Book Haul #63: Just Some Books

Some bought, some used, some free.

Books to cheer me up as the craziness in the world rages on.

PURCHASES

PHYSICAL

Petit: The Ogre Gods, book 1 by Hubert Boulard, illus. by Bertrand Gatignol, transl. by Jeremy Melloul

It took me forever to find a copy of this book (because I didn’t want to purchase it from Amazon). Everywhere was sold out. I really like the illustrations, and I hope the story is good.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson, illus. by Joe Sutphin

Another cover buy. It’s middle-grade fantasy AND it’s illustrated!! 😀 Of course, I couldn’t pass it up.

The Magic Order, Vol. 1 by Mark Millar, illus. by Olivier Coipel

A friend recommended this to me because I like The Boys and magic and such. I’d been checking it out too because of the title, so hopefully one day I’ll sit my ass down and go through the comics I own.

The Boys Omnibus, Vol. 1 by Garth Ennis, illus. by Darick Robertson, Peter Snejbjerg, and Rodney Ramos

I read the first volume of the comic book series and really liked it, and I enjoyed the TV series adaptation on Amazon, so I HAD to get myself a copy of the comic book. The version I read was electronic and borrowed.

Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-San, Vol. 1 by Honda (illus.), transl. by Amanda Haley

A friend recommended this to me (we work together at a bookstore) and, oh man! It was such a fun read! It was amazing how similar the protagonist’s experiences were to mine as a bookstore employee (similar complaints/observances about customers and managing inventory and all that).

GUARDS! GUARDS! by Terry Pratchett

I just now realize that the picture I found of the hardcover collector’s edition doesn’t have the title on the front. I guess some have them and some don’t…? Anyway, the one I own does. I like these hardback collector’s editions. They aren’t too heavy or large, and the engraved illustrations on the front are very appealing.

Maskerade by Terry Pratchett

Now I own all the Witches books and can get on with reading them. I also like these covers of the Discworld books. The illustrations are so expressive. They make deciding on what version (collector’s hardback or these paperbacks) to collect very difficult.

The Inner City Mother Goose by Eve Merriam, illus. by David Díaz

Couple weeks ago, I visited a second-hand bookstore I sometimes visited pre-pandemic. I needed a change of scenery. I found this book while there and, after reading a few of the poems, decided I must get it. I’d never heard of it before. It contains “poems inspired by traditional nursery rhymes [that] depict the grim reality of inner city life.” If interested, check out this review of it on Bloomberg CityLab. Here’s one of the poems:

Boys and girls come out to play,
The moon doth shine as bright as day.
Leave your supper and leave your sleep,
And join your playfellows in the street.
Come with a whoop and come with a call:
Up, motherfuckers, against the wall.

E-BOOKS

The Bard’s Blade by Brian D. Anderson

Picky Eaters by S.J. Higbee

AMONG OTHERS by Jo Walton

I’m excited to have The Bard’s Blade and Among Others because I’ve heard great things about both and really want to read them. S.J. Higbee blogs over at Brainfluff. She mentioned Picky Eaters a couple weeks ago and snagged my interest since it’s a short story about an old dragon babysitting his grandkids. It was a fun read.

---

Library

E-Books

Feed by Mira Grant

I borrowed it for a buddy-read with a couple friends. It’s set after the zombie apocalypse happens. People have basically gotten used to living in a world filled with zombies. It focuses on a young woman, who works as a journalist for a blog, as she and her team, which includes her brother, follow a senator’s campaign to become the next U.S. president. It was good and made me think too much about what’s politically going on in the U.S. right now (lol).

---

ARCs

PHYSICAL

I’m beyond excited to have gotten ARCs of these books, so shout out to the publishers! (Grand Central Publishing and St. Martin’s Press, respectively)

The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

This was pubbed on August 4, and I haven’t read it yet because I received the ARC kind of close to the publication date. (I believe I won it in a giveaway.) I’m excited to have it. I read The Strain, a vampire apocalypse novel co-written by the two authors, and really liked it, so I’m pretty sure The Hollow Ones will be good too.

Glory: Magical Visions of Black Beauty by Kahran & Regis Bethencourt

The Bethencourts are a husband and wife photography team AND I LOVE THEIR WORK!!! Check out their Instagram to see their AMAZING work. So yeah, I was out of my mind excited when I got an ARC of their book, which will be pubbed on October 20. Their photographs celebrate the beauty, richness, and creativity of Black culture, experience, and people. The models are often children, and they look so amazing!! Def check out their work. Here’s the link to their website too.

E-books

I received these through NetGalley.

The Way Back by Gavriel Savit

I’m looking forward to reading this. I read Savit’s Anna and the Swallow Man, a YA historical fiction novel with some magical realism set during World War II, back when it came out and really liked it. I was so hooked! So I’ve had an eye out for whatever Savit drops next — and it’s The Way Back, which will be pubbed by Knopf Books for Young Readers on September 15. I want to read it soon.

Julia’s House Moves On by Ben Hatke (illus.)

A fantasy children’s picture book. It’s a fun read, and I’ll post a review soon. Of course, I was drawn to it because of the illustrations. I’ve always wanted to try one of Hatke’s books, so I’m glad I got to do so. It will be pubbed by First Second on September 29.

The Conductors by Nicole Glover

This sounds so good (and I love the cover!!). It’s fantasy; it’s historical fiction; the Underground Railroad is mentioned; and it takes place in post-Civil War Philly. I think (hope) I’ll like it. It will be pubbed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on March 2, 2021.

Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst

Not what I typically go for, but I decided to take a chance and check it out since it’s about a writer and might include some romance. It will be pubbed by St. Martin’s Press on April 20, 2021.

---

Ok. ThaT’s It. I’m Done.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU’VE READ ANY OF THESE.

Advertisement