New Curiosities – week of August 20th
New Curiosities features new books being published in the current week or month, and that I am curious to investigate. While it isn’t a complete list of the week’s new books, I do hope you’ll make some interesting discoveries with me! Click on the titles to learn more about each book by visiting Goodreads!
* * *
New books coming out for the week of August 20th
Something Fictional
- The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
- The Roots of the Olive Tree by Courtney Miller Santo
- The Map of Lost Memories by Kim Fay
The Orchardist takes place in the American West at the turn of the 20th century, where an older man takes care of the fruit groves he has been growing for years, until he is interrupted by a surprising visit; it sounds like a powerful and potentially emotional read. The Roots of the Olive Tree centers around an olive grove and the life of women over five generations. One of the characters is a 112 year old matriarch trying to break the Guinness longevity record! The Map of Lost Memories takes place in 1925 and features a woman treasure hunter. I’m in love with this idea!
* * *
Something YA
- Two or Three Things I Forgot to Tell You by Joyce Carol Oates
- Spookygirl by Jill Baguchinsky
- The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors
- The Raft by S. A. Bodeen
I haven’t read Joyce Carol Oates in years, so much so that I have no idea whether I like her writing or not, but her new novel, Two or Three Things I Forgot to Tell You sounds like a good place to (re)start. Spookygirl features a young paranormal investigator. What can I say, I can’t resist stories of people seeing ghosts and investigating paranormal mysteries!
On a different note, The Sweetest Spell has one tasty premise; after her village is swept by a flood, a young girl is desired by all when it is discovered that she has one special ability : she can turn milk into chocolate! Not only do I need this book, I also want this ability! And finally, The Raft is a survival story at sea : one raft, a bag of skittles and sharks, a perfect mix for adventure!
* * *
Something Non-Fictional
- Sharp by David Fitzpatrick
- More Baths, Less Talking by Nick Hornby
Sharp is a memoir of depression and self-mutilation. It sounds like a possibly difficult read, but I am always interested in hearing real accounts of mental illness. I’ve also been wanting to read something non-fiction by Nick Hornby (I have really enjoyed his novels), and More Baths, Less Talking, a book of essays about reading, could be the first one for me!
So, another beautiful week ahead of us! Which book are you the most looking forward to reading?
So many good books!
I so want to read The Orchardist, and also the new one by Hornby. Looks like a lot of great new stuff coming out this time around!
“The Map of Lost Memories” caught my eye as I was unpacking it the other day at the bookstore. I love the ’20’s era so this is definitely going on my To-Read list!
And I noticed you are reading The Rook – me too! I love Myfanwy’s wit and humor =)
It’s the one I am the most looking forward too on this list; the era, the story, the main character, they all intrigue me!
I am loving my reading of the Rook, I have to agree about her humor! I wasn’t expecting that at all. Sadly I don’t have much time to read this week so my reading has been very slow.