Book Haul #49: Old to New

**Deep breath in** Ahh…the first book haul of the year. Who isn’t excited for that.

So in this haul are two books that I bought in the old year, hence the title of this post — “Old to New.” Anywho, to the books! 😀

Purchases

Bought last year

Last Stop on the Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck, illus. by Karl James Mountford

I immediately fell in love with the cover of this children’s picture book when I saw it in the bookstore over the Christmas holidays. I love the illustrations and the design of the cover as well as the pages within. It’s so beautiful. I HAD to buy it.

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M.T. Anderson, illus. by Eugene Yelchin

Millie’s review of this one got me. It sounds like a fun read. Also, it was on sale for a while at Barnes & Noble for 50%-percent off. I couldn’t pass up such a deal on a fun book that’s also illustrated.

Illustrated Harry Potter books boxed-set by J.K. Rowling, illus. by Jim Kay

I finally got a set of the illustrated Harry Potter books!! 😀 I have a little love/hate thing going with these books. I was excited for them when I first heard they’d be published, but was disappointed because they didn’t look how I imagined them to (not enough pictures because I thought there would be large illustrations on every single page; basically, I thought they’d be graphic novels). Still, I got excited when everyone was buzzing about them and showing them off. I wasn’t sure if I wanted copies, so I refused to spend my own money on them. Then Christmas 2019 came along and a coworker gave me a gift card to Barnes & Noble (so sweet of them), so I spoiled myself and got these 🙂 since they were discounted at the time.

Bought this year

I saw these two in the bookstore of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on a recent visit. I was interested because of the topics they cover.

Encyclopedia of Black Comics by Sheena C. Howard

I’m hoping to get some recommendations on comic book artists from this.

Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture by Ytasha L. Womack

I’d love to learn more about Afrofuturism, so I was beyond excited to find this book.

The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm: Tales from Alagaesia, Vol. 1 by Christopher Paolini

Though I’ve been struggling on my reread of the Inheritance Cycle series, which begins with Eragon, I still consider it a fantasy series I enjoy and was excited to learn that a new book in series would be published. I bought The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm as soon as I could and hope to start it as soon as I complete my reread. It’s a book of short stories, but if you’d like to know more of what it covers, check out Lindsey’s review. She shares just enough to spark your interest without giving anything away.

Pimp: The Story of My Life by Iceberg Slim

I think I read one or two of Iceberg Slim’s novels back in high school when I was interested in Black urban fiction. Pimp is his autobiography. I didn’t know about it until a dude came in the bookstore and asked for it. I was like, “I gotta get me a copy too.”

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Library books

Physical and audio

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

This nonfiction book is about a biotech startup company. It is very popular right now. I learned of it from Rincey Reads, a booktuber, and was glad when I saw a copy available at the library. I plan to start it soon.

Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy (narr.)

I’ve seen this book around but wasn’t much interested in reading it until I listened to an interview with the author on Longform Podcast. I immediately placed the book on my TBR and later placed the audiobook on hold at the library when I was trying to find something to listen to. It’s a harrowing read so far and shows how heartless and irresponsible Purdue Pharma was with its product, Oxycontin.

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Well, that’s all I have for this book haul.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of the books above.

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