For this week’s Top Ten (hosted by The Broke and The Bookish), we’re asked to list the top ten books we’d like to receive for the holidays. Hm. Seems like this topic should have come around in November when people were putting together their shopping lists. I rarely receive books as gifts, so this list is probably more like what I’ll buy myself if I get a gift card, but why quibble? It’s still a gift, from me, to me.
Sweetbitter, by Stephanie Danler. Everyone’s saying all the good things about this one. I am number 140 on the library waiting list. I don’t want to wait!
Let Me Tell You, Shirley Jackson. I have had a sudden urge to read all things Shirley Jackson. I’ve only read We Have Always Lived in the Castle (and of course “The Lottery,” in school). This seemed like an interesting second choice.
News of the World, Paulette Jiles. National Book Award Finalist. Western. You do the math.
Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk, Legs McNeil. You would never know it to look at me, but I love punk rock. For a music lover, I don’t do a lot of reading about music. I wouldn’t mind starting here.
A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles. I loved Rules of Civility so much, and everyone has had nothing but good things to say about this one. Number 52 on library hold list. See, “Do not want to wait.”
The Summer That Melted Everything, Tiffany McDaniel. Sounds like such gothic, twisty fun.
Here Comes the Sun, Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn. This novel about Jamaica has been on everybody’s best-of lists this year.
Nobody’s Fool/Everybody’s Fool, Richard Russo. I love Richard Russo and I plan to re-read Empire Falls this year. For some new Russo, I’d love to knock these out. Love his writing.
Novels, 1930-1942: Dance Night / Come Back to Sorrento / Turn, Magic Wheel / Angels on Toast / A Time to Be Born, Dawn Powell. Powell is a writer I have long been meaning to read. It would be great to start with this collection of some of her best works.
How about you? What’s on your wishlist?
The Evening Reader 
I had the same thought about wishing the list had come out earlier. Haha. I actually did include all of my listed books (and then some) on my list to my husband (since the in-laws and my mom were demanding a list). I don’t know if I’ll actually get any, but one can hope. I hope you will get some, if not all of yours!
Sweetbitter does sound good. I want to read that one too. My father-in-law recently discovered Russo and really enjoys his books. I’ve only read one, which I loved. I don’t know why I haven’t gotten to his others. Well, maybe because there are so many other books I want to read too.
I’m not ashamed to admit that there are several “To me, from me” gifts under my tree! Sometimes a bookworm has to look out for herself, right? I hope some of these show up under your tree — even if you have to put them there yourself!
Merry Christmas!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I want Santa to bring me some Shirley Jackson books, too. I’ve only read her short stories. I hope Santa brings you all of these. Happy holidays!
Wendy, it’s the strangest thing, but nobody buys me books, not even people who have access to the 400+ books on my Goodreads TBR! That’s okay, though, because I am bound to change my mind, and even if I get a gift card I may buy ten completely different books.
Russo is so terrific. I am planning to re-read Empire Falls this year, and maybe also Straight Man, which is my favorite of his (I’ve also read The Risk Pool and Bridge of Sighs). But I know what you mean about to many books. I may even cull my TBR this year, because it’s starting to feel hopeless.
Susan, good for you! Yes, every year I buy myself a stack of books for Christmas. The tough part is reading them all! Merry Christmas!
AJ, I want to read all the Shirley Jackson in 2017, because I am so intrigued by that great biography that came out this year. I highly recommend We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Now that I think about it, I may have read The Haunting of Hill House long ago, like when I was in junior high, so I definitely need to re-read. Happy Holidays to you!
The Summer that Melted Everything is excellent – it’s Neil Gaiman meets Harper Lee. 🙂
I asked for The Mothers by Brit Bennett for Christmas and I hope I get it! I will probably be getting myself some books in January if I get any Christmas money. 🙂 Three of your picks are on my TBR, and I really enjoyed Sweetbitter. Fun list! Merry Christmas!
I rarely receive books as gifts too, I think mostly because people have no idea what to get for me or they’re afraid that I already have whatever they plan on buying. But I always tell them that gift cards are welcome. 🙂 Or they can go to the bookstore with me and buy me a present.
Happy Holidays! 😀
Oh excellent, you can read the Dawn Powell books and then report back to me what you think of her. She’s an author I’m aware of that I also mildly suspect I wouldn’t like, and I’d rather not have read her yet than be the kind of person who doesn’t like her. You know?
Laila, I hope your Christmas was merry and you got The Mothers! I got some gift cards so at least a few new books are in my future…
Chachic, that can be a problem, I agree. But with close to 400 books on my wishlist, I think maybe there’s a good chance people can find something I don’t have! I’ll probably re-work my lists to help them out…and to help myself. 🙂 Happy Holidays!
Jenny, ha! I feel like I have a bunch of those authors on my list. The one top of mind is Neil Gaiman. I’m worried I’ll be the one who just doesn’t get it.
You really need to read Dawn Powell! I’ve read several, but I think A Time to be Born is my favorite. I still have to read Turn Magic Wheel. They are super NYC back in the day. And scathingly funny. I really think you’ll like them. (I also think we’ve talked about this?)
Tere, yea! I don’t remember discussing, but then when it comes to books it’s easy for me to forget discussions or recommendations because there are always MORE. The first book of hers I heard about was Dance Night. I definitely need to check her out this year.