I have books. And more books. And more books. And even more books. And that is not including any of my e-books. (I am not a format snob- read however you want! Good luck travelling on a Ryanair plane with 15 books.) My reading goal for the year remains 75, and I am staying on track. However, I have a few extra goals within that.
1. No more buying books until I go to Ireland. Two of my three cozy series just released new books, I have those, no spending money on new books until I work through my massive pile here. I have just borrowed the Sagas of Iceland from a co-worker, I am very excited! That will be top of the list so that I can return it to him.
2. Donate the books that I will not read (again). If I’m not going to reread it, or read it after owning it for 5+ years, I will donate it to someone who will. Sure, we have all had that book hiding for years that turned out to be amazing, but the hundreds of books I have waiting for me can’t all be the one.
3. Let myself buy books in Ireland- I know I say this ad nauseum but I love Irish chick lit, and I will take advantage of the copious amounts in Ireland. Muahahahahaha.
4. Seriously take stock of the books I have and need to read. This listing is a non-comprehensive list of the books I own that I need to read (I will continually add to this list). If you think I should read a particular book, let me know in the comments!
In no particular order:
–The Sagas of Icelanders, Jane Smiley (separate because it isn’t mine)
-The Gentry: Stories of the English, Adam Nicolson
– Former People: The Final Days of the Russian Aristocracy, Douglas Smith
– Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe, Rebecca Raisin
–High Heels Mysteries Boxed Set, Vol. I (#1-3), Gemma Halliday
–Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, Diana Gabaldon (I have picked this up probably 6 times and am about 60% done. Quite a slog now.)
–The Children of Henry VIII, Alison Weir
–Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart, John Guy
–Prince William: Born to be King, Penny Junor
–Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love, and Death in Renaissance Italy, Sarah Bradford
-Pedigree Mum, Fiona Gibson
–Queen Elizabeth: The Queen Mother: The Official Biography, William Shawcross
–The Vikings: A History, Robert Ferguson
–1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion, Morgan Llywelyn
–Island of the Swans, Ciji WAre
–The Templars and the Shroud of Christ, Barbara Frale
-Cavalier: A Tale of Chivalry, Passion, and Great Houses, Lucy Worsley
–Hidden Treasures, Fern Britton
–North by Northanger: Or the Shades of Pemberley, Carrie Bebris
–Recipe for Love, Katie Fforde
–The Princes of Ireland (The Dublin Saga, #1), Edward Rutherford
–Twelve Drummers Drumming, C.C. Benison
-That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, Anna Sebba
–The Alehouse Murders, Maureen Ash
–Between Two Thorns, Emma Newman
-The Left-Handed Marriage, A. O’Connor
–Mary, Queen of Scots, Antonia Fraser
–The Captive Queen of Scots, Jean Plaidy
If you have any suggestions as to which one I should pick up next, let me know! Suggestions are welcomed and appreciated 🙂
Until forever (because I will forever be reading),
The Historian!
“Blood and Beauty” by Sarah Dunant. I also have “The Birth of Venus” by her and have enjoyed both.
And if you like ancient Japan, the Shogun series by James Clavell is amazing!