Reading Queue is a monthly meme where you share what books you plan to read for the month. You can hop to other blogs and see what others are reading and maybe find someone reading the same thing as you! Or you can ask for people to vote on what you should read next if you can’t decide. Reading Queue is hosted by Book Tasty and Books: A true story.
To Read
A Classic – A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes #1)
The new BBC Sherlock season comes out and I want to finally start reading the original Sherlock Holmes to get ready for it. I’ve been waiting so long for them to come back!! Also how cool is this BBC edition? I’m thinking of buying it even though it’s free and in the public domain….
For Review – The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain
This looks like a cool fantasy from a local author of mine, Bree Despain. I read her Dark Divine series about werewolves and they were pretty good. I’m excited for this one that comes out in March.
For Fun – The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini
I won this for finishing my library reading challenge last summer. It’s a stand alone novel and it looks like a fun, snarky read. The other books I picked this month are kind of heavy and I wanted something light and different to mix it up a bit. And as much as I love series I read way too many of them and I find reading a stand alone novel very refreshing. Less commitment and more fun :)
TBR Challenge – Messenger by Lois Lowry
I got this as a present from my sister in law a few years ago and I loved the first two books in the Giver series. If I read fast maybe I can squeeze in the last book, Son, too!
How I Did Last Month
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
I liked some parts of this book and didn’t like others. I think the movie was actually much better than the book. I watched the made for TV version with Jane Seymour and Ian Mckellen. The book tended to be very repetative (did you know she has to make a hard decision? It’s really hard. It’s this decision she has to make and guess what. It’s tough. And it’s going to be really hard). But the author came up with some great characters which is what I loved about this book.
Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike
This one was just okay for me. It was a very loose contemporary retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel but it felt more like the Bill Cosby movie “Ghost Dad” mixed with Mean Girls than anything else.
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
This got returned to the library before I could start it. :( So I still haven’t listened to an audiobook yet. I’m on the list again at the library so hopefully I will get it again soon.
Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund
I’m currently reading this one and I’m loving it! I love the gender reversal of the Scarlet Pimpernel and I love the sci-fi world and politics that are going on. The pace feels a little faster than the first book in this series, For Darkness Shows the Stars. They are more like companion novels anyway so you should pick this one up even if you haven’t read the first one! I like it better so far than For Darkness Shows the Stars and that’s saying something because I loved that book.
Lori says
Your descriptions are hilarious! Life After Theft was just okay for me as well. :-/
I can’t wait for Sherlock to come back!!!!!! Did you see the trailer with Watson’s mustache? It cracked me up. I hope the explanation for that ending is good. And I hope you enjoy your books this month. :-)
Jessica says
Yeah I saw the trailer! Maybe the mustache is for grieving?? LOL :) And there’s a mini-episode online that I still need to watch. Have you seen it yet? I’m going to watch it right now. It’s 7 minutes woohoo!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/shorts/sherlock-mini-episode-many-happy-returns/?elq=d01ec0bbcc024ae9999e89ca9a6133f6&elqCampaignId=780
I’m am absolutely dying for the explanation of how Sherlock lives!!!!!! I agree – it better be good.
Pamela D says
I want to reread the Sherlock Holmes stories that go with the Sherlock show too! :) Maybe I will do it after all the Sherlock episodes for series 3 have aired.
Emma @ Hopeful Happiness says
I took a whole class devoted to Sherlock Holmes as part of my undergrad so I’m all Sherlocked out!
I too didn’t love Life After Theft. For some reason I went into it thinking that the ghost would be narrating and was surprised to discover that it was the guy instead. I almost think a narration by a ghost would be much better since I like to think ghosts can go anywhere and hear and see all sorts of things.
I need to get around to reading Son!
Angie says
So I see you read Scarlet Pimpernel and another one of my blogs is doing a major break down of that book… so I thought you might want to check it out: http://novelideareviews.com/classically-challenged-the-scarlet-pimpernel-part-iii/
I tried to read a Sherlock book once many many years ago. Maybe I should try it again. I just didn’t love it at the time.
Angie
Laura Fabiani says
I loved the TV version of The Scarlet Pimpernel with Jane Seymour too. I have the book but have yet to read it. I read the first two books in the Giver series too but not Messenger. I’d like to read it too at some point. Enjoy your reading in January!
Michelle says
The other Normals sounds interesting, I’ve not heard of this before. Fingers crossed you get Cold Sassy tree back soon.
Good luck on this months Reading queue.
Alysia @My Little Pocketbooks says
Wait did you just say you liked the movie better than the book? WOW! That is a first. LOL! :) I have to say that I have held on to a book, paid the fine and all just so I could finish it and nt return it. I know. So sad.