Hey Book Nerds!

I’m switching over from GoodReads to The StoryGraph, which is a new start-up. As I’m importing my GoodReads library. I’m realizing I have over 1100 books on my GoodReads TBR dating back to Sept of 2012. That’s eight years ago. Needless to say my tastes have changed since then, and its time. I want to start out with a big purge once my giant GoodReads TBR is imported (SORRY STORYGRAPH). I thought about doing the Down the TBR Hole series that Blair at Feed the Crime is doing, but I always feel guilty about basing things on synopses. To placate this problem, I am going to take this a page at the time. I’m going to read the first chapter (if I can find it) and base my decision on each book on that. Unless its part of a series, which I will reevaluate then.

Let’s get started. Part 1 of page 1/58

Added: September 26, 2012

I read an excerpt of this book and I can definitely see why I added it when I did. Sex, Murder And A Double Latte tells the story of half-Black, half-Jewish author Sophie Katz, who is forced to become a detective when a good friend of hers is killed in a scene taken out of one of his movies. Sure she’s next on the list, she begins to investigate who might be behind the murder when she runs into the mysterious Anatoly Darinsky. If it was one of her novels, he would be top of the suspect list.

When I added this to my list, I was fresh off the Stephanie Plum train. I like cozy mysteries, but my Romance Cozy Mystery days are kind of gone. Now if it was a paranormal romance, that’s an entirely different story.

Verdict: Sorry, but No.

Added: September 26, 2012

This is the third book in the Bartimaeus trilogy. I’m going to be 100% honest. I don’t remember a whole lot other than enjoying it when I was younger. It is set in an alternate history, fantasy London and tells the story of a young boy who wants to be a magician, one of the most respected professions. Self advancing, he summons the demon Bartimaeus to help him steal some powerful magical artifacts.

Verdict: I’m going to try to reread the first book and see if I want to continue the series.

Added: September 26, 2012

The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson tells the story of Annika, a twelve year old girl who was found as a baby and raised by a housekeeper and cook of three unique Viennese professors. Growing up in love with her foster family and surrounded by friends, including the woman next door who tells the stories of her past including how she got the famous emerald: The Star of Kazan. One day a woman claiming to be her mother arrives and takes Annika to a decrept mansion in Germany, where things are not as they seem. I love Eva Ibbotson’s work, even as an adult and have three of the books on my shelf. She tells good old fashioned fantasy adventure stories and I have no doubts that I will love this one as well.

Added: September 26, 2012

Dear Mariah of the past, we have to talk about you adding the fourth book of the series and not the first book in the series. The Realms of the Gods is the fourth book in the Immortals series which is part of the greater Tortall universe by Tamora Pierce. It tells the story of Daine, who arrives to Tortall looking for a job, which she finds in the Queen’s Riders tending to their horses. She has a rare magic which allows her to communicate with the animal kingdom. Daine becomes the student of the mage Numair, who helps her develop her abilities.

Verdict: I want to read the first book in the series, so this will be replaced in the library.

Added: September 26, 2012

If I ever get a time machine, I’m going back in time and slapping myself. Hard. And telling myself to do the research.

The Child of the Dark Prophecy is the first book in The Great Tree of Avalon series. However, it is the 9th book in The Merlin Saga. I want to read this middle grade epic fantasy series, but I need to replace this book with The Lost Years, which is the first in the series and I might have read ages ago. I don’t remember.

Verdict: Replacing with a separate book.

Added: September 26, 2012.

….sigh. I’m not even going to say it. This is yet another sequel that I don’t have the first book for. The series looks very interesting. It is a middle-grade fantasy series about two sisters who move to a place where girls have been going missing for thousands of years. The sisters are confronted with a mysterious man who is very interested in the two new trespassers.

Verdict: I’m interested, but I’m replacing it with the first book in the series: The Hollow Kingdom.

Added: September 26, 2012

Can we all agree that past Mariah didn’t know what she was doing? Moving on. This is the third book so shifting to the first book The Hunter’s Moon. This tells the story of Canadian Gwen and her Irish cousin, Findabhair who decide to backpack and stumble into the land of Faerie. Fin is kidnapped by the King and Gwen has to assemble a ragtag group to save her cousin.

I wasn’t able to find the first chapter, however, I read several quotes and it worries me, but I love folklore and I love stories about the Fae. I want to read more. This is supposed to be for ages 10-15, so I’m not sure how to classify this. I suppose middle-grade.

Verdict: I’m replacing it with the first book and giving it a shot.

Added: September 26, 2012

A first book in the series. This tells the story of a girl whose world went to war with Faerie, and still bears the scars. If children are born resembling or having the abilities of Fae, they are shunned. Liza finds out she has an ability and is forced to flee her small village.

I am absolutely keeping this. I read the first chapter and it was a helluva way to start a book.

Verdict: Stays.

Added: September 26, 2012

Crown Duel tells the story of the young Countess Meliara, who promised her dying father to defend the people from the King. This leads to a war that they aren’t prepared for. When everything is said and done, the young Countess is not left alone to her own devices, however, and is summoned to the palace with its intrigues. This is a bind-up of the duology.

While this is a classic, I’m not sure how I feel about the writing style. I’ve read the first couple of chapters, but its not really jiving with me. I’m not going to push myself on this.

Verdict: Not staying. Nothing personal

Added: September 26, 2012

Oh for the love of all things holy, Mariah we’re going to fight. This is the second bind up in The Chronicles of Chrestomanci series by Diana Wynne Jones. Give me a second to figure out what this is all about. The first book to read in this series, according to the author’s suggested reading order, is Charmed Life. This tells the story of Cat and her sister Gwendolen, who is a very promising witch. The two are summoned to live in Chrestomani Castle. Gwendolen comes up a plan that could throw the worlds out of whack.

I love Diana Wynne Jones’ writing. She is the author of one of my favorite books of all time Howl’s Moving Castle. I would love to give this series a try.

Verdict: Stays, but is replaced by the first bind-up.

That wraps up the first half of Page 1. I’m going to start having to do more than two blog posts a week at this rate.

Have a great week! All the best coffee, wine, and books to you!

M