May marked the month when I could kick back for the summer, or at least try. I have now got a few months without too many headaches and commitments coming my way, so I thought it would be nice to browse for a handful of extra books to line my shelves.
I probably won’t be buying too many books across the summer, and instead focusing my efforts on actually reading the dozens I’ve picked up over the last while. Still, if I know anything about myself, it’s that I can be a tad impulsive when it comes to purchasing new novels.
Anyway, with the summer now being mere weeks away, here’s what I bought across May.
Braised Pork by An Yu
The cover and title intrigued me, as did the setting of Beijing. China isn’t a country that seems to crop up much in fiction, unlike the USA, UK, and EU.
The mention of a ‘dreamlike world’ in the blurb could result in this being a make or break read for me. I want to do my best to approach it with an open mind, and it’s not like it cost me much, either. So I should hopefully be in for a win-win situation.
The Spanish Garden by Cherry Radford
I can’t say these romance books are my thing, but the blurb at least had an interesting premise revolving family and a garden, and the vibrant cover was too pretty to resist.
I did notice there are a series of The Spanish (Thing), and this one about a garden isn’t the first. Each of the three The Spanish (Thing) novels don’t seem to be connected to each other, which means I can read this one without concern. I might pick up another of Radford’s books if I enjoy my time with this.
So Say the Fallen by Stuart Neville
Crime and detective stories aren’t entirely my thing, but I have had good and bad experiences with the genre. The better experiences, like Tokyo Express, have made me want to engage with the genre more.
As always, I am sure I will find the Northern Irish setting appealing. The representation of Ulster in media, especially books and film, is always intriguing because it’s usually overly serious, too comic, or full of references most non-Irish people wouldn’t get.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
I had to buy this one for an essay, so it wasn’t really a matter of choice. I am unsure of how much I will read it, since horror doesn’t ever engage me much when it comes to books. Thrillers are about as close as it gets.
Based on what I know about it, it does seem like a classic horror/gothic novel. However, it does little to allure me and I have minimal interest in its characters. A solid novel, I’m sure, but I don’t see myself actively wanting to review it. Let’s call it a forced read for me.
Haul Overview
Books Obtained: 4
Total Pages: 1,100
Av. Book Length: 275 pages
Total Cost: £8.27
Av. Cost/Book: £2.06
Total RRP: £40.96 (£32.69 saved)
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