Where I give in to new books, for St Patrick's Day

    So, this was it.  The day I officially said, "I've had enough of the Double Dog Dare Challenge! There are some new books I need to buy!"  Look below for what tempted me:

                                                           

It felt darn good to buy new books again.  And let myself start  reading one right away.  I know I bought the other ones for my surgery, but I ended up only reading one of them.  So I was going on the
'I read all my own books but one, that I bought after Dec 31' idea, for the challenge.  This is my  official surrender.  I love shiny new books! I am a proud bookaholic.  I love my new books!!

The Peter Lovesey was the first time I saw it in paperback, today, so I grabbed it.  The Agency series looks fabulous, A Spy in the House is book one.  I mean, a spy agency filled with top secret female investigators, set in Victorian England? I'm not sure why I haven't paid attention to it before.  I know it's been mentioned here and there on blogs. I can't remember who was writing about it this past week, that made me put it in stars in my 'to get' journal I carry with me.  And A Monster Calls - I've been waiting for AGES for it to come out in softcover, and finally, it's here.  *happy dance*!

St Patrick's Day Reading
I also have just realized there are only 3 days left until St Patrick's Day.  Part of the reason I gave in to the books above, was because Lesa at Lesa's Book Critiques had this wonderful post on Irish books to read.  Her  review in the same post of Buried in A Bog made me want to.read. the. book. right. now.  This is what prompted me to run to the bookstore on my way home from work, tonight.  Buried in A Bog is the book I've started reading right away. It's been ages since I read a cosy mystery, and I am really enjoying it. Set in a tiny village in Cork, it's a lot of fun so far. Below, are the rest of the books I pulled from my shelves for reading for St Patrick's Day, and to celebrate being part Irish myself.
                                                             

I'm sorry the photo is sideways.  It won't load onto the post properly.  Grr.  I know I won't get them all read by Sunday.  But I get to choose, and that's part of the fun.

What are you reading for St Patrick's Day?

Redshirts or books I am excited about reading

I have to thank Christa at Hooked on Books for this post.  When I saw this book, I think my heart  started pounding:

 
 

It's out?  At last?  The book about the subject we all joke about:  how red shirts on a Star Trek episode meant the character was going to die.  Well, John Scalzi has written a book that while not taking place on the USS Enterprise, is about what being a redshirt could be like, if  you were on a ship exploring space, with a captain, first officer and doctor who somehow always survive dangerous encounters - and the lowly crew members selected to join the missions, do not.

It's not out yet! June 5!  I. Must. Get. This. June 5.  OMG!!!!  Suddenly, my reading life looks exciting again.

I am waiting, not so patiently now, for:
  
All these to come out in soft cover:
- Outrage by Artur Indridason  (Come on publishers, it was supposed to be out in April!  It's JUNE now, where's my book????)

- A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness (ditto.  Why are soft covers waiting so lo-o-o-ong to come out now????? There are so many of us with back problems who can't carry hardcovers!  Move along, publishers!)

- Charles Dickens - Claire Tomalin - this doesn't even have a date yet!!!!

- The End of the Wasp Season - Denise Mina - at a huge size, this is soft cover, but much too large to carry around.


- The Beggar's Opera - Peggy Blair (ditto, really heavy oversize  paperback.  Not sure when it will be in a smaller size). A mystery set in Cuba, it sounds wonderful. 

- Flashback - Dan Simmons - ooh! out this month !  hurray!

On the new books in paperback front, I am delighted to say that The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill is out in softcover.  It just came out here, so I grabbed it on Wednesday. 

Do you wait for books to come out in softcover, Gentle Reader?  Can you wait that long?

*****All this being said, I am aware Redshirts is coming out in hardcover.  I am also going to buy it June 5, take it home, and read it - I hope in one sitting, but at the house.  I don't care.  I know it's not 'Star Trek', but it is about how the red shirts find a daring plan to survive their missions.  I have to read it asap!!   

*****Added June 2:  Peggy Blair left a comment this morning after I put up this post (I'm so excited!) The Beggar's Opera will be out in paperback (small size) next February, along with the second book in the series.   Thank you, Peggy! I have a list started now for next year's books to come out!


****Also Raidergirl reminded me in the comments that Arnuldur Indridason's new book, Black Skies, is due out in Canada in July. It doesn't feature Erlendur, however, either.  So I have TWO books now I'm waiting for by him!  lol (added June 2)