Top Ten Tuesday - Hanna's Spring TBR 2014

It's that time again - my favourite topic of the whole year and the one TTT I will always do without fail. I love thinking about what I may (or more likely, may not) decide to read over the next few months. To be fair though, I've actually read five books from my Winter TBR although some of them have been very recent and I haven't reviewed them yet.

I'm struggling with this list, which is a first, but I've had plenty of time to read lately so I'm more or less caught up with the books I was dying to read.

Anyway, here's what Spring may hold for Booking in Heels:

1) The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer

This is a little bit cheatery as I started reading this today and I'm already at 65%, so it probably goes without saying that it will be read this Spring. However, I'll technically still be reading it after this post goes up so it still counts, right?

I wanted to draw attention to it simply because it's amazing. I had average-to-low expectations for it but it's completely blown me away. It definitely deserves to be the Costa Book of the Year and I really desperately want everybody to read it.

2) Tampa by Alissa Nutting

This book seems to be everywhere at the moment! I know Ellie is reading it at the moment and Kristilyn reviewed it yesterday - both have said that it's very graphic but interesting as a kind of character study.

I completely and totally admit that I first noticed it because of the cover, but I actually work with sexual offenders and paedophiles for my day job so it'll be interesting to read about it from a female (and fictional, as I am aware) of view.

And I have it on my Kindle, so I can actually read it in public now!

3) The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin
 
After I really liked Rosemary's Baby last month, I've been excited about reading some of the author's other work. I know a little more about the basic plot of Stepford Wives than I did with the other book, but I don't know the ending or twist (although I do know there is one).

I'm hoping for a story that's just as creepy, although hopefully it'll have a slightly less annoying main character. Maybe I'll even watch the film when I'm finished (the original, not the Nicole Kidman).

4) The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch
 
When I went shopping in Leeds with Ellie, Charlotte, Bex and Laura last week, this is the one book I was intent on buying. I babbled about it all day, I frantically ran round Waterstones looking for it, I immediately left it next to my bed... and then didn't read it.

I conveniently and coincidentally read The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies the week before this came out and was thrilled when I realised I didn't have to wait for the third book. 

I really should get round to reading this, especially as my boyfriend later went out of his way to get me a signed copy.

5) The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Speaking of signed copies, I also have a beautiful, autographed edition of The Goldfinch to read, bought for me as a Christmas gift by my boyfriend's parents. Clearly they know me well...

I'm quite new to Donna Tartt but I loved The Secret History last year and I have no doubt her newest book will be just as brilliant. I can't actually remember much about it, other than I was instantly intrigued by the blurb (which I actually have no recollection of right now).

6) Death and the Penguin by Andrev Kurkov

The problem with organising my own work schedule is that I frequently over-estimate the time I need for certain meetings, which leaves me ambling around Leeds while I wait for the next one. If you didn't already know, Leeds has the best Waterstones ever, which is occasionally... difficult.

Death and the Penguin was purchased on an absolute whim based on nothing but the two pages I read in the store. Oh, and the guy at the counter liked it. I'm in the mood for something a little quirky and tongue-in-cheeky, so this one might get read sooner rather than later.

7) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

I know, Charlotte, I know. Soon, I promise.






8) The Suicide Shop by Jean Teulé
 
You probably shouldn't read too far into this particular selection... 

'Run by the Tuvache family for generations, the shop offers an amazing variety of ways to end it all, with something to fit every budget.'

I know it's a little macabre. I bought it on a first-paycheck-book-splurge and like I said earlier, I'm looking for something a little bit different and odd.

9) Hollow City (Miss Peregrine series #2) by Ransom Riggs

I've literally only just this second noticed that that girl has a hole through her middle...

I'm surprised this hasn't had more hype actually. I think almost everybody read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children when it first came out, but the second has almost been sneaked onto the shelves.

Another one I found while trailing round Waterstones but I really want to read this quite a lot. It has similar creepy photographs and the one review I've seen said it was better than the first!

10) The Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
 
I actually bought this about four years ago, when I was still living in my University flat. I think I was going through a bit of a high fantasy stage, but naturally I never actually got round to reading it.

Last week's Top Ten Tuesday was 'The Best Books in XXX Genre' and an awful lot of people chose 'Fantasy.' I was actually amazed at how many lists this book showed up on, so maybe it's time I finally gave it a go.

What's on your reading list this Spring?