Saturday, December 8, 2018

Book Haul: Ignore The Books Behind The Curtain



Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. I get to show off all the books I’ve gotten recently. I’m supposed to be on a book-buying ban, but these books were all trades, gifts, or giveaway wins. They don’t count, right? Let’s pretend they’re not sitting in my bedroom right now. They don't exist! 







Ignore The Books Behind The Curtain






Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman




The deep and enduring friendship between Vincent and Theo Van Gogh shaped both brothers' lives. Confidant, champion, sympathizer, friend, Theo supported Vincent as he struggled to find his path in life. They shared everything, swapping stories of lovers and friends, successes and disappointments, dreams and ambitions.

















Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie





Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria, and reignite their passion—for each other and for their homeland.















What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton




For the first time, Hillary Rodham Clinton reveals what she was thinking and feeling during one of the most controversial and unpredictable presidential elections in history. Now free from the constraints of running, Hillary takes you inside the intense personal experience of becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major party in an election marked by rage, sexism, exhilarating highs and infuriating lows, stranger-than-fiction twists, Russian interference, and an opponent who broke all the rules. This is her most personal memoir yet.
















A Time To Dance, A Time To Die: The Extraordinary Story Of The Dancing Plague Of 1518 by John Waller





The true story of a wild dancing epidemic that brought death and fear to a 16th-century city, and the terrifying supernatural beliefs from which it arose. In July 1518 a terrifying and mysterious plague struck the medieval city of Strasbourg. Hundreds of men and women danced wildly, day after day, in the punishing summer heat. They did not want to dance, but could not stop. 

Throughout August and early September more and more were seized by the same terrible compulsion. By the time the epidemic subsided, heat and exhaustion had claimed an untold number of lives, leaving thousands bewildered and bereaved, and an enduring enigma for future generations. Drawing on fresh evidence, John Waller's account of the bizarre events of 1518 explains why Strasbourg's dancing plague took place. In doing so it leads us into a largely vanished world, evoking the sights, sounds, aromas, diseases and hardships, the fervent supernaturalism, and the desperate hedonism of the late medieval world. At the same time, the extraordinary story this book tells offers rich insights into how people behave when driven beyond the limits of endurance.












Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle




Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks.








Have you read any of these? What did you think?











42 comments:

  1. I have the Hillary Clinton book on my ereader but haven't read it yet. I have a lot of political memoirs I need to get to next year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of my goals next year is to read more about politics. I’m hoping to find some good, non-tedious political memoirs.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  2. These all look like good books. Let It Snow looks like something I would read! Hope you enjoy them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Let It Snow isn’t my usual read, but I wanted a Christmas book. :)

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  3. Americanah is one I read earlier this year and it is very very woke on a lot of subjects. I would be curious to hear what you think of that one when you read it! It's quite the tome though. I have heard good things about Let it Snow as well - perfect for this season. Happy reading these new books x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn’t know that Americanah was so big until it showed up at my house. It’ll be a while before I get to it. I tend to procrastinate big books.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  4. You have very interesting books here AJ! After Michelle we get Hillary :-) Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I’m still trying to decide if I want to read Michelle’s biography. I’ve heard good things about it.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  5. I'd love to read the one about Vincent and Theo! I hope it's as good as it sounds. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. The dancing plague book sounds fantastic...and freaky!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of the other books I read had a chapter on the Dancing Plague. It was really interesting. That’s why I needed a whole book about it. :)

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  7. I was curious about Vincent and Theo. I may get it from the library. I read Let It Snow a while back. I liked Johnson's story the best, but all three were cute, and I liked that they were connected.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I’m glad you liked Let It Snow! I’m going to read it on Christmas.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  8. I haven't read any of these but the Clinton book sounds interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope it is. I don’t think I’ve ever read a political memoir.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  9. I haven't read any of these. I've heard and read reviews of Clinton's book, but I'm not interested in reliving the disaster of 2016

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That’s understandable. I debated a lot about reading it, but I want to learn more about politics, so this might be a good place to start.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  10. Nice mix in your current haul and one perfect for the xmas season. Enjoy :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've been hoping to read Americanah since I read We Should All Be Feminist last year. I've also been curious of Vincent and Theo :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I still need to read We Should All Be Feminists. Lots of people say that’s the author’s best book.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  12. I haven't read any of your new books, Aj, but I'm curious both about the Van Gogh brothers, and Hillary's book. I think I'm going to have to get my hands on them :)
    I hope you'll enjoy all your new books.
    Have a wonderful week ahead and happy reading.
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh my gosh Van Gogh! My interest is peaked. Enjoy your books :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ohh Let It Snow! That's the perfect read for this winter season haha :) I hope you'll enjoy it, I found it fun to read overall :) x

    ReplyDelete
  15. I personally consider your book buying ban intact since it sounds like there was no money involved, lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, that’s my theory, too. I can have all the books I want if they’re free.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  16. I was never jealous of anyone's haul until I got to this one! I want all of these books!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Aww yay! I enjoyed Let It Snow! I can't wait to see what you think!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Nice haul! I really want to read Vincent and Theo.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Is the "dancing plague" the St. Vitus Dance? 💃

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don’t know. I haven’t read it yet :). I mostly got the book because I liked the title, and it was mentioned in another book I read.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  20. I LOVE Let it Snow! I try to read it every winter. Hope you like it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I read Let It Snow a few years back. It was cute and kind of what I expected.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hopefully it’s a fun way to spend Christmas because reading that book is what I’m going to be doing.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

      Delete
  22. I listened to What Happened on audio and really enjoyed it. Even more than I thought I would. HRC is a great speaker/narrator and kept me tuned in and interested. It left me equal parts enraged, informed and hopeful.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I enjoyed Americanah very much and I love pretty much everything Adichie has written! I'm intrigued by the Dancing Plague book because the history just sounds so weird, and I think I'd be interested in the Van Goghs story too. I didn't even know Vincent had a brother!

    ReplyDelete
  24. All of these sounds good except HRC's book. I hate her. Anyone but her! I voted Sanders! =)

    Mary

    ReplyDelete