Making a List, Checking it Twice ...

... of books to take on Christmas vacation with me!

I still have some reading to finish for the Cybils, but I'm also packing some books that are just for me.  I intend to fully relax over the holidays.

I have two historical romances.  I've been very excited about COLD-HEARTED RAKE, Lisa Kleypas's return to historicals.  Eloisa James is another historical author that I love, and I picked up a copy of AN AFFAIR BEFORE CHRISTMAS because it seemed thematically appropriate.

I made an amazing second-hand store find at my local Half Price Books: INSTEAD OF THREE WISHES by Megan Whalen Turner.  This collection of seven short stories is hard to find (in my experience).  I love Turner's Queen's Thief series, so I'm happy to try something else by her - especially something this short!

LANCELOT AND THE LORD OF THE DISTANT ISLES or, THE BOOK OF GALEHAUT Retold is an Old French medieval romance that fell into obscurity until this translation by Patricia Terry and Samuel N. Rosenberg in 2006.  This edition also includes wood engravings by Judith Jaidinger.  I'm a huge fan of Arthurian romance, and Galehaut is said to include quite the interesting love triangle.

What are you reading?

"Waiting on" Wednesday: A Conspiracy of Kings

Megan Whalen Turner's new book is coming out 23 March 2010. Any of ya'll are welcome to send it to me as a birthday present. I just can't believed that I've missed that it's coming out 'til now.

For those of you who haven't read the series, I highly recommend starting with THE THIEF. It'll still be good if you know how it ends (due to reading the other books), but you won't get the full force of the twist. Don't read the backs of the other books, as the blurbs contain spoilers.

Or, as the author herself puts it:

Many people have read them and enjoyed them entirely out of order. However, reviews and even the jacket copy for later books, will reveal major plot points for earlier books.

I'd like to think that finding out major plot points ahead of time won't ruin The Thief, but it will certainly change the experience.

On the other hand, I think The Thief spoils The King of Attolia. So there are pluses and minuses to any order you choose.

But whether you're smart enough to read the books for yourself or not . . .

OMG! OMG! NEW BOOK IN MY FAVORITE SERIES! PARTY!