Wishes for My TBR Pile #10: Discovery, Curiosity, and Convincing Gave Me These

Wishes for My TBR Pile is a monthly post where I list and sometimes discuss the books I’ve discovered and would like to get.

Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

With three hit shows on television and three children at home, the uber-talented Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say NO when an unexpected invitation arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No.

And there was the side-benefit of saying No for an introvert like Shonda: nothing new to fear.

Then Shonda’s sister laid down a challenge: just for one year, try to say YES to the unexpected invitations that come your way. Shonda reluctantly agreed ― and the result was nothing short of transformative. In Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes chronicles the powerful impact saying yes had on every aspect of her life ― and how we can all change our lives with one little word. Yes. (Goodreads)

I don’t consider myself a Shonda Rhimes fan. I’ve watched some of her shows and liked some episodes (Grey’s Anatomy is my comfort food) but I don’t consider myself a fan since I’m not dedicated to them. So when I first heard of this book, I didn’t intend to pick it up. However, after reading a review of it over at Brown Girl Reading, it seems like a book I should read and now I’d like to give it a try.

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Wishes for My TBR Pile #9: Fantasy and Folklore

Wishes for My TBR Pile is a monthly post where I list and sometimes discuss the books I’ve discovered and would like to get.

Note: Since changing my web address, I realized that my posts weren’t showing in Reader. I had to re-add myself to fix that glitch so if you use Reader, please let me know if you’re able to see my posts in there. I submitted a query in the WordPress forum but haven’t received any replies on how to fix it.

Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho (September 1, 2015)

At his wit’s end, Zacharias Wythe, freed slave, eminently proficient magician, and Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers—one of the most respected organizations throughout all of Britain—ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England’s magical stocks are drying up.

But when his adventure brings him in contact with a most unusual comrade, a woman with immense power and an unfathomable gift, he sets on a path which will alter the nature of sorcery in all of Britain—and the world at large… (Goodreads)

I first watched a review of this book in a YouTube video but after reading a review over at Lady Geek Girl and Friends, I added it to my TBR list. The story seems to be a hit or miss with readers but I’d like to read it and see for myself. It explores a variety of issues that I’m curious about.

Wishes for My TBR Pile #6: A Mixture of Contemporary and Classic

I am mighty overdue for a Wishes for My TBR post. I wasn’t going to do one at first because I’ve acquired many books due to discovering Book Outlet, but I’ve changed my mind.

My TBR pile is ever growing and I hardly place limits on it. Some people have bookshelves dedicated to their TBR piles, others, like me, have a digital list. I simply add books to my Goodreads “to-read” list and name it TBR pile. There are currently over 500 books on that list, some of which I’ve already read but have forgotten what they’re about. Will I ever whittle it down? I doubt it. Will I stop adding books to catch up? Nope. If I’m at a bookstore with a coupon in hand intent on purchasing a book, that’s the list I refer to. So it will stay as it is, growing larger and larger until it hits Goodread’s limit, whatever that is. The only pruning I’ll probably ever do is to remove a book that I’m no longer interested in reading. Anyways, let’s move on to the recent additions.

— Well, some aren’t recently added so let’s just describe them as recent mental additions. Hehe.

Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes (February 23, 2016)

Charmingly murderous antihero Joe continues his twisted quest for the perfect love in this thrilling follow-up to the “deeply dark yet mesmerizing” You (Booklist). When Joe follows the woman he wants to marry to the West Coast, he never imagines that his obsession will lead him to such tragedy…

Wishes for My TBR Pile: Booktubers Got Me Pumped; 9 Books Added

As you can tell from the title of this post, I’ve discovered booktube and I’m hooked. I even went ahead and created a YouTube channel though I haven’t posted anything and probably never will because I am just that shy. But I’ve been watching many videos and commenting on them. I just love to see people excited about books and reading. It’s infectious!

Most of the books on this list are recommendations from booktubers. They were so excited about these reads that I got excited too and immediately added them to my list. I think I’m forgetting a few, though, because I sometimes get caught up in the video and forget to hop over to Goodreads to update my to-read list. Anyways, the books:

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch (October 14, 2014)

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior — and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics — and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.