Why I Don’t Post My Book Hauls Anymore

In October 2017 we went on a little book-buying spree, our last book purchase of the year.  In the past, I’ve posted about book hauls and then never reviewed any substantial portion of the books.  It takes long time for me to post reviews (I have about a two month turn-around time assuming nothing else comes up).  However, I felt bad about posting pictures of the awesome books on my shelf and then never reviewing them.

Book Haul, Religious Book Reviews, Etc.

Earlier this month we went on a little book-buying spree.  Since I started book blogging, I’ve been overbuying, so this will be the last book purchase of 2017, with only one (possible) exception.  I’ve still got library cards and plenty of books at home that I haven’t read or reviewed yet, so this won’t make much of a difference to the blog.

We also got some picture books and other books that aren’t in this photo.  Most of the picture books have been read now, all the graphic novels, and about half of the books pictured.  A few I’ve even started reviews on.

Pre-Ordering Diverse

I think the last time I pre-ordered a book was in my Harry Potter days.  Not that I don’t get excited about books, and wait eagerly for certain new releases.  However, I don’t like to plunk my money down for something that doesn’t exist yet.  It’s the same reason I’ve never invested in a Kickstarter, although there are some I’ve followed closely and bought products from when they were released.

This year I’m going a little wild with book buying, and this week I pre-ordered a book, nope, two books!

The first one you’ve probably heard of because it’s been generating a lot of buzz in the blogosphere: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon.  This is an #ownvoice light romantic YA about an arranged marriage.  It’s told with two narrators, which I’m a little leery of, and it’s a YA romance, which is not my favorite genre.  But…  I read the first three chapters and sort of loved it.  And the cover is amazing:

And as we all know, I’m easily moved by gorgeous covers.  (Remember how I almost bought Everything, Everything even though I knew it was very problematic?)  The henna, the modern clothes with traditional coloring, the title written on a drink cup…  I probably shouldn’t have bought this in hardcover, but I’m a sucker.  Hopefully it lives up to the beginning.

The reason I started pre-ordering is because I was going on a bit of a book-buying spree.  Okay, a somewhat irresponsible one.  As I was browsing around, I stumbled across a book I had to get!  This was perfect because I’d been thinking -here I am blowing my whole book budget on things that I’ll read quickly, review slowly, and then not be able to buy anything for quite a while.

Enter Chasing Space: An Astronaut’s Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances by Leland Melvin.  I’ve been on quite a space kick lately, although you wouldn’t know it from the blog because other than Hidden Figures and a Mae Jemison book, all of the books have been very white.

Leland Melvin was in the NFL until an injury led him to seek a new career.  He started training for NASA but went deaf during the process.  After he recovered partial hearing, he was allowed to go into space.  The synopsis doesn’t even go into some of his other accomplishments because he’s already in an elite category of one!

This story ticks all the boxes.  STEM PoC role model, check.  Deafness and diversity, check.  Space, check.  Sports (not a box for me but certainly for others), check.  It was a must-buy!  Although I’ll certainly be looking out for instances of audism and looking at how his hearing “loss” and cure are treated, this is definitely the most interesting book release I’ve seen so far this year.

What books have you pre-ordered?  Are there any new releases you’re eagerly anticipating this year?

 

December 2016 Super Book Haul

I don’t normally post on weekends (or book hauls in general), but this weekend I just had to share!