Tuesday, June 09, 2020

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Terror/The Lost and Found Bookshop/Little Bookshop of Murder/Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook



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 Terror
by Dan Simmons
(2007)
The men on board HMS Terror have every expectation of triumph. As part of the 1845 Franklin Expedition, the first steam-powered vessels ever to search for the legendary Northwest Passage, they are as scientifically supported an enterprise as has ever set forth. As they enter a second summer in the Arctic Circle without a thaw, though, they are stranded in a nightmarish landscape of encroaching ice and darkness. Endlessly cold, with diminishing rations, 126 men fight to survive with poisonous food, a dwindling supply of coal, and ships buckling in the grip of crushing ice. But their real enemy is far more terrifying. There is something out there in the frigid darkness: an unseen predator stalking their ship, a monstrous terror constantly clawing to get in. 
When the expedition's leader, Sir John Franklin, meets a terrible death, Captain Francis Crozier takes command and leads his surviving crewmen on a last, desperate attempt to flee south across the ice. With them travels an Inuit woman who cannot speak and who may be the key to survival, or the harbinger of their deaths. But as another winter approaches, as scurvy and starvation grow more terrible, and as the terror on the ice stalks them southward, Crozier and his men begin to fear that there is no escape. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I am fairly sure this landed on my TBR pile after I was gifted a copy of Simmons' Drood (which I still have yet to read). Drood was the talk of the blogosphere at that time (2009), and I kept coming across praise of Simmons's earlier book, The Terror. So, it landed on my TBR shelf as well because it sounded interesting.  


Have you read The Terror? 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.


The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
Release Date: July 7, 2020 by William Morrow
In this thought-provoking, wise and emotionally rich novel, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs explores the meaning of happiness, trust, and faith in oneself as she asks the question, "If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?"

There is a book for everything . . .

Somewhere in the vast Library of the Universe, as Natalie thought of it, there was a book that embodied exactly the things she was worrying about.

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father.

But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: San Francisco. A bookshop. Hidden artifacts. Romance. Everything about this book screams, "Read me now!"


Little Bookshop of Murder by Maggie Blackburn
Release Date: July 7, 2020 by Crooked Lane Books
A Shakespearean scholar inherits a beachside bookshop--and a murder mystery--in this delightful new cozy series for fans of Kate Carlisle and Ellery Adams.

Summer Merriweather's career as a Shakespeare professor hangs by a bookbinder's thread. Academic life at her Virginia university is a viper's pit, so Summer spends her summer in England, researching a scholarly paper that, with any luck, will finally get her published, impress the Dean, and save her job. But her English idyll ends when her mother, Hildy, shuffles off her mortal coil from an apparent heart attack.

Returning to Brigid's Island, NC, for the funeral, Summer is impatient to settle the estate, sell her mom's embarrassingly romance-themed bookstore, Beach Reads, and go home. But as she drops by Beach Reads, Summer finds threatening notes addressed to Hildy: "Sell the bookstore or die."

Clearly, something is rotten on Brigid's Island. What method is behind the madness? Was Hildy murdered? The police insist there's not enough evidence to launch a murder investigation. Instead, Summer and her Aunt Agatha screw their courage to the sticking place and start sleuthing, with the help of Hildy's beloved book club. But there are more suspects on Brigid's Island than are dreamt of in the Bard's darkest philosophizing. And if Summer can't find the villain, the town will be littered with a Shakespearean tragedy's worth of corpses--including her own. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: A beachside bookshop? A Shakespearean scholar? And Murder! This sounds like a promising start to a new cozy mystery series.  


Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook by Celia Rees
Release Date: July 7, 2020 by William Morrow
A striking historical novel about an ordinary young British woman sent to uncover a network of spies and war criminals in post-war Germany that will appeal to fans of The Huntress and Transcription.

World War II has just ended, and Britain has established the Control Commission for Germany, which oversees their zone of occupation. The Control Commission hires British civilians to work in Germany, rebuild the shattered nation and prosecute war crimes. Somewhat aimless, bored with her job as a provincial schoolteacher, and unwilling to live with her stuffy genteel parents any longer, twentysomething Edith Graham applies for a job with the Commission—but is instead recruited by the OSS. To them, Edith is perfect spy material…single, ordinary-looking, with a college degree in German. And there’s another thing—the OSS knows that Edith’s brother went to Oxford with one of their most hunted war criminals, Count Kurt von Stabenow, who Edith remembers all too well from before the war.

Intrigued by the challenge, Edith heads to Germany armed with a convincing cover story: she’s an unassuming schoolteacher sent to help resurrect German primary schools. To send information back to her OSS handlers in London, Edith has crafted the perfect alter ego, cookbook author Stella Snelling, who writes a popular magazine cookery column that embeds crucial intelligence within the recipes she collects. But occupied Germany is awash with other spies, collaborators, and opportunists, and as she’s pulled into their world, Edith soon discovers that no one is what they seem to be. The closer she gets to uncovering von Stabenow’s whereabouts—and the network of German civilians who still support him—the greater the danger.

With a unique, compelling premise, Miss Graham’s Cold War Cookbook is a beautifully crafted and gripping novel about daring, betrayal, and female friendship.  [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I especially cannot resist a female lead in a nontraditional role. Set during World War II, this novel is a must read for me. 


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


© 2020, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

42 comments:

  1. That's a great variety of books you've there, Wendy! They certainly interest me so I'll keep them in mind.

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    1. Melody - I hope they will be good! Thank you for stopping by!

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  2. I read The Terror years ago. It's a big book but it was good. There is also a TV adaptation that we are part way through.

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    1. Marg - I am glad you enjoyed The Terror. It's size is a bit intimidating. I didn't know about the TV adaptation. I'll have to look out for it. Thank you for visiting!

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  3. Three wonderful choices... my vote goes to Little Bookshop of Murder, which sounds wonderful. I've read some of Simmons' earlier books - is Drood of the title Charles Dickens' Edwin Drood? If so - I need to get hold of it...

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    1. Sarah - Yes, Drood is related to Charles Dickens' Edwin Drood. Thank you for stopping by!

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  4. I was thinking that all the bookshop stories sounded great but Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook sounds even better!

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    1. Eustacia - They all sound irresistible! Thank you for visiting!

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  5. The Terror is one of Dan Simmons' best books, I highly recommend it!

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    1. Tammy - I am glad you recommend it. I look forward to reading it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  6. the terror looks reeeeeally good. :-) hope you enjoy them all
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  7. I've read a few of Dan Simmons' books but I don't think I've read The Terror. Maybe I should consider picking it up. Hope you love all of these when you get to them.

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  8. I think they turned The Terror into a tv show that I tried to watch but it didn't keep my interest. I'll have to try to read the book. This is a good idea. I probably should come up with some kind of post to help with all the books sitting on my TBR bookshelf like this.
    Lisa Loves Literature

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    1. Lisa - I just learned about the TV show. I will have to read the book and then check out the show. Thank you for visiting!

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  9. I really liked The Terror--and read a good deal about the Franklin Expedition after I finished!

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    1. Jenclair - I think I remember you writing about it. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. Books about bookshops are some of my favourites! Little Bookshop of Murder sounds like a book that will be a fun escape. I hope that you enjoy all of these. :)

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    1. Candid Cover - I can't resist books about bookshops. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  11. That is a very interesting pile of books, if I may say that. None of them sounds familiar to me, except for the name Susan Wiggs. But they all sound very promising and the covers are really beautiful. Guess, my wishlist just grew again *sigh* Happy reading and stay safe and well.

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    1. Vi - Hopefully they will be good. My wish list grows every week because of these posts. I should avoid them, but it's impossible to do. LOL Thank you for stopping by!

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  12. I never read The Terror because I really didn't like Drood; but I can't wait to read The Lost and Found Bookshop! :D

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    1. Lark - I have heard The Terror is quite different than Drood, which also may not appeal to the same audiences. I hope you enjoy The Lost and Found Bookshop when you read it (and me too!). THank you for visiting!

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  13. miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook sounds fabulous. Hadn't heard of that one and the time period and espionage sound just the thing.

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    1. Sophia Rose - I am especially looking forward to that one. Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. We both picked Susan Wiggs' upcoming book for our Can't Wait Wednesday choice. It really does look good doesn't it? I haven't read one of hers in a long time. The Little Bookshop of Murder looks good too.

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    1. Yvonne - We have good taste. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  15. I love cozies about bookshops! I will definitely be looking for that one.

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  16. Oooh the Little Bookshop of Murder sounds fantastic. I love cozy mysteries!!!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Lauren - I hope it will be good. Thank you for visiting!

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  17. I have a hard time resisting books featuring bookshops. Thanks for sharing! :)

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  18. They aren't my kind of books but you already know what kind of books I like. lol

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    1. Mary - I do know what you like. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  19. All of these sound so good. I'm especially intrigued by the Susan Wiggs book.

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    1. Iliana - I couldn't resist with that title. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  20. Books from the Backlog is an adorable idea! I will have to check out Carole's post.

    Celia Rees' book sounds the most interesting to me --I enjoy historical fiction and the premise is intriguing.

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    1. Jenna - I hope you will check out Carole's post! It's usually held on Thursdays, but I post on Wednesdays.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  21. Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook sounds great. I love historical fiction but haven't read many that take place right after WWII so this is definitely going on my TBR.

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    1. Suzanne - I think so too! Thank you for stopping by!

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