative journey, from the best-selling
and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer.”
“Willa
Drake can count on one hand the defining moments of her life. In 1967, she is a
schoolgirl coping with her mother’s sudden disappearance. In 1977, she is a
college coed considering a marriage proposal. In 1997, she is a young widow
trying to piece her life back together. And in 2017, she yearns to be a
grandmother but isn’t sure she ever will be. Then, one day, Willa receives a
startling phone call from a stranger. Without fully understanding why, she
flies across the country to Baltimore to look after a young woman she’s never
met, her nine-year-old daughter, and their dog, Airplane. This impulsive
decision will lead Willa into uncharted territory–surrounded by eccentric
neighbors who treat each other like family, she finds solace and fulfillment in
unexpected places. A bewitching novel of hope, self-discovery, and second
chances, Clock Dance gives
us Anne Tyler at the height of her powers.”
*****
I’ll definitely read the second book, Linda Castillo’s new Kate Burkholder, A Gathering of Secrets. I would have already read it if I hadn’t been on deadline because I’m a big fan of this series. Here’s a quick summary, again from Barnes & Noble.
“A
deadly fire exposes the dark side of Amish life in this harrowing new thriller
in the New York Timesbestselling
series.”
“When a
historic barn burns to the ground in the middle of the night, Chief of Police
Kate Burkholder is called in to investigate. At first it looks like an
accident, but when the body of eighteen-year-old Daniel Gingerich is found
inside—burned alive—Kate suspects murder. But who would want a well-liked,
hardworking Amish man dead? Kate delves into the investigation and discovers
Daniel had a dark side. He was a sexual predator. His victims were mainly Amish
women, too afraid to come forward, and he’s been getting away with it for far
too long. Now someone has stopped him, but who? The women he victimized? Their
boyfriends? Their parents?
own violent past and an unthinkable possibility.”
I really liked Louise Miller’s novel, The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. I’m looking forward to her second one, The Late Bloomers’ Club. I’m not going to quote quite as much on this one. There are too many spoilers in the summary.efforts to do right by the community, and the power of a lost dog to summon
true love.”
“Nora, the owner of the Miss Guthrie Diner, is
perfectly happy serving up apple cider donuts, coffee, and
eggs-any-way-you-like-em to her regulars, and she takes great pleasure in
knowing exactly what’s “the usual.” But her life is soon shaken when
she discovers she and her free-spirited, younger sister Kit stand to inherit
the home and land of the town’s beloved cake lady, Peggy Johnson.”
I feel your pain. Sometimes I feel I need to read a certain library book first, even if there is something else I really want to read, because I can't renew it and would have to return it unread otherwise. In that case, I am usually tougher in making sure the book grabs me immediately, or else…gone!
I just read the Castillo, and one really good thing about her books is that (to me, anyway) they are really fast reads and always a reasonable 300 or so pages. I won't say anything except it is the mix as usual, and man, I hope there really aren't this many dark stories in the real Amish communities! Good one.
I know you do, Jeff. You're an avid library user, so you understand. We'll see with the Anne Tyler. But, the Castillo has my name written all over it.
Clock Dance is my "Next to Read," after I finish Laura Madeleine's "The Confectioner's Tale." This was a book I'd never even heard of, but showed up in my mail from an anonymous sender. Seeing as how it's "a novel of Paris," how could I resist? And I'm enjoying it.
Someone knows you well enough to send you Paris books. And, it's not me! So, we're both going to be trying Clock Dance. We'll see!
I love your title of 'hope to read'! Isn't that the way for us? If I didn't keep up with what's coming out and read book blogs, my 'htr' list would be a lot shorter? However, I love knowing about 'all the books'. Sigh. I need to clone my reading self and put one of them in every room of my house. Then the others could reduce my TBR a bit. I've got the first two books here on my list – well, I own the Castillo book – can't believe I haven't read it yet. Haven't read a Tyler book in a long time, but I want to try this new one.
Lesa, two out of your three are on my library hold list, and I'm (im)patiently waiting for them. Haven't decided about Clock Dance just yet, so I'm looking forward to hearing how you liked it. Good luck getting to all of your Hope-to-Reads!
Turbulence by Stuart Woods is my next read. My boyfriend read it and wants me to try it so I’ll give it a shot even though I’m not a big Stone Barrington fan. It’s a library book so if I don’t like it after about 50 pages it’ll go back. I have a few short stories by Terri Reid on my kindle that I’m hoping to get to but I have a stack of library books I need to get through.
I know, Kay. And, every time I open a box of books at home, I want to immediately start one of the books in that box. The other day I pulled out one that doesn't come out until January, and I wanted to read it right then!
Margie, We'll see about Clock Dance. I'll probably start it tomorrow. I want to finish the book I'm reading first.
I know, Sandy. Library books move up quickly because I know people are waiting for them.
These all sound terrific. I'm a big Anne Tyler fan. Nice to know she has a new book out. I always love her characters.
I have two books by Betty Webb I plan to read after I finish what I reading now. Like everyone else I have so many books in my house for me to read. I am 78 years old. My family will have to deal with them some year, not any time soon.
I'm glad you found out about the new Anne Tyler book, Elizabeth.
Charlotte, I hope not any time soon, too!
I realized that I hadn't read a Sisterhood cozy by Fern Michaels in a while so I have gone back and ordered them from the library one at a time to read in between other books. Blindsided is now waiting for me at the library. I just finished Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King and this will be going back to the library today. It was a slow start, but great finish! with lots of history.
You just added 2 more books to my For Later Shelf! It is now 3 pages… Guess there will always be something that I am in the mood for. I just started A Shameful Murder.
Gram, I think it's always nice to have something waiting at the library.
Oh, good, Linda. I love to be an enabler. I'll be curious to see what you think of A Shameful Murder.