This post is about my book-buying hobby, and it includes more books I purchased in 2022. Last month I started a tally of the books I purchased in the first half of the year.
Now it is time to show you the rest of the books that I have either won in giveaways or I was gifted. I will also include the numerous e-books I bought.
A third article will follow on all the books I’ve found lately in all the little free libraries I’ve been scavenging throughout the city. So stay tuned for that as well, if you want to see what fellow Montrealers have been reading.
Books Won
Let me start off the list with the few books I’ve won or were gifted to me without further ado.
Earlier in the year, I entered a giveaway by Kelly @baileysbookrecs and Liz @krimilovewanderlust, and I won The Butterfly Effect by Dot Hutchison. I had my eye on this book for at least a couple of years, and I’m so glad I finally have my own copy. Did I get to read it yet? Of course not, but having it sit on my shelf brings me unexplainable comfort.
Not long after my birthday rolled around, my daughter gifted me the second book in the Collector series, The Roses of May, also by Dot Hutchison.
Then last month I believe, I entered another giveaway, this time by Aina @readbydusk, and won The Bath Haus, by P. J. Vernon. According to Goodreads reviews, It seems like a great thriller. Although the characters are described as horrible, the plot seems intriguing, and the ending is explosive.
I also purchased The Ballerinas, by Rachel Kapelke-Dale from Amazon, as a birthday gift myself. Initially, I read the library copy, but I loved it so much that I absolutely had to buy my own copy. Looking at that cover alone brings me lots of joy.
Books I Bought
And now, let me enumerate the list of used books I bought from my favorite local second-hand bookstore.
The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion
I have heard lots of great things about the author, and I want to read at least one book by her. The author was mentioned on many platforms I follow, so of course, when I saw this book for a reasonable price, I had to grab a physical copy. I also bought an ebook by Didion, which I will mention shortly.
A Death In The Family by Karl Ove Knausgard
As part of the My Struggle series, this first book is about the author’s childhood and teenage years. A profound and gripping look into the struggles we all face in our daily lives.
Station Eleven by Emily St.James Mandell
The story of an actor who dies on the scene during the production of King Lear. With dual timelines, the author portrays the way fate connects people, even in strange times.
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. James Mandell
The book is centered around two intertwining stories. That of a woman’s disappearance aboard a ship at sea, and a massive Ponzi scheme collapse.
The Maid by Nita Prose
Exploring what it means to be different in a world where everyone seems to be the same, Molly Gray gets a job as a hotel maid. Her grandmother used to be her rock, but she recently died, and Molly is left to deal with life on her own. When she finds one of the hotel’s patrons dead in his room, things take a dramatic turn for Molly.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
This is a dark fairytale that is set over five decades. Danny and Maeve, two very smart siblings, have a hard time overcoming their unfair past that sent them into poverty. The Dutch House is a well-narrated tale of inheritance and forgiveness.
The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Erickson
A fourth book in the Ann Lindell series, I had seen it there many times before. Of course, when I bought it I had no idea it was part of a series, so another book that will sit on my shelves for a long time.
Death Angels by Ake Edwardson
At least this one is the first in a series, but I don’t have high expectations for reading this any time soon. I will buy any Nordic Noir books I can get my hands on, especially for those prices.
E-Books
During the Amazon Prime days, I finally bit the bullet and bought myself another Kindle. Years ago I had one but didn’t use it much because I couldn’t have access to the Libby app on it. At the time even ebooks were quite expensive, so I couldn’t afford to purchase many. Therefore, I gifted it to someone who got much more use out of it than myself.
I have had my Kobo for a few years, and I use it mainly for reading local library books. But as you will see, I still purchase a fair amount of books when there are promotions going on.
Let me start with the first e-book I purchased on my Kindle, then I will proceed with the Kobo ones.
Kindle Books
The only book I purchased so far on my Kindle, as soon as I received it, is a Nordic Noir, of course.
Cold as Hell by Lilja Sigurdattodir
This book is the Icelandic author’s latest release. I have previously read Betrayed by her earlier in the year, and I like her style. Another Nordic Noir to add to my list.
Also, I joined Kindle Unlimited for a three-month trial, and I’d like to read all the Robert Bryndza books before the trial expires. If not, most likely I will purchase them as well.
Kobo Books
And here are the few Kobo books that are waiting for me patiently to get to them – eventually! I will not give a synopsis or short description here, the article will be way too long. I will make a separate post solely on e-books if you guys are interested. Hit me up in the comments, and I shall oblige!
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert-1
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert-2
Other People’s Clothes by Calla Henkel
Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier
Three Perfect Liars by Heidi Perks
Still Life by Louise Penny
Play it as It Lays by Joan Didion
Unhinged by Thomas Enger and Jorn Lier Horst
Bitter Flowers by Gunnar Stalesen
Fallen Angels by Gunnar Stalesen
Varg Veum Collection by Gunnar Stalesen
I Invited Her In by Adele Parks
The Neapolitan Novels boxed set by Ellena Ferrante
The Lost Daughter by Ellena Ferrante
Cobble Hill by Cecily von Ziegesar
Deadly Little Lies by Stephanie DeCarolis
The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine- 1
The Killer in the Snow by Alex Pine- 2
She Never Left by CM Harris
The Snow Killer by Ross Greenwood-1
The Cold Killer by Ross Greenwood-2
No Bad Deed by Heather Chavez
And last but definitely not least, the most anticipated e-book that I’ve been waiting for a couple of years… drum roll:
The Final Nail by Stefan Ahnhem
I can never stop talking about the underrated Swedish author. His Fabian Risk series is another great introduction to Nordic Noir, especially for those of you who want to give the genre a try. This book is the final one in the series, and I’ve waited a couple of years to read it. I think before I do that though, I will reread the series from the beginning because too much time has elapsed between books. I shall see, but it’s definitely a possibility.
Concluding Words
These are many of the books that I purchased in the first half of the year, not to mention the ones that I already owned from previous years. And since I decided to start this series of articles, I’ve bought quite a few more. Also, I found quite a lot of treasures at the little free libraries around my neighborhood. That article should follow shortly.
