Mixed Shelf #21

This post is a few weeks late, but anyway... As an experiment I read a bit of a creepy book. It was definitely an addictive read, but I'm also quite happy to be reading something a lot more mellow and upbeat again now.

Wanting: Perla by Carolina De Robertis

This is a story about a girl from Buenos Aires. Her parents were very much in support of the dictatorship. Then one day a visitor that makes Perla question everything arrives, and it leads to her making some very big changes. Anyway, it sounds like it might be an interesting read. I might have to see if the library has a copy I can read...

goodreads // available here

Reading: Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Ok, I'll be honest and say that this book kept me up one very stormy night. After a full day of reading (and stopping at the scariest point) my mind kept going back into the story and my thoughts actually sounded like the narrator from the book. Very creepy. Anyway, I prefer Marisha Pessl's first book, but this was good too. Also, it had a very cool app!

goodreads // available here

Waiting: White Oleander by Janet Fitch

2015 is going to be the year I finally read some Janet Fitch! She only has two books, so I might very well read them both. I already owned her other book, but found White Oleander in a free library book case this summer. It made me so happy, because after seeing the movie years ago, it was already on my wishlist. I think I will read this soon!

goodreads // available here

How do you deal with creepy/heavy books? Do you enjoy them, or do you prefer lighter reads as well?

Mixed Shelf #8

Despite -or perhaps because of- the warm weather, I didn't sit down and read a whole lot. I did spend a lot of time in parks lately, but usually with a friend instead of a book. But I'm sure I'll do my fair share of park-reading this summer too.

Wanting: The Owl Service by Alan Garner

Supposedly this is some sort of retelling of an old Welch folk tale. I should probably read that before diving into this, but since there are owls in this, it should come as now surprise that I'm drawn to this book. It's a children's book, but I hear it is actually pretty eerie. It's full of owl-forming magical puzzles, that lead to strange events...

goodreads // available here

Reading: The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

I have to admit that I already finished this book. It wasn't as great as I hoped, but maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it. I suspect it's a perfect book to read to kids and still enjoy it as the adult doing the reading. Also, the illustrations were really lovely! Anyway, it was a quick read and a magical story with a sweet little protagonist.

goodreads // available here

Waiting: Mariah Mundi and the Ghost Diamonds by G.P. Taylor

Not to be confused with the band Marina and the Diamonds. No, this is actually the second book of a children's mystery trilogy set in a hotel. This one is a whodunnit with kids acting as the detectives. I picked it up really cheap at a sale last summer. I think I'll just start with this one and see if I like it enough to read the other two as well.

goodreads // available here

Have you been reading much now that spring has really sprung? Anything worth sharing?

Mixed Shelf #7

I'm suddenly reading a lot of books at once. Perhaps too many, but new things keep catching my eye. My latest one is a really fast read though though. Perhaps it will help me finish the rest too, so I can start something new yet again...

Wanting: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

This is pretty much a book about books. But not quite so simple as there's this mysterious air about the bookshop in this story. People come in to check out this special selection of strange books. So much so, that it catches the attention of the new employee and he decides to go and investigate what is really going on in this 24-hour bookstore.

goodreads // available here

Reading: Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

This is something different. And I mean really different. I've not read anything like it. It did take some getting used to, but now I am thoroughly enjoying this story. It's made up of all these emails tied together by the main character's daughter's narrative. It is strange, it is exciting and it includes human and flawed people. Can't wait for the ending!

goodreads // available here

Waiting: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Having not yet read The Time Traveller's Wife, I wasn't really planning on buying this book. But for about 30 cents on King's Day, I just had to pick it up. It seems like more my cup of tea than the former book anyway. I love me some gothic stories about twins. Strange maybe, but it's just something so intriguing.

goodreads // available here

          Did you give any of these mildly hyped books a shot? Also, as always, new recommendations are welcome!