Look, I know Christmas is still months away, but it’s the early bookdragon who gets the book, right?
I’m pretty sure that’s how that saying goes. So I love books. That’s no secret. But I also love not spending money on myself. I blame my Scots-Irish roots and also my grandmother, who I apparently inherited this from. Along with my brown eyes in a sea of people with gorgeous blue eyes. So … thanks for that, I guess? Bless her heart.
My Christmas list is usually just … books. My husband hates it because it’s not “fun,” but you know what’s better than waking up to a stack of books on December 25th? Nothing. That’s what. There is no better feeling. It was a trick question.
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is books I’ve read that I’d like in my personal library. But I tend not to hang on to a lot of books once I’ve read them, so I decided to spin it a little bit to books I’m hoping to get (which I haven’t read yet) for my personal library.
Also, I’ve been a really good girl this year, so surely I’m not on Santa’s naughty list and deserve all the books, right? Okay, well, “good” is a relative term. But, I mean, I haven’t, like, stabbed anyone lately or set anything on fire or accidentally summoned Satan or something, so I feel like that should qualify, yeah?
Things My Son Needs to Know about the World
I will forever and always read every single book Fredrik Backman puts out. He’s one of the few authors I consider auto-buy. Problem is that he’s sometimes hard to find around here. I’ve only previously read fiction books from him, and this is nonfiction, but it’s giving me a lot of Robert Fulghum vibes (best known for All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten) and I love that sort of anecdotal style, so I have high hopes for this one!
Darkdawn
I’m doing this one all sorts of out of order, because I haven’t even started the series yet. Since I heard there was a bit of a nasty cliffhanger at the end of book two, I figured I’ll just wait and read all three of these back-to-back. I already own Nevernight and Godsgrave, so really I just need this when it comes out and a little bit of free time and I’ll be golden.
You Took the Last Bus Home
I’ve been following Brian Bilston on Twitter for some while now (and you all should, too). I love his wordplay and creativity, and the little poems he writes often make me giggle. I’m not looking for some great poetic literature here (although, some of his poems do make quite poignant observations of the world, in a sort of tongue-in-cheek manner). This book, like all his Twitter poems, is likely to just be fun, and my daughter’s particularly getting into poetry lately, so I think this would be something for both of us.
The Sign of Nine
I absolutely love this series. Didn’t love the first book, I admit, though I did enjoy it. But after that? Series really took off. I will forever buy the rest of this series, however many G.S. Denning should grace us with. The only reason I don’t own this already is because my library is where I first discovered this, and they have books one through three and I was so sure they’d get in book four. I also requested it, just in case they forgot. Since it hasn’t happened yet, I’ve sort of just given up on it.
How to Make Friends With the Dark
I just want to put this out there upfront: I fully intend to ugly cry while reading this. I think this is one of those books where you kind of have to? I’ve heard such good things about this, though, and that blurb automatically caught my attention. Every now and then, I like to read books that I know will shatter my emotions into a billion pieces.
Loki: Where Mischief Lies
Loki. Mischief. Enough said. MOVING ON!
But seriously, what is there about this book that wouldn’t make someone want it?! I still haven’t read anything from this author, but all the lovely bookish people whose opinions I trust seem to love her work, and that’s good enough for me.
How to Write Good
I’ve always loved watching Ryan Higa on his YouTube channel. He’s hilarious, but also quite insightful, and just all-around entertaining. So a book with a more personal look at his life and also the things he’s learned? Yes, please.
The Dark Is Rising Sequence
This is 100% one of those nostalgia things. Of all the books on this list, this is the only series that I’ve actually already read. I absolutely loved this series as a kid. It was definitely my favorite. I even named my cat Pendragon after this, and I always hoped my mother would let me get an all-gray cat to go with him who I would name Cadfan. Never happened, but hey, I still might one day. ((Pendragon himself is still alive and well and spoiled rotten, in the custody of my father, because when I moved away for college I didn’t have the heart to split up the two cranky old men.))
I had this series, but now my mother has it. Because when I left for college, somehow she got custody of all my old stuff, on the off-chance that my younger sister was interested in any of it and might want to use it. (Spoiler alert: she isn’t.) Struggles of being an older sibling. My stuff isn’t always mine. So this series is one that I really want on my shelves again, since it’s not looking like I’m getting it back from my mother any time soon.
The Memoirs of Lady Trent
Dragons, you guys. DRAGONS. But also … do you see how gorgeous those covers are?! This is one that I’m like … yeah, I can borrow it from the library, but I’m 95% sure I just want to own those gorgeous things, please and thanks. Usually, I like to make sure I’ll enjoy a series before buying the whole thing, but this is one of those where if I don’t enjoy it, I’m fairly certain my husband will, so either way it’s a win.
Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky
I’ve been waiting for this one for what seems like forever. I stumbled across the author on Twitter and saw mention of this book, and ever since then I’ve just been waiting to throw my money at him. You know, like you do. This was originally supposed to come out next year, but its release was moved up, because every now and then the universe does listen.
That natural history of dragons book looks so good.
And back when I celebrated Christmas, I used to buy gifts for people year-round as something caught my eye. That was a nice way to spread out the cost and wait for sales. It’s never too early to shop for it!
My TTT.
Doesn’t it? There’s a whole series! And I think she’s just started a new series? I don’t know. All I know is I saw the author has a new book with baby dragons on it, and I think it said it was a spin-off series, so I obviously have to read this one first, but BABY DRAGONS!
That’s what I do, too! I’ve already got my little stash in my side room of Christmas gifts that I’ve been buying. xD I also start a wishlist of things that I watch for sales through the year, and I’ll start making a Black Friday list soon, too. :3
Good selection you have there. I am wishing for the Percy Jackson for my birthday. To be honest, I still don’t have a book wishlist for Christmas.🤔 I better start making a wishlist!
It’s never too early to start! My wishlist is a little *too* long, I think, thanks to all these book bloggers. xD
I hope you get them! My mother just won a set of Percy Jackson books last night, so I’m planning on borrowing them from her. xD
I really want to read The Natural History of Dragons, too. Haven’t gotten there yet, though.
I haven’t yet figured out which books I want to ask for this Christmas. (I know some of the books I’m *giving* for gifts this year, though. Gods of Jade and Shadow is one, and What Kitty Did Next is another.)
I feel like “I want to but haven’t gotten there yet” pretty much sums up my entire TBR quite aptly. xD
Oooh those sound like great gifts! I feel like giving books are easier to choose than getting, for some reason? I’ve already chosen quite a few books for gifts, too.
I think it’s easier to pick books to give as gifts because I tend to gift books that I’ve already read and loved, while I ask for books that are new-to-me.
Same! Usually it’s simply a case of, “Oh, I know so-and-so would love this!” after I finish reading something.
I love your take of the theme. The books I want to the holidays is long but I know I want all The Lunar Chronicles this year. Here is my post- https://paigesofbook.blogspot.com/2019/08/top-ten-tuesdays-books-i-never-get-rid.html
Oh, that’s a good item for a wishlist! I still haven’t read them, but everyone talks about how great they are. I found the first two at a local book sale, but I just haven’t had time to pick them up yet. Have you read them yet?
Not yet. I don’t have copies yet.
I didn’t know if it was one of those things where you wanted them to read them the first time or if you wanted them because you loved them so much. I hope you’re able to get copies of them. 😀
I haven’t read any of these, but I’m sure they’re all wonderful and you deserve to find all of them under your Christmas tree. Good luck with that!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Ha, thanks a ton!
I also have a Christmas list started. Although, so far it’s just Goblet of Fire illustrated edition because publishers don’t publish enough books in December. (I’ve usually already read any other new releases I really wanted to read before Christmas comes along). I just got a copy of How to Make Friends With the Dark, so that will break me soon, and I’m also excited for Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky! I hope you get all the books for Christmas!
Right? It seems like all the great books I really want to read are coming out in September to November. xD I love the illustrated versions of HP, though! What a great thing to ask for.
How are books not fun?? I give my boyfriend my whole wishlist and say, “Pick 2 and surprise me.” And yeah, there IS nothing better than waking up to a stack of books! (confession: sometimes, at cheap library sales, I grab a bunch of titles that look cool and then wrap or box them up and “give” them to myself a couple of months later, when I’ve forgotten what I bought. Two thrills for the price of one!)
Memoirs of Lady Trent would be a great series to own — I don’t even read dragon books and I still investigated it based on the cover alone. A certain aspect of the first book’s ending ticked me off so much I refuse to continue, but it’s so pretty that I’m mad I’m too mad to get over it. Very few people have reacted like me, though, so I hope you’ll enjoy it! I thought it was wonderful 95% of the way through.
So sorry, but apparently your comments fell into the void that is my spam filter. 😮 I just love this idea of gifting yourself books! I do something similar with Kindle. I buy a Kindle book and don’t send it to my Kindle, and then when I check my Kindle library, it’s like Christmas came early. xD Look at all these lovely titles I forgot I own.
We need, like, posters or collectible cards with book covers or something. This should be a thing. Since just because we don’t like a book, doesn’t mean we don’t still want to drool over its gorgeous cover. xD This is obviously a totally reasonable demand.
Holy wow, that Natural History of Dragons book looks so awesome! I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this series before but I’m definitely going to check it out. A few months ago I added How to Make Friends in the Dark to my shelf but I haven’t read it yet. I’m a little intimidated about the things it can do to my emotions haha I feel like I have to either just take the plunge or wait for whenever my mood is ready for it 😅 I hope Santa does you good and brings you at least a few of these books 😂
Right? Someone recommended it to me because … well, dragons, right? xD It seems a little hit or miss with people, but I’m hoping to love it.
I usually wait for a funny book to read something that will destroy my feels, so that I’m not reading too many sad things in a row lol.
I really, really can’t wait for Tristan Strong! And I am still very curious about the Lady Trent books.
I can’t resist the dragons. They get me every dang time. xD
[…] week’s Top Ten Tuesday is books I hope Santa brings me, but I already did that here and I even gave a peek under my own tree with some books I’m giving for […]