Exploring My Bookshelves is a weekly meme created by Victoria at Addlepates and Book Nerds and co-hosted with Shannon at For the Love of Words. Visit either blog for the list of topics.
It’s been a while since I’ve done an Exploring My Bookshelves post. Life has been so busy since the new year started but now I’m catching up. I’ll start with this weekend’s topic and work my way back.
This week’s topic:
A romance novel (in honor of Valentine’s Day)
I choose one of my favorite romance novels — probably my only favorite romance novel since I can’t think of another that I like as much — A Love Noire by Erica Simone Turnipseed.
The novel is about the romance that develops between Noire, a African-American woman studying for her Ph.D., and Innocent, an investment banker from the Ivory Coast, and the obstacles that influence their relationship. I enjoyed reading about Noire and Innocent’s relationship but I love how diverse the characters are (African, American, Caribbean) and that the author drops some historical facts every now and then. I think Noire is studying anthropology.
Last week’s topic:
An advanced readers copy (ARC) of a novel
For this I choose an ARC I received a day or so ago — The Last Days of Magic by Mark Tompkins. I requested it when I saw it advertised in a Shelf Awareness newsletter.
The synopsis sounds interesting, but I want to try this novel because the author incorporates “myth, legend, fairy tales, and Biblical mysteries” into the story. I think the story will keep me alert as I try to figure out what myth or Biblical tale it’s alluding to. I think it will be great. Here’s its Goodreads page.
January 29 topic:
Out of my comfort zone
I read a variety of books but I guess the ones that are really outside my comfort zone are plays and poetry. For this answer, I chose an anthology of metaphysical poetry, which I had to read for a British literature class in college (I didn’t like it), and The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, which is a comedy about London’s upper society that I also had to read for the same class. The School for Scandal was funny but I preferred people to tell me about it than to read it myself. At least by the end I knew what malapropism means.
January 22 topic:
Something or someone special
I assume this means a book that reminds me of something or someone special. For this I choose The Templeton Twins Have an Idea by Ellis Weiner, illus. by Jeremy Holmes. I was with one of my favorite cousins when I first tried to buy this book, so now whenever I look at it, I think of the awesome time I had with him that summer and fall.
The Templeton Twins Have an Idea is a humorous middle-grade mystery novel about 12-year-old twins, John and Abigail, who use their great analytical skills to escape the clutches of their kidnappers. It’s a fun story and the illustrations are wonderful.
How this meme works:
- Take a “shelfie” (a picture of your bookshelf). Preferably literal, but e-shelves work too.
- Write something on the day’s prompt.
- Give the blurb and the cover of the book (and what you thought of it if you’ve read it).
- Link back to Victoria’s post.
Zezee with Books 
Oh, what a cool idea for a book post! I think I’ll start doing it next week as well.
I haven’t read any of the novels you posted about, but the metaphysical poetry books are beautiful! And daunting…
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Yea, it was pretty daunting.
I hope you have fun with it.
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