Stacking the Shelves (60)

This week's new books are all from the library. I picked up a couple of short books in the hopes that they'd help me complete my objective of reading 200 books in 2015. In fact, I've already read two of the four books which I borrowed.

From the library:

I was attracted to the description of Illuminae, written in an unusual style. Instead of the usual narrative, the book is composed of transcripts of interviews, medical reports, e-mails, etc. The setting is a planet which has been attacked by the powers of a large corporation. Two teens—who have just broken up—are among those who have escaped and are fighting for their lives. Ezra is recruited as a fighter pilot and Kady becomes a hacker as the survivors struggle to expose the treachery of the attacking forces and win back their freedom.

I don't remember where I heard about Illuminae, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Perhaps it was even at the library's website. At any rate, I saw that it was listed as a “coming soon” copy and I put my name on the Holds list. Now I have downloaded it into my Kindle and will be starting it soon—probably tomorrow.

The preface to The Wizard of Washington Square reads: “Deep in the heart of New York City is a tiny park called Washington Square....On one side, under hovering maple trees, are stone tables inlaid with chess boards. And every nice day in the spring, summer and fall—and on some bad days as well—the old men of Greenwich Village come out to play. On the other side of the Square are two tiny playgrounds. And every nice day in the spring, summer, and fall—and on some bad days as well—the children of Greenwich Village come out to play. Midway between these two sides is a circl. And in the circle is the fountain....And in the very middle of the fountain, although not very many people know it, lives the Wizard of Washington Square.”

With such an introduction, how can anyone resist? I have a 4-year-old nephew living in Manhattan, and I would love to share this story with him when he's 8 or so. We might even wander down to Washington Square and see if we can catch a sight of the Wizard. Thanks to Jane Yolen for a delightful story for mid-grade readers.

It's the season for holiday romances; on television and in books. So I picked up a copy of Christmas with Miss Austen, a novella by Laura Briggs, for a quick read. My library has classified it as a Christian novel, but the faith-based part flows easily with no “in your face” preaching.

Julia Allen is a volunteer docent at Victorian home during the Christmas season. Dressed in Victorian garb, she poses as Jane Austen and talks with visitors about the author's life and works. On her way home one evening, she loses a rare first-edition of Northanger Abbey, which is found by History Professor Eliot Weston. And, as one might expect, this encounter leads to a burgeoning romance.

Because I enjoyed reading Christmas with Miss Austen and it's still the Christmas season, I decided to borrow another of Laura Brigg's holiday novellas. Ghosts of Christmas Past tells the story of Libby Taylor, an aspiring musician and the son she gave up years ago. One winter night, an accident on an icy road forces Libby to examine her past and plan for a future that will fulfill all her dreams.

 

How about you? Any new books? You're invited to tell us all about it by joining the fun at Stacking the Shelves. According to the reviewers at Tynga's Reviews who host the meme:

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

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