This month, my reading challenge is to read retellings of the classics. One book that was high on my list is Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson - a retelling of Romeo and Juliet - that just came out at the beginning of February. Throw in themes of gentrification and stolen taco recipes and... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books last year was The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, the debut novel by Dawnie Walton. As a huge fan of music (including punk), and as someone who cares deeply about politics and social issues, this is a book I knew I needed to read. Throughout this month, my... Continue Reading →
Late last year is when I first heard about The Violin Conspiracy, the debut novel by Brendan Slocumb. As soon as I read the summary, I was sold; I pre-ordered it immediately. While I awaited its release day, The Violin Conspiracy became the inspiration for my February reading challenge: books about Black musicians. Needless to... Continue Reading →
I loved Carlos Ruiz Zafón's entire Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, and I was so sad to hear about his passing in 2020. His final publication is The City of Mist, a brief collection of short stories that harkens back to the setting and themes of that series. Highlighting new characters and real historical figures... Continue Reading →
I'm always looking for books by Peruvian authors and set in Peru. My husband is originally from Lima, and I lived with him there for about one year. Peru's most famous author is Mario Vargas Llosa, a Nobel Prize winner with decades of beloved novels to his name. For my first foray into his work,... Continue Reading →
A few years ago, my sister took a trip to Bucharest, Romania. She picked up some souvenirs while there, and knowing how much I love books, she decided the perfect gift for me would be a book translated from Romanian. She selected Life Begins on Friday by Ioana Pârvulescu, first published in 2009 before its... Continue Reading →
I have NetGalley to thank for introducing me to The Fugitives by Jamal Mahjoub. While perusing the upcoming books, I discovered this novel about musicians from Sudan. It was love at first sight for me, so I was elated when I was approved for an ARC. Though The Fugitives was published in the U.K. a... Continue Reading →
For my 2022 Reading Challenge, my theme for January is books in translation. The first audiobook I chose for that challenge is The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, originally written in Japanese. The English translation for it arrived in the U.S. in October 2018, though I picked it up more recently. As a lifelong... Continue Reading →
For several months, I've been eagerly anticipating the release of The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews. The first in her new Belles of London series, I was drawn to several things that make it stand out compared to other historical romances: It stars a half-Indian protagonist, features an interracial and interclass relationship, and highlights... Continue Reading →
Only a couple of weeks ago I was perusing NetGalley when I saw a new book that wasn't yet available: Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine. It immediately captured my interest, so I indicated my hope that it would be made available soon. Shortly after, I was surprised and elated when NetGalley had not only... Continue Reading →
It's been more than five years since I read my first Hazel Gaynor book. In summer 2016, I loved The Girl From the Savoy, and I've collected a few of her books since then and added the rest to my "to buy" list. One of her publications since then was The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter. I... Continue Reading →
It was March 2020 when I became enchanted by The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu. Book of the Month offered it as one of their add-on selections that month, and although it hadn't previously been on my radar, it immediately went right into my box. Finally, just after reading another book about Mozart (The... Continue Reading →
Several months ago I learned about Rachel McMillan's upcoming novel, The Mozart Code. I love music - including classical composers like Mozart - and was intrigued by the dual setting of Vienna and Prague. Fast forward to December, and I was excited to learn I'd been approved for an ARC of The Mozart Code on... Continue Reading →
A couple of years ago, I was in a book store and came across A Bend in the Stars, the debut novel by Rachel Barenbaum. It captured my interest, and although I didn't buy it right away, it stayed in my mental list. I finally got the audiobook version of it recently, and now felt... Continue Reading →
Last month, I was thrilled to win an ARC of The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes. It was already one of my most anticipated books of December (it will be out on the 28th), so I was excited to get a chance to read it early. Spoiler: I loved it! This is definitely a book... Continue Reading →
For the past four years, I've been "babysitting" some of my sister's books while she pursues her PhD. One of those books is LaRose by Louise Erdrich. Since November is Native American Heritage Month, I was planning to read a few novels by Indigenous authors, and my sister recommended LaRose. She'd read it as part... Continue Reading →
I think I'm officially a Silvia Moreno-Garcia fan. I've read, and loved, three of her books: Gods of Jade and Shadow in 2019, Mexican Gothic in 2020, and just a few weeks ago, a reprint of The Beautiful Ones. Two months ago, her newest book, Velvet Was the Night, came out. A noir thriller set... Continue Reading →
It was a little over a year ago when Cemetery Boys, the debut novel by Aiden Thomas, came out. It was a book I was looking forward to, but although I bought it pretty quickly, I've held off on reading it. Until now, that is. This seemed like the perfect book for early October: both... Continue Reading →
Since my husband is Peruvian, I'm always on the hunt for books set in Peru, written by Peruvian authors, and/or starring Peruvian characters. This led me to Mona by Pola Oloixarac. Although the author is Argentinian, the novel's protagonist is Peruvian. Mona was originally published in Spanish two years ago, while the English translation came... Continue Reading →
One of the books I was most excited for in September was In Every Mirror She's Black by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström. I was thrilled when it was a September Book of the Month pick, though I definitely would have bought this novel regardless. In Every Mirror She's Black by Lọlá Ákínmádé ÅkerströmAudienceAdultGenreContemporary FictionSettingSweden; United StatesNumber... Continue Reading →
Earlier this year, I loved Ties That Tether, the debut novel by Jane Igharo. Since then, I've been counting down the days to when her second book, The Sweetest Remedy, would be available. Luckily for us all, it was included in Book of the Month's September box this month, meaning we got to read The Sweetest Remedy a... Continue Reading →
It was a full year ago when I read You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria, and I ended up really loving it. The first in her Primas of Power series, I was excited to read the second installment. Now A Lot Like Adiós is finally out, and I enjoyed it just as much as... Continue Reading →
Thanks to a local independent book store, Silent Winds, Dry Seas - the debut novel by Vinod Busjeet - was on my radar among books being published in August. Once it was out, I decided that the audiobook version might be the most satisfying format, and I'm glad I chose to read it that way.... Continue Reading →
After loving Evie Dunmore‘s first two books - Bringing Down the Duke and A Rogue of One's Own, both part of the League of Extraordinary Women series - I've spent the past year excitedly waiting for book #3. Finally the release date arrived, and I dove into Portrait of a Scotsman as soon as my copy got here. I... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 