Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Waiting to Read Wednesday (#16)



The Old(er) 
I have an embarrassing number of unread books sitting on the shelves in my personal library. Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight and discuss those neglected books in her Books from the Backlog feature. After all, even those older books need a bit of love! Not to mention it is reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

The Passage (The Passage #1) by Justin Cronin (Ballantine, 2010)
“It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, another to be born.”

First, the unthinkable: a security breach at a secret U.S. government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment. Then, the unspeakable: a night of chaos and carnage gives way to sunrise on a nation, and ultimately a world, forever altered. All that remains for the stunned survivors is the long fight ahead and a future ruled by fear—of darkness, of death, of a fate far worse.

As civilization swiftly crumbles into a primal landscape of predators and prey, two people flee in search of sanctuary. FBI agent Brad Wolgast is a good man haunted by what he’s done in the line of duty. Six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte is a refugee from the doomed scientific project that has triggered apocalypse. He is determined to protect her from the horror set loose by her captors. But for Amy, escaping the bloody fallout is only the beginning of a much longer odyssey—spanning miles and decades—towards the time and place where she must finish what should never have begun.

With The Passage, award-winning author Justin Cronin has written both a relentlessly suspenseful adventure and an epic chronicle of human endurance in the face of unprecedented catastrophe and unimaginable danger. Its inventive storytelling, masterful prose, and depth of human insight mark it as a crucial and transcendent work of modern fiction.' to '“It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, another to be born.”  [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read it: This book was all the rage when it first came out and I could not help but add it to my personal library. I think it is the length that has me pausing before actually reading it, but it sure does sound good!


Baking Cakes in Kigali (Bakery #1) by Gaile Parkin
(Delacorte Press, 2009)
Once in a great while a debut novelist comes along who dazzles us with rare eloquence and humanity, who takes us to bold new places and into previously unimaginable lives. Gaile Parkin is just such a talent—and Baking Cakes in Kigali is just such a novel. This gloriously written tale—set in modern-day Rwanda—introduces one of the most singular and engaging characters in recent fiction: Angel Tungaraza—mother, cake baker, keeper of secrets—a woman living on the edge of chaos, finding ways to transform lives, weave magic, and create hope amid the madness swirling all around her.

In Kigali, Angel runs a bustling business: baking cakes for all occasions—cakes filled with vibrant color, buttery richness, and, most of all, a sense of hope only Angel can deliver.…A CIA agent’s wife seeks the perfect holiday cake but walks away with something far sweeter…a former boy-soldier orders an engagement cake, then, between sips of tea, shares an enthralling story…weary human rights workers…lovesick limo drivers. Amid this cacophony of native tongues, love affairs, and confessions, Angel’s kitchen is an oasis where people tell their secrets, where hope abounds and help awaits.

In this unlikely place, in the heart of Rwanda, unexpected things are beginning to happen: A most unusual wedding is planned…a heartbreaking mystery—involving Angel’s own family—unravels…and extraordinary connections are being made among the men and women who have tasted Angel’s beautiful cakes…as a chain of events unfolds that will change Angel’s life—and the lives of those around her—in the most astonishing ways.  [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read it: Oh, wouldn't I love to sit in Angel's shop and enjoy getting to know the various people who walk through her doors! 

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The New
Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.


The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by Hazel Gaynor
Release Date: October 9, 2018 by William Morrow
From The New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Came Home comes a historical novel inspired by true events, and the extraordinary female lighthouse keepers of the past two hundred years. 
“They call me a heroine, but I am not deserving of such accolades. I am just an ordinary young woman who did her duty.” 
1838: Northumberland, England. Longstone Lighthouse on the Farne Islands has been Grace Darling’s home for all of her twenty-two years. When she and her father rescue shipwreck survivors in a furious storm, Grace becomes celebrated throughout England, the subject of poems, ballads, and plays. But far more precious than her unsought fame is the friendship that develops between Grace and a visiting artist. Just as George Emmerson captures Grace with his brushes, she in turn captures his heart. 
1938: Newport, Rhode Island. Nineteen-years-old and pregnant, Matilda Emmerson has been sent away from Ireland in disgrace. She is to stay with Harriet, a reclusive relative and assistant lighthouse keeper, until her baby is born. A discarded, half-finished portrait opens a window into Matilda’s family history. As a deadly hurricane approaches, two women, living a century apart, will be linked forever by their instinctive acts of courage and love. [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read it: Hazel Gaynor is an auto-buy for me. And I haven't even read most of her books yet! I love her writing and the stories she weaves together, in this case, two that are a century apart. I look forward to reading this one.


The Vanishing Box (Stephens & Mephisto Mystery #4) by Elly Griffiths
Release Date: October 9, 2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
DI Edgar Stephens and the magician Max Mephisto discover once again that the line between art, life, and death is all too easily blurred.

It's the holiday season and Max Mephisto and his daughter Ruby have landed a headlining gig at the Brighton Hippodrome, the biggest theater in the city, an achievement only slightly marred by the less-than-savory supporting act: a tableau show of naked "living statues." But when one of the girls goes missing and turns up dead not long after, Max and Ruby realize there's something far more sinister than obscenity afoot in the theater.

DI Edgar Stephens is on the case. As he searches for the killer, he begins to suspect that her fatal vanishing act may very well be related to another case, the death of a quiet local florist.
[Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read it: A couple of my mystery reader friends are always singing the praises of Elly Griffiths. I really must give her mysteries a try! 

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

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46 comments:

  1. I read The Passage and it was good. I got half way through the second book in the series and set it aside. I did like what I read, but got distracted by other new books and never got back to it.

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    1. Catherine - I am glad you enjoyed The Passage! I have all three books on my TBR pile. I think the size is what has kept me from reading it. Thanks for visiting!

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    1. Anna - Yes, the cover of The Passage is haunting. I love it. Hopefully I will like the book as much, if not more. :-) Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. The Passage caught my eye too but I haven't read it yet.

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    1. Greg - One of these days we will get to it hopefully. :-) Thanks for visiting, Greg!

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  4. I can also recommend The Passage, which is an amazing near-future tale of collapsing civilisation. I love the look of The Collapsing Box as I enjoy Elly Griffiths writing and love this era:)

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    1. Sarah - I am glad to hear you enjoyed The Passage. It does sound good! I can't wait to give Elly Griffiths a try! Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. Oooh! Lots of good books here! I've heard a lot of good things about The Passage!

    Here’s my WoW!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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    1. Ronyell - If only I had more time to read! Thanks for visiting!

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  6. Ooooh, The Passage sounds good! I'm going to have to look for it!

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    1. Eustacia - I hope you like it if you read it! Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. Oh, this is a great choice for CWW! She is an autobuy author for me, too, and I have that one coming up! (And I have some of her books saved to read later, as well! She’s just too good!)


    https://jennifertarheelreader.com/2018/09/26/i-cant-wait-for-cant-wait-wednesday-waiting-on-wednesday-cantwaitwednesday-camillalway-berkleypub-tarheelreader-thelieswetold/

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    1. Jennifer - I haven't yet read all of her books either--but on of these days. :-) I love her writing style. Thank you for visiting, Jennifer!

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  8. I keep meaning to read The Passage, especially since the series is coming out. Lots of good looking book here!

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    1. Barb - Is it coming out? I hadn't heard that. Now I had better get to the books! Thanks for the head's up! Thank you too for stopping by, Barb!

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  9. I loved the Passage but still need to read the final book in the trilogy. I've been putting it off though as I'll need to re-read the others first!

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    1. Rachael - I have the other two, so maybe will be able to read them close together. I just need to make time to read the first! I am glad you loved The Passage. That is good news for me. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  10. You always have such a good list and I like your new way of sharing both the older and the brand new. I'm a big fan of Elly Griffiths too, though I don't like this series as much as her Ruth Galloway books. However, since I love Ruth and Nelson so much, that's not surprising. Did you know that Elly has a standalone book coming out in the spring here (this fall in the UK)? I'm very much looking forward to that one.

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    1. Kay - I have so many unread books on my shelves, I figured they needed some attention too, and not just the newer books. :-) I will have to look for the standalone by Elly Griffith. It might be the place to start . . . Thanks for stopping by, Kay!

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  11. Oh, wow, The Passage - I haven't read it but it seems so long ago now that it was out and everyone was talking about it! I remember thinking about reading it, and then just forgot as new books came in. Might have to consider it again. I haven't read Hazel Gaynor but sat in on a talk of hers about marketing books that was good; she's on my list, too.

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    1. Charlie - It does seem like awhile ago The Passage came out. I hope to get to it one of these days. I have it here when I am ready at least. I hope you enjoy Hazel Gaynor's work when you read it, Charlie. Thank you for visiting!

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  12. I haven't read any of those but would like to read every single one.

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    1. Kathy - Me too! Haha I hope we both get to read all of them. Thank you for stopping by!

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  13. I read The Passage and found it pretty fast-paced despite its length. And I liked it, but never read the sequel. And I really enjoyed the first two Stephens and Mephisto mysteries; The Vanishing Box is high on my TBR list. :)

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    1. Lark - I am glad to hear it! It sounds like it will be fast-paced. I think I saw the first in the Stephens and Mephisto series on sale on Amazon today . . . Hmmm. I may have to get it! Thank you for visiting!

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  14. I like the sound of The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter. :)

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    1. Nicci - Doesn't it sound good? I am really excited about that one. Thanks for stopping by!

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  15. So many people loved The Passage but I found it to be a struggle. I hope you enjoy it :)

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    1. Laurie - I am sorry to hear you didn't care for The Passage. I hope I will like it. Thank you for visiting!

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  16. I'm so excited about The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter! I finally read another book by Gaynor earlier this year (or was it last year? Can't remember) and absolutely loved it.

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    1. Katherine - I am excited about The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter too. It sounds so good! I hope we both love it when we get to it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  17. I have had The Passage on my tbr since it was released. I do need to get to that one soon. I am hoping to get the new Hazel Gaynor book from the library. Great picks!

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    1. Carole - You and me both! Someday, right? Haha. I hope you love Gaynor's new book. I hope I will too. Thanks for visiting, Carole!

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  18. I'm another one that was attracted to The Passage, but never got around to it. Ah, Cakes in Kigali sounds fantastic.

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    1. Sophia Rose - One of these days we may get to it. Hopefully. :-) Thanks for visiting!

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  19. Oh my goodness, Baking Cakes in Kigalie sounds amazing!

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    1. Verushka - I think so too! I've had it on my TBR shelf for years though. I need to read it! Thanks for stopping by!

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  20. I think The Passage has been on my TBR for about 5 years now, lol. I've not heard of Baking Cakes in Kigali before but it sounds wonderful. I hope you enjoy all of these.

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    1. Suzanne - I'm sure my copy has been there a number of years too. Hopefully I will read these someday. Maybe now that I've reminded myself I have them! Thanks for visiting!

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  21. I have the whole series of The Passage books as audios. I need to get to them. Maybe I'll challenge myself to listen to all of my unread audiobooks next year. 👍✨

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    1. La La - I think I have all The Passage books too--although not on audio. That would be a great way to read them though. I don't do well with longer audiobooks though, since my listening time is so stretched out. I hope you do enjoy them when you get to them! Thanks for stopping by!

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  22. I read the passage when it first came out or there about. I felt the book split into two and I really liked one part and not so much the other. I haven't read the rest of the series since, maybe I should revisit xxx

    Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

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    1. Lainy - Hopefully I will like The Passage when I get to it. I think that's a risk the comes with these long books--they end up feeling like two different books. King's Stand felt like that to me. Thank you for visiting!

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  23. I remember buying a copy of The Passage when it was first released and that it has received many glowing reviews. I still haven't read it yet. Like you, I think it is the length which keeps me from reading it; plus there are so many shiny new books out there and it is so hard to turn them down. :p

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    1. Melody - At least I am not alone in not having read it yet. :-)

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