BookoplAthon – TBR

I have spoke about this before but the last couple of months have been really hard. I have been focused on getting my health back and on finishing my writing project due to a deadline. I have found I just haven’t had the concentration for reading despite having some wonderful books on my TBR. I have even struggled with audiobooks which I would usually read while working, doing house work, walking around town etc.

I am going to participate in Becca’s BookoplAthon! I cant seem to pass up a good readathon and this month long version just seems the relaxed sort of readathon I need to get back into reading . The Readathon is run by Becca from Becca and the books and follows her monthly TBR game Bookoploy! She has made a special readathon version of the board for this readathon and you can pick the number of rolls you want to do to suit your own reading. The full details of the readathon can be found on Twitter and Becca’s Youtube channel

I decided to go for 6 dice rolls, That is about half of what I usually read in a month and I thought it would allow for me to account for any doubles and still fit some of my ARCs etc.

Roll 1

Dice 1 = 5, Dice 2 = 6 – Total = 11

Set before 1999

Babel
R.F. Kuang

AudioARC

About the Book:

Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.
1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation — also known as Babel.
Babel is the world’s center of translation and, more importantly, of silver-working: the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation through enchanted silver bars, to magical effect. Silver-working has made the British Empire unparalleled in power, and Babel’s research in foreign languages serves the Empire’s quest to colonize everything it encounters.
Oxford, the city of dreaming spires, is a fairytale for Robin; a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge serves power, and for Robin, a Chinese boy raised in Britain, serving Babel inevitably means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to sabotaging the silver-working that supports imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide: Can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence? What is he willing to sacrifice to bring Babel down?
Babel — a thematic response to The Secret History and a tonal response to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell — grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of translation as a tool of empire.

Why I am excited:

This is one of my most anticipated reads of this year. And If I am being honest I have already started it, as I received the Illumicrate version early. I also got to get it personalised as I got to see Rebecca talk about it on its launch day here in Edinburgh. However, I got a lovely surprise this morning when I got an Audio ARC, so I am going to dive into that too!

Roll 2

Dice 1 = 2, Dice 2 = 3 – Total = 5

Favourite Trope

A Prayer for the Crown-shy
Becky Chambers

About the Book:

After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home.

They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe.

Why I am excited:

I love a sassy robot sidekick. I loved the first book in this series and how beautiful the relationship between Dex and Mosscap was and I know I will just devour this one!

Roll 3

Dice 1 = 6, Dice 2 = 3 – Total = 9

Autumnal Read

Wolfsong
TJKlune

Physical ARC
Release Date: 1/9/22
Blog Tour: 19/9/22

About the book:

Ox was twelve when his daddy taught him a very valuable lesson. He said that Ox wasn’t worth anything and people would never understand him. Then he left.
Ox was sixteen when he met the boy on the road. The little boy who talked and talked and talked. Ox found out later the little boy hadn’t spoken in almost two years before that day, and that the little boy belonged to a family who had moved into the house at the end of the lane.
Ox was seventeen when he found out the little boy’s secret and it painted the world around him in colors of red and orange and violet, of Alpha and Beta and Omega.
Ox was twenty-three when murder came to town and tore a hole in his head and heart. The boy chased after the monster with revenge in his bloodred eyes, leaving Ox behind to pick up the pieces.
It’s been three years since that fateful day—and the boy is back. Except now he’s a man, and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them.

Why I am excited:

This is a rerelease/reworking of T J Klune’s Warewolf series and its giving me small town forest vibes. I always assocate Autumn with forests etc. When I lived the in USA ‘fall’ was always my favourite time of year, especially in the small town I lived in. ‘decorative gourd season’ just has such a fun about it. The blurb on this book and its orange and green cover art are really making me get that autumnal feeling.

Roll 4

Dice 1 = 1, Dice 2 = 1 – Total = 2

A Mystery

Marple
Various

eARC
Release Date: 15/9/22

About the book:

This collection of twelve original short stories, all featuring Jane Marple, will introduce the character to a whole new generation. Each author reimagines Agatha Christie’s Marple through their own unique perspective while staying true to the hallmarks of a traditional mystery.

Miss Marple was first introduced to readers in a story Christie wrote for The Royal Magazine in 1927 and made her first appearance in a full-length novel in 1930’s The Murder at the Vicarage. It has been 45 years since Agatha Christie’s last Marple novel, Sleeping Murder, was published posthumously in 1976, and this collection of ingenious new stories by twelve Christie devotees will be a timely reminder why Jane Marple remains the most famous fictional female detective of all time.

Why I am excited:

When I think mystery I think Agatha Christie! I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read these new Ms Marple stories written by some of my favourite crime, thriller and even Fantasy Authors, all taking on the challenge of Christie’s famous busy body. Again I have started this collection and I am loving it so far.

Roll 5

Dice 1 = 5, Dice 2 = 3 – Total = 8

A Wintery Read

One by One
Ruth Ware

About the book:

Getting snowed in at a beautiful, rustic mountain chalet doesn’t sound like the worst problem in the world, especially when there’s a breath-taking vista, a cozy fire, and company to keep you warm. But what happens when that company is eight of your coworkers…and you can’t trust any of them?
When an off-site company retreat meant to promote mindfulness and collaboration goes utterly wrong when an avalanche hits, the corporate food chain becomes irrelevant and survival trumps togetherness. Come Monday morning, how many members short will the team be?

Why I am excited:

This has been on my TBR shelves for ages and I need to get to it. I think it is going to be a perfect wintery read as its all about being snowed in!

Roll 6

Dice 1 = 2, Dice 2 = 1 – Total = 3

Most Recent Purchase

The Hedge Witch
Cari Thomas

About the book:

Rowan is visiting her aunt – Winne the hedge witch – in the Welsh countryside, to get back to nature and hone her skills, as well as taking a break from her annoying sisters and enjoying some peace and quiet. However, Rowan soon comes to realise that hedges are a serious business and this isn’t quite the opportunity to rest and escape she thought it might be.
Not only that, but mysterious events around the town are causing panic in the secret magical community and cowans – non-magical folk – are starting to take notice.
Can Rowan hone her hedge craft, try to make some friends and solve the riddle of the mysterious goings-on, or is magic about to be revealed to the world … or at least Wales? 

Why I am excited:

I have just received my gorgeous copy of this from Goldsboro. I really enjoyed Thredneedle and I am excited to dive back into that magical world.

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So that is my TBR for this readathon, I have some big books and some small books, some must reads and Long running TBR books so I am excited to get into them.

I would love to chat all things bookish with you! You can comment down below or find me on Twitter or Goodreads!

Happy Reading!