Although I would steadfastly deny it if my husband asked, I have more books than I’ll ever conceivably read in my lifetime. This does not ever stop me from accumulating new, shiny books each year, but it is the truth. I was browsing my books while shelving new #RH300K purchases when I came across a few that made me stop and think.
As one of the new books I bought was Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, my eyes were drawn to my copy of The Financial Lives of the Poets. It’s been sitting there for a while now. I’ve even picked it up, pondered it, smelled it (TMI, I know), and put it back on my shelf 3,489,723 times. Now, I realize, I have two unread Jess Walter books. Really, I must remedy that.
The same is true for Sarah Jio. I have countless trusted bloggers and tweeps who have raved about her books. I have two beautiful books sitting on my shelves. They aren’t even chunksters. They’d easily slip in between review books and would probably make my day. Why have they just sat there?
I know there are more unread authors languishing on my shelves, but I thought I would highlight these four. I’ve been contemplating taking a few months off from reading review books toward the end of the year. As much as I love the new and exciting books that continue to be published weekly, I feel a little lonely sometimes for those books that have already found a home on my shelves. I want to pay them some attention. I want to show them a little love. I know that fall is a big season and I’ve got some commitments I’ve made (and I have much hope in their awesomeness!), but after October, I think I’ll be devoting the rest of the year to those books that have been waiting ever so patiently for me.
Seriously, how can I ignore these books?
Jio’s books are very easy to slip into. You could easily read them in a day. I enjoyed Violets a bit more than Bungalow but both were good for different reasons. I have her new one from Edelweiss or Net Galley. Can’t remember! However, she has written two more since the ARC I just received.
I’ve not read Jio’s books (even though I want to) but I can give you a first-hand recommendation of Walter. TFLOTP is freaking amazing, in a bizarre hilarious twisted kind of way. I just bought Beautiful Ruins and will be reading it this summer. I cannot wait!
I haven’t read the Walter books, but I adore Sarah Jio, her books are easy to fall into, and they really take me away…I’m going to be reading her 3rd book soon….so you need to catch up!! I love the cover of Beautiful Ruins.
BTW, I have these talks with myself often about the books I own, and how I fear I’ll never read them all.
I think that’s a marvelous idea. All of those books look fantastic!
The answer of course is you can’t, I’m with Kathy. I loved Jio’s books and am excited to hear she has a new one coming out. I have never read the Walter books and must add them to my mountain of a TBR!!!
LOVED Violets of March. You should start with that!
Its funny that you should post this, I’ve been having very similar thoughts. I have so many fantastic books just sitting there that I would love to dive into. I’ve loved all of Sarah Jio’s novels, and I’m hoping to read the Jess Walter titles soon. Good Luck!
After reading the Jio books, you will be like me and wonder why in the heck did I wait so long!! I just recently finished both books.
Sounds like a great plan. Like you I have a ton of books I want to read and never have managed to get to!
I did read The Bungalow and liked but not loved it. I am a little hesitant to read Violets of March now just in case for all that she sounds like my kind of writer her books aren’t quite for me,
Hmmphf. Honestly, I might’ve paid more attention to Beautiful Ruins if I’d realized Jess Walter wrote The Financial Lives of the Poets. Hate the BR cover.
Violets of March is so easy to get hooked on. The mystery sucked me right in.
I did a mini (pathetically mini) book clean out this weekend and was thinking the same things. I have earlier books on my shelves by authors who are currently releasing books – I hanker for the new books even though the earlier ones are still on my shelves. I need some discipline!
Jess Walters’s books are great – definitely read both! I have Sarah Jio’s on my shelves – I started Bungalow and was really enjoying it but I had to put it down for another reading commitment. I am looking forward to getting back to it.
I sniff books, too!!