Here are

The top 8 books
I plan to read in December 2019

Click on the covers to know more

CURRENTLY READING

Treachery
I have deeply enjoyed the 3 previous books historical mysteries in this series on Giordano Bruno. This volume 4 was said to have been published in 2014, but I was never able to find it. Finally now available.
“Summer, 1585: As English ships are held captive in Spain, fear mounts of an Invincible Armada, built by King Philip II, and intended to invade English shores. Sir Francis Drake prepares to embark on an expedition by royal commission to cross the Atlantic and seize major Spanish ports, diverting Philip’s American treasure supplies to Queen Elizabeth. Giordano Bruno, radical philosopher and spy, accompanies his friend Sir Philip Sidney to Plymouth to oversee Drake’s departure. Unbeknownst to Bruno, Sidney intends to join the mission – and he wants Bruno to go too. But when a ship captain is brutally murdered, and Drake’s life threatened, it becomes clear that someone plans to destroy the expedition before it begins. Bruno and Sidney hunt for the killer, but are they being lured into a trap? And when Drake’s young wife and her cousin arrive, Bruno and Sidney find themselves thrown into an unexpected rivalry.”
I like the historical background so far. And there’s an esoteric book in the plot!
Received for review through Netgalley

Olga’s Egg
So far, very enjoyable. About the world of Fabergé’s eggs! Luscious descriptions.
Received for review through the publisher

Elder Anthony of Optina
I have a devotion to the Optina Fathers. This is book 2 in the series. Elder Anthony is incredible. In connection with this book blog, I discovered he loved reading A LOT, and he took lots of notes while reading.
I’m almost done, in the interesting excerpt of his diary.

READING NEXT

The first two are books that will come out early January, by two authors I really enjoy a lot.

Lady Clementine
“In 1909, Clementine Churchill steps off a train with her new husband, Winston. An angry woman emerges from the crowd to attack, shoving him in the direction of an oncoming train. Just before he stumbles, Clementine grabs him by his suit jacket. This will not be the last time Clementine Churchill saves her husband.
Lady Clementine is the ferocious story of the brilliant and ambitious woman beside Winston Churchill, the story of a partner who did not flinch through the sweeping darkness of war, and who would not surrender either to expectations or to enemies.”
Received for review through Netgalley

Dreamland
“The year is 1911 when twenty-year-old heiress Peggy Batternberg is invited to spend the summer in America’s Playground.
The invitation to the luxurious Oriental Hotel a mile from Coney Island is unwelcome. Despite hailing from one of America’s richest families, Peggy would much rather spend the summer working at the Moonrise Bookstore than keeping up appearances with New York City socialites and her snobbish, controlling family.
But soon it transpires that the hedonism of nearby Coney Island affords Peggy the freedom she has been yearning for, and it’s not long before she finds herself in love with a troubled pier-side artist of humble means, whom the Batternberg patriarchs would surely disapprove of.
Disapprove they may, but hidden behind their pomposity lurks a web of deceit, betrayal and deadly secrets. And as bodies begin to mount up amidst the sweltering clamour of Coney Island, it seems the powerful Batternbergs can get away with anything…even murder.
Extravagant, intoxicating and thumping with suspense, bestselling Nancy Bilyeau’s magnificent Dreamland is a story of corruption, class and dangerous obsession.”
Received for review through the publisher

Hyperbole and a Half
For the third year, I’m participating in the Winter Challenge organized by my library: the staff picks a book for you to read. Looks like they thought I was not reading many graphic books, though I read so many mangas this year! So should be an easy challenge

If I have time, I have 3 books I received this past year I would like to read finally:
If You Cross The River, by Geneviève Damas
La grande escapade, by Jean-Philippe Blondel
Les grands cerfs, by Claudie Hunzinger

CURRENT AND NEXT AUDIOBOOKS

Sur les chemins noirs
Recovering from a major accident, this author walks all over France through hidden ways. Also about escaping the radar of Big Brother and all the hyper connected society. I really enjoy it a lot.

The Lodger
“Somewhere in London a madman was at large. And then one night there came a knock at the door of a quiet lodging house in the Marylebone Road. . . . This novel, based on the Jack the Ripper murders, was made into a film by Alfred Hitchcock.”
Will be listening for The Classics Club

CURRENT GIVEAWAYS

We have several giveaways listed on the homepage

List of books I can swap with yours

Upcoming treat: come back tomorrow to enter my giveaway for my over 5,000 followers!

PLANS FOR DECEMBER

• Review the book I read for Classics Spin #13, and other recently finished books
• Prepare what I plan to read for The Japanese Literature Challenge 13 in January-March at Dolce Bellezza
• Start preparing my fun end of the year stats!

HAVE YOU READ
OR ARE YOU PLANNING TO READ
ANY OF THESE?
WHAT ARE YOUR READING PLANS FOR DECEMBER?

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