Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Can't Wait Wednesday: Oil!/Witch Hunt/Mexican Gothic/Her Last Flight



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!

Oil! by Upton Sinclair ( Penguin, 2007, originally published in 1926)
Sinclair's 1927 novel did for California's oil industry what The Jungle did for Chicago's meat-packing factories. In Oil! Upton Sinclair fashioned a novel out of the oil scandals of the Harding administration, providing in the process a detailed picture of the development of the oil industry in Southern California. Bribery of public officials, class warfare, and international rivalry over oil production are the context for Sinclair's story of a genial independent oil developer and his son, whose sympathy with the oilfield workers and socialist organizers fuels a running debate with his father. Senators, small investors, oil magnates, a Hollywood film star, and a crusading evangelist people the pages of this lively novel. [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read this: My interest in reading Oil! was piqued around the time the movie No Country For Old Men, based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name, came out. I am not sure why the two are linked in my head, but they are somehow. Why am I suddenly thinking of milkshakes? Which is from an entirely different movie, There Will Be Blood, I think. Ah! Now it makes sense. There Will Be Blood is a film adaptation of Oil!, and it came out around the same time as No Country for Old Men. They both had a similar feel to them, if I remember right.  Crazy how the mind works sometimes, isn't it? There Will Be Blood made an impression on me at the time and got me curious about Sinclair's famous novel. 


Have you read Oil!? Have you seen the movie adaptation called There Will Be Blood? Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 


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.


Witch Hunt by Cate Conte
Release Date: June 30, 2020 by Kensington Books
Murder isn’t always crystal-clear . . . especially when the prime suspect discovers she’s a witch.

Violet Mooney owns The Full Moon crystal shop in quaint North Harbor, Connecticut. Still grieving her beloved grandmother’s recent unexpected death, she takes comfort in her fat orange cat Monty and her work. Not everyone in town is thrilled with her business, however. When disagreeable town councilwoman Carla Fernandez picks a fight over Violet’s "voodoo shop," the two have a very public confrontation. Of course, when Carla turns up dead, Violet gets little sympathy from the police as suspect #1.

But the shock of two policemen showing up at her door pales in comparison to the sudden appearance of her estranged mother Fiona and a surprise sister, Zoe. What Fiona reveals will rock her world and her sense of self—and reawaken her long-dormant mysterious power. Good thing. She’s gonna need it . . . [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read this: This is my favorite kind of cozy mystery--a mix of mystery and magic. And there's a cat! Of course there is a cat.


Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Release Date: June 30, 2020 by Del Rey
From the author of Gods of Jade and Shadow comes a reimagining of the classic gothic suspense novel, a story about an isolated mansion in 1950s Mexico -- and the brave socialite drawn to its treacherous secrets.

He is trying to poison me. You must come for me, Noemí. You have to save me.

After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find -- her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.

Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough, smart, and has an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.

And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind. [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read this: This has been featured on several other blogs over the last couple months, and no wonder! It sounds like it will be really good.


Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams
Release Date: June 30, 2020 by William Morrow
The beloved author returns with a remarkable novel of both raw suspense and lyric beauty— the story of a lost pilot and a wartime photographer that will leave its mark on your soul.

In 1947, photographer and war correspondent Janey Everett arrives at a remote surfing village on the Hawaiian island of Kauai to research a planned biography of forgotten aviation pioneer Sam Mallory, who joined the loyalist forces in the Spanish Civil War and never returned. Obsessed with Sam’s fate, Janey has tracked down Irene Lindquist, the owner of a local island-hopping airline, whom she believes might actually be the legendary Irene Foster, Mallory’s onetime student and flying partner. Foster’s disappearance during a round-the-world flight in 1937 remains one of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries.

At first, the flinty Mrs. Lindquist denies any connection to Foster. But Janey informs her that the wreck of Sam Mallory’s airplane has recently been discovered in a Spanish desert, and piece by piece, the details of Foster’s extraordinary life emerge: from the beginnings of her flying career in Southern California, to her complicated, passionate relationship with Mallory, to the collapse of her marriage to her aggressive career manager, the publishing scion George Morrow.

As Irene spins her tale to its searing conclusion, Janey’s past gathers its own power. The duel between the two women takes a heartstopping turn. To whom does Mallory rightfully belong? Can we ever come to terms with the loss of those we love, and the lives we might have lived? [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read this: Historical fiction featuring a female protagonist is among my favorite type of book, and Beatriz Williams is an author whose work I have enjoyed in the past. I cannot wait to meet Janey.


Do any of these books interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?


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54 comments:

  1. Mexican Gothic sounds amazing! I hope you get to read it when it comes out!

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    1. Eustacia - I am reading it now and enjoying it! Thank you for visiting!

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  2. Witch Hunt sounds like a fun cozy, and I love that there's magic in it! Mexican Gothic has such a beautiful cover, and I like the sound of it! I hope you enjoy all of your picks!

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. Lindy - It was a good one. I finished Witch Hunt a couple days ago. It's worth giving a try! I love the cover of Mexican Gothic too. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  3. Beatriz Williams's books always look amazing and yet I haven't read one since her debut!

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    1. Marg - I enjoy her books and am excited about this upcoming one! If you give her a try, I hope you will like her work! Thank you for visiting!

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  4. I love your selection this week, Wendy:)). I also have Mexican Gothic on my upcoming TBR pile and am looking forward to getting to it. Witch Hunt particularly caught my eye as right now I'm looking out for more lightweight enjoyable reads. I hope you enjoy your selection - Oil looks like an interesting read!

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    1. Sarah - Thank you! I hope you enjoy Mexican Gothic! I just started it and like it so far. Witch Hunt was a fun one. I finished it a couple days ago. It wasn't listed as a series book on Goodreads, but I hope it will turn into one! Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. Witch Hunt is definitely my kind of cozy mystery too. And Mexican Gothic -- I'm going to be on the look out for reviews of this one. It looks amazing!

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    1. Verushka - Witch Hunt was a fun one. I am reading Mexican Gothic now. Thank you for visiting!

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  6. You have some really great picks this week. I’m excited for Mexican Gothic!

    My CWW

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  7. Mexican Gothic appeals to me. A time and place that is a break from most of the books I read and a daring deb!

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    1. Jenclair - I just started it, and so far so good. Thank you for stopping by!

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  8. I've seen so many raves for Beatriz Williams. I already have one by her on my TBR and this one sounds excellent, too!

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    1. Tanya - I hope you enjoy Williams when you give her work a try! Thank you for visiting!

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  9. I'm totally down for Witch Hunt and Mexican Gothic. Both sound really awesome. Hope you find some new faves!

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  10. Of these four, Her last Flight is the one that interests me the most.

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    1. Lark - Doesn't Her Last Flight sound good? I am looking forward to reading it. Thank you for visiting!

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  11. Mexican Gothic looks really good. I knew that There Will Be Blood was based on a book but I am not sure that I realized the book had a different title. I hope you enjoy all of these, Wendy!

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    1. Carole - I think the title change is part of what made my memory so fuzzy. I just started Mexican Gothic and am enjoying it. Hopefully it will be good! Thank you for stopping by!

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  12. Oooh! I love the cover to Witch Hunt! Great picks!

    Here’s my WoW!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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    1. Ronyell - I really like the cover of Witch Hunt too! Thank you for visiting!

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  13. They all interest me, especially since it is a mix of genres. I like different styles and genres in my own reading and try to alternate what I read.

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    1. Mystica - I like to read a mix of genres and styles too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. I'm so excited to read Mexican Gothic, I hear it's fantastic!

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    1. Tammy - I have heard that too! I am reading it now. Thank you for visiting!

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  15. I love paranormal cozies so Witch Hunt is very appealing to me. Thanks for sharing! :)

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    1. Ashley - I enjoyed Witch Hunt and hope you will too if you read it! Thank you for stopping by!

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  16. Witch Hunt and Mexican Gothic sound interesting. I've seen There Will Be Blood, but I'm going to put it on my list of movies. Interesting time for industry of any kind.

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    1. Rachel - I enjoyed Witch Hunt and am reading Mexican Gothic now. I hope you like There Will Be Blood if you watch it! Thank you for visiting!

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  17. That sounds like an exciting line up. I had to laugh over your memory association to get to why Oil was familiar. My mind does that. Oooh, a Beatriz Williams. I like the sound of that one.

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    1. Sophia Rose - Sometimes my thought trains take me in interesting directions. LOL Thank you for stopping by!

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  18. These books sound good. Witch Hunt is on my wishlist.

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    1. Yvonne - I hope you enjoy Witch Hunt when you read it! Thank you for stopping by!

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  19. The Cate Conte and the Beatriz Williams both look really good. I've been reading nothing but cozies lately but Williams always has such gorgeous covers that I might consider taking a break!

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    1. Katherine - I keep thinking I need to pick up a historical novel. I keep going back to cozies too. Thank you for visiting!

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  20. I am a big cover snob and absolutely LOVE the cover for Mexican Gothic.

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    1. Sarah - Mexican Gothic does have a gorgeous cover. Thank you for stopping by!

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  21. Her Last Flight is one I'm curious about. It makes me think of Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz. If you haven't heard of it, it's a fantastic read! I loved it.

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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    1. Lindsi - I haven't read Among the Red Stars. I will definitely have to add that to my wish list! Thank you for the recommendation. And thank you for visiting!

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  22. These sound good but I really want to read Mexican Gothic. That cover is beautiful and I hope the story is a good one.

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    1. Iliana - I just started Mexican Gothic and enjoying it. I hope you enjoy it when you read it! Thank you for stopping by!

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  23. I so want to read Mexican Gothic - it's high up on my list, if I can only manage a copy from somewhere.

    It's funny how different books can be connected sometimes for very obscure reasons. Whenever I think of The Haunting of Hill House, I also think of Lord of the Rings, simply because the authors share the same last name.

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    1. Athira - I hope you get a chance to read Mexican Gothic and enjoy it!

      It is funny the way our minds work sometimes, I agree. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  24. Mexican Gothic sounds good to me! Will have to check it out. Thanks, Wendy!

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    1. Melody - I just started reading Mexican Gothic and like it so far. Thank you for stopping by!

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  25. I have Mexican Gothic on my TBR as well. Hope you had a good weekend and thanks for sharing all these interesting titles.

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    1. Laura - I hope you enjoy Mexican Gothic when you read it! Thank you for visiting!

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  26. I'll be reading Mexican Gothic this month and I'm really excited for it. I've heard so many good things about this author's books.

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    1. Suzanne - I hope we both enjoy Mexican Gothic. THank you for stopping by!

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