Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Wishing to Read Wednesday: Old & New (#8)

Books from the Backlog is a weekly meme, hosted by the wonderful Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books to spotlight and discuss the neglected books sitting on our shelves still waiting to be read.. Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released.

The Old

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman (Scribner, 2012)
A captivating, beautiful, and stunningly accomplished debut novel that opens in 1918 Australia - the story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife who make one devastating choice that forever changes two worlds.

Australia, 1926. After four harrowing years fighting on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns home to take a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day's journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby's cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, whose records as a lighthouse keeper are meticulous and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel has taken the tiny baby to her breast. Against Tom's judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

M. L. Stedman's mesmerizing, beautifully written debut novel seduces us into accommodating Isabel's decision to keep this "gift from God." And we are swept into a story about extraordinarily compelling characters seeking to find their North Star in a world where there is no right answer, where justice for one person is another's tragic loss.
[Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I so want to read this! I have had my copy for quite a while and cannot help but be curious what the backstory is and how the characters will deal with the consequences of their actions. 

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The Killing Moon (Dreamblood #1) by N.K. Jemisin (Hatchette Book Group, 2012)
THE CITY BURNED BENEATH THE DREAMING MOON

In the ancient city-state of Gujaareh, peace is the only law. Upon its rooftops and among the shadows of its cobbled streets wait the Gatherers - the keepers of this peace. Priests of the dream-goddess, their duty is to harvest the magic of the sleeping mind and use it to heal, soothe...and kill those judged corrupt.

But when a conspiracy blooms within Gujaareh's great temple, the Gatherer Ehiru must question everything he knows. Someone, or something, is murdering innocent dreamers in the goddess's name, and Ehiru must now protect the woman he was sent to kill - or watch the city be devoured by war and forbidden magic.
[Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: N.K. Jemisin's books come highly recommended, and I seem to recall receiving it as a gift (although my memory may be spotty on that). I hope to read this someday!


The New

If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim
Release Date: August 7, 2018 by William Morrow
An emotionally riveting debut novel about war, family, and forbidden love—the unforgettable saga of two ill-fated lovers in Korea and the heartbreaking choices they’re forced to make in the years surrounding the civil war that continues to haunt us today.

When the communist-backed army from the North invades her home, sixteen-year-old Haemi Lee, along with her widowed mother and ailing brother, is forced to flee to a refugee camp along the coast. For a few hours each night, she escapes her family’s makeshift home and tragic circumstances with her childhood friend, Kyunghwan.

Focused on finishing school, Kyunghwan doesn’t realize his older and wealthier cousin, Jisoo, has his sights set on the beautiful and spirited Haemi—and is determined to marry her before joining the fight. But as Haemi becomes a wife, then a mother, her decision to forsake the boy she always loved for the security of her family sets off a dramatic saga that will have profound effects for generations to come.

Richly told and deeply moving,
If You Leave Me is a stunning portrait of war and refugee life, a passionate and timeless romance, and a heartrending exploration of one woman’s longing for autonomy in a rapidly changing world. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read it: Korea is often in the news as is the turmoil in North Korea and refugees around the world. Crystal Hana Kim's novel calls to me, and I want to know more about the characters she has created and the story she has to tell. And what a gorgeous cover, don't you think?

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Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley
Release Date: August 7, 2018 by Sourcebooks Landmark (released in Canada in April, 2018)
"The house, when I first saw it, seemed intent on guarding what it knew; but we all learned, by the end of it, that secrets aren't such easy things to keep."

It's late summer, war is raging, and families are torn apart by divided loyalties and deadly secrets. In this complex and dangerous time, a young French Canadian lieutenant is captured and billeted with a Long Island family, an unwilling and unwelcome guest. As he begins to pitch in with the never-ending household tasks and farm chores, Jean-Philippe de Sabran finds himself drawn to the daughter of the house. Slowly, Lydia Wilde comes to lean on Jean-Philippe, true soldier and gentleman, until their lives become inextricably intertwined. Legend has it that the forbidden love between Jean-Philippe and Lydia ended tragically, but centuries later, the clues they left behind slowly unveil the true story.

Part history, part romance, and all kinds of magic, Susanna Kearsley's latest masterpiece will draw you in and never let you go, even long after you've closed the last page. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read it: I have only read one of Kearsley's books to date, but I fell in love with her writing and eventually would like to try more of her work. I just love the sound of this one!


Have you read any of these? Do any of these appeal to you?


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32 comments:

  1. All these books sound so intriguing. And I love the cover of "If You Leave Me"; what a colourful cover!

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    1. Melody - It's a beautiful cover, isn't it? It really draws my eye to it.

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  2. You have some great picks. I especially like the sounds of If You Leave Me.

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    1. Jenea - Thank you! I am especially looking forward to If You Leave Me.

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  3. I hope you enjoy The Light Between Oceans. I loved that book when I read it. If You Leave Me sounds like such a timely read. This bit of the synopsis really grabs my attention and makes me want to read the book: "a heartrending exploration of one woman’s longing for autonomy in a rapidly changing world."

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    1. Suzanne - I hope I will love The Light Between Oceans too. I have heard such wonderful things about it--and am glad to hear you loved it. Hopefully If You Leave Me will live up to my expectations. I hope you like it too if you give it a try!

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  4. I read your "old" choice and saw the movie based on the book. Both were good. Your new picks look promising--I've got ARCs of Bellewether and If You Leave, which I am excited about.

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    1. Catherine - I had forgotten there was a movie based on The Light Between Oceans. I haven't seen it yet--maybe after I read the book. :-) I hope we both end of loving the new books!

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  5. I have not read any of these, but I noticed Belleweather recently. I've meant to read a book by Susanna Kearsley for a long time.

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    1. Kay - I really enjoyed the one book by Kearsley I have read. She seems to be a well liked author. I hope you are able to give her a try someday!

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    1. Kathy - I am glad you liked it. I can't wait to read it. :-)

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  7. The Light Between Oceans sounds like a heartbreaker, though very good...

    I have read The Killing Moon and while I enjoyed it, I don't think this is her best book by quite a long way. The Fifth Season or The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms are my firm recommendations in order to appreciate what Jemisin is capable of. Have a lovely week:)

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    1. Sarah - It does sound like an heart breaker--some of my favorite books are. :-) I do want to read The Fifth Season by Jemisin as well someday. I've heard great things about it.

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  8. Wow, If You Leave Me has such a pretty cover. I've always been curious about The Killing Moon and just made the connection that it's the same author as The Fifth Season.

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    1. Barb - I really like the cover of If You Leave Me as well.

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  9. I've read The Inheritance Trilogy and two of Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy. I'm always up for Jemisin. :)

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    1. Jenclair - I haven't yet read any of her books yet. I need to. I have The Fifth Season on my TBR shelf too.

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    1. Ronyell - Thank you! I look forward to reading them. Someday. Haha

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  11. I love that beautiful cover on If You Leave Me. And The Killing Moon looks like a good fantasy- I'm kinda short on fantasies lately, and I've heard Jemisin is really good too.

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    1. Greg - I really like that cover too. I've been hearing good things about Jemisin for awhile now and want to give her books a try.

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  12. Stedman and Kearsley yes! the others are new to me.

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    1. Mystica - I am excited about both of those. I just need more time to read everything!

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  13. Oooh Bellewether sounds good and I love the cover!

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  14. I want to read the new Kearsley, too. Her books are awesome. And I've read The Light Between Oceans. It's well-written and I liked it for the most part...I just thought the ending was really sad.

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    1. Lark - I can't wait to read more by Kearsley. I love her writing.

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  15. The Light Between Oceans sounds fabulous. I'll be looking for your thoughts on it. ☺

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  16. Wendy, I am SO drawn to lighthouses. That and THE KILLING MOON definitely appeal to me. Have you been able to start any of these books?

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    1. Donna Marie - I haven't started them yet, no. I am a big mood reader and they just haven't won out over the other books on my TBR pile yet. Someday.

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