If you liked this post, check out some more Bookish Bites:
It’s time to decide what we’ll add to our TBR (To-Be-Read) book stack for May 2024!
Join us as we read some great books in May, and tick off some reading prompts! We’ll do our best to stick to the books we’ve picked this month, however we’re also not the boss of us (thank you very much) and tend to mood read – so anything might happen!
Regardless, we’ll be sure to circle back around and post reviews of the books we read at the end of May.
In this post, we’ve selected a few TBR prompts from The 52 Book Club. Nine books from our physical TBR are in the cross hairs – spanning a variety of genres. One is a chonker at over 500 pages! Eek!
* * *
We encourage you to always source books from your local independent bookshop. However, we understand this is sometimes not practical based on location or budget.
Therefore, this post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means, if you click on the link and purchase the book from that link, I get a few dollars at no extra cost to you! This way we can both stock up our May TBR stack! 😀
Happy Reading, Friends!
TBR Prompt:
Read a book with more than 40 chapters!
Back Blurb:
In the fall of 1863, the Union Army controls the Mississippi River and much of Louisiana, as the Civil War rolls on. Wade Lufkin is a man without a country or a cause – an idle spectator since New Orleans surrendered, he now paints at his uncle’s plantation. That is until he finds an intriguing new subject. Hannah Laveau is an enslaved woman who stands accused of everything from adultery to insurrection, from magic to murder. But all she wants is to find her missing son – and she will risk her life for it. When Hannah goes on the run, she must dodge the calculating and merciless local constable and the slavecatchers that prowl the bayou as she flees through Louisiana, from the cottonmouth snakes and tree-lined swamps to the dingy saloons of New Orleans. This is a stand-alone novel.
What made me pick it up?:
I’m a big fan of Burke’s ‘Dave Robicheaux‘ detective series, and was interested in checking out a stand-alone title from the author. His writing is beautifully atmospheric. This book was also nominated for ‘Best Novel’ in the 2024 Edgar Awards which celebrates the best in mystery fiction! Order your po’ boy sandwich and let’s get stuck in!
Grab yourself a copy:
TBR Prompt:
Read a book with lowercase letters on the spine!
Back Blurb:
“In my mind I walk over the land. I run my hands through the grass as if it were the hair on my head. I dig my fingers into the dirt as if the soil were the crust of my skin.” Maggie MacKellar describes a year on a Merino wool farm on the east coast of Tasmania, and all of life – and death – that surrounds her through the cycle of lambing seasons. She gives us the land she knows and loves, the lambs she cares for, the ewes she tries to save, the birds around her, and the dogs and horses she adores. This is a stand-alone novel.
What made me pick it up?:
Whilst I have no practical skills at all, and would have little knowledge of setting up my own sheep amusement park (I assume that’s what a farm is) – I’m often keen to read about how people live their lives on the land. This book was also on the longlist for the 2024 Stellar Prize which celebrates Australian women writers! Plus, that sheep on the cover looks suspicious and I want to know what they’re up to.
Grab yourself a copy:
TBR Prompt:
Read a book with ‘magical realism’ (a realistic view of the world with added magical elements)!
Back Blurb:
Miss Charlotte Pettifer belongs to a secret league of women skilled in the subtle arts. That is to say—although it must never be said—witchcraft. The League of Gentlewomen Witches strives to improve the world in small ways. Using magic, they tidy, correct, and manipulate according to their notions of what is proper, entirely unlike those reprobates in the Wisteria Society. When the long lost amulet of Black Beryl is discovered, it is up to Charlotte, as the future leader of the League, to make sure the powerful talisman does not fall into the wrong hands. Therefore, it is most unfortunate when she crosses paths with Alex O’Riley, a pirate who is no Mr. Darcy. With all the world scrambling after the amulet, Alex and Charlotte join forces to steal it together. If only they could keep their pickpocketing hands to themselves! If Alex’s not careful, he might just steal something else—such as Charlotte’s heart. This is Book 2 in the ‘Dangerous Damsels’ series. Check out Book One – ‘The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels’.
What made me pick it up?:
I really enjoyed the first book in this series. You can check out my review of Book One in our post ‘Ladies Books for Ladies’! The blurb on the back of this copy also likens the series to ‘The Princess Bride meets Jane Austen’ – which sounds like a hoot! It’s hard to go wrong with swash-buckling witches!
Grab yourself a copy:
TBR Prompt:
Read a book with women in STEM (science, tech, engineering, math)!
Back Blurb:
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results. But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show ‘Supper at Six’. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo. This is a stand-alone novel.
What made me pick it up?:
This one is a little outside my wheelhouse, as it’s not a spooky or crime read – however I’ve seen this pop up on so many ‘Reading Favourite’ lists, that it sparked my interest. Also, look at that dog on the cover – he’s doing CHEMISTRY! As you can see by the (gross) sticker on the book cover, this has also been made into a TV Mini Series staring Brie Larson, that you can watch after you read the book!
Grab yourself a copy:
TBR Prompt:
Read a book that features the ocean!
Back Blurb:
Founded by a mysterious genius, the archipelago of Prospera lies hidden from the horrors of a deteriorating outside world. In this island paradise, Prospera’s lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent. Then they retire themselves, embarking on a ferry ride to the island known as the Nursery, where their failing bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped clean, and they are readied to restart life afresh. Proctor Bennett, of the Department of Social Contracts, has a satisfying career as a ferryman, gently shepherding people through the retirement process–and, when necessary, enforcing it. But all is not well with Proctor. For one thing, he’s been dreaming–which is supposed to be impossible in Prospera. For another, his monitor percentage has begun to drop alarmingly fast. And then comes the day he is summoned to retire his own father, who gives him a disturbing and cryptic message before being wrestled onto the ferry. Meanwhile, something is stirring. The Support Staff, ordinary men and women who provide the labor to keep Prospera running, have begun to question their place in the social order. Unrest is building, and there are rumours spreading of a resistance group–known as “Arrivalists”–who may be fomenting revolution. Soon Proctor finds himself questioning everything he once believed, entangled with a much bigger cause than he realised–and on a desperate mission to uncover the truth. This is a stand-alone novel.
What made me pick it up?:
I’ve previously enjoyed ‘The Passage’ by this author, and this ‘Ferryman’ book sounded like a really good sci-fi / dystopian adventure! Loving the cover and it has a front quote by Stephen King – who I love but seems to blurb every single book in the world lol. Now, I must admit – this book is chunky at over 500 pages, and has been sitting on my bookshelf for ages on account of that. Is this the month I’ll finally tackle it?! Probably!
Grab yourself a copy:
TBR Prompt:
Read a book with a title starting with the letter ‘L’!
Back Blurb:
A lyrical testament in praise of the Cairngorms. It is a work deeply rooted in Nan Shepherd’s knowledge of the natural world, and a poetic and philosophical meditation on our longing for high and holy places. Drawing on different perspectives of the mountain environment, Shepherd makes the familiar strange and the strange awe-inspiring. Her sensitivity and powers of observation put her into the front rank of nature writing. This is the 4th book in Nan Shepherd’s ‘Grampian Quartet‘ series – however I believe it can be read as a stand-alone.
What made me pick it up?:
I’m strangely attracted to books that talk about walking long walks that I’ll never walk – or exploring remote areas that I’ll probably never venture out to see. The feeling of walking along (in spirit) with someone willing to go off the beaten track, is one I’m drawn to again and again. Let’s read about the natural world and then stay inside away from the bugs. Sold!
Grab yourself a copy:
TBR Prompt:
Read a book that has a cover without people on it!
Back Blurb:
Battle rages between the dinosaur kingdoms of Cretacea. When the Fallen Star struck, it brought death and despair, ash and toxic rain. But some dinosaurs survived and were changed. Their minds grew alert. They learned to speak. To dream. To wage war. As the two remaining dinosaur kingdoms fight for territory, Eleri, the disgraced son of a prince, is exiled from his home for saving an enemy soldier. Banished to the merciless Deadlands, a terrifying desert full of tar pits, poisonous gas, and ruthless carnivores, he must join forces with a group of questionable allies―including the enemy soldier he saved―to avoid becoming prey. When Eleri and his fellow exiles discover the horrific truth behind the war, the unlikely heroes must do all they can to save their kingdoms from a lurking predator and a secret plot that might destroy them all. This is Book One in ‘The Deadlands’ series.
What made me pick it up?:
I mean, did you see the dinosaurs on the cover? Do you need another reason? The dinosaurs are clever and can speak – woohoo! I bet all of them are going to be super friendly and not at all chompy and dangerous. This book was shortlisted for ‘Best Children’s Fiction’ in the 2023 Aurealis Awards. Let’s celebrate and support Aussie authors!
Grab yourself a copy:
TBR Prompt:
Read a book with a yellow spine!
Back Blurb:
The disgruntled agents of Slough House, the MI5 branch where washed-up spies are sent to finish their failed careers on desk duty, are called into action to protect a visiting Russian oligarch whom MI5 hopes to recruit to British intelligence. While two agents are dispatched on that babysitting job, though, an old Cold War-era spy named Dickie Bow is found dead, ostensibly of a heart attack, on a bus outside of Oxford, far from his usual haunts. But the head of Slough House, the irascible Jackson Lamb, is convinced Dickie Bow was murdered. As the agents dig into their fallen comrade’s circumstances, they uncover a shadowy tangle of ancient Cold War secrets that seem to lead back to a man named Alexander Popov, who is either a Soviet bogeyman or the most dangerous man in the world. How many more people will have to die to keep those secrets buried? This is Book 2 in the ‘Slough House’ series. Check out Book One – ‘Slow Horses’.
What made me pick it up?:
I loved Book One in this series, ‘Slow Horses’ – and was keen to keep reading about Jackson Lamb and his rag-tag crew of down-and-out MI5 spies 🙂 Lamb is a great character and I enjoyed Herron’s writing style. There’s also a TV Series that you can watch when you’re caught up on the books!
Grab yourself a copy:
TBR Prompt:
Read a book published by Hachette!
Back Blurb:
For generations, every Frankenstein has found their true love and equal, unlocking lifetimes of blissful wedded adventure. Clever, pretty (and odd) Angelika Frankenstein has run out of suitors and fears she may become the exception to this family rule. When assisting in her brother Victor’s ground-breaking experiment to bring a reassembled man back to life, she realises that having an agreeable gentleman convalescing in the guest suite might be a chance to let a man get to know the real her. For the first time, Angelika embarks upon a project that is all her own. When her handsome scientific miracle sits up on the lab table, her hopes for an instant romantic connection are thrown into disarray. Her resurrected beau (named Will for the moment) has total amnesia and is solely focused on uncovering his true identity. Trying to ignore their heart-pounding chemistry, Angelika reluctantly joins the investigation into his past, hoping it will bring them closer. But when a second suitor emerges to aid their quest, Angelika wonders if she was too hasty inventing a solution. This is a stand-alone novel.
What made me pick it up?:
This was gifted to me a few moons back, and – though I’m not generally a romance reader – the Frankenstein tie-in has peaked my interest! Sounds like there will be some zany antics, some questionable morals and a bumble of heart-warming love interests.
Grab yourself a copy:
If you liked this post, check out some more Bookish Bites:
