Stacking The Shelves, Vol. 16: Oh Chatham, How I Love Your Indie Bookstores

/ saraletourneau

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Stacking The Shelves is a weekly event hosted by Tynga’s Reviews that shares the books (both physical and virtual) that you recently purchased, borrowed from a fellow reader or the library, won from a giveaway, or received as gifts. Stacking The Shelves will post on Saturdays as new books are added to my shelves.

Located on the “elbow” of Cape Cod, Chatham feels like a second home to me. If I don’t go there once each year, my soul throws a tantrum. 😉 And whenever I’m in Chatham, I always visit the two indie bookstores in the center of town: Yellow Umbrella Books, which highlights used books and Cape Cod-centric novels alongside bestsellers and new releases; and Where The Sidewalk Ends, a two-floor “barn-style” shop with a children’s annex that also hosts a Literary Luncheon series during the summer at the Wequassett Resort. If you’re ever on Cape Cod, make sure you visit both of these gems!

As for the books I bought between both stores… Ohhhhhhhhh am I psyched to share this batch with you!

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From top to bottom:

Faint Promise of Rain by Anjali Mitter Duva (Historical Fiction):  Anjali is actually a local writer (we both live in Massachusetts), and was one of the presenters at this year’s Writer’s Digest Conference. I didn’t buy Faint Promise of Rain then only because my suitcase was already threatening to burst at the seams from the haul seen here. So when I saw it at Where The Sidewalk Ends, I took it as a sign that I shouldn’t pass it by this time.

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline (Contemporary / Historical Fiction): A co-worker whose reading tastes I trust loved this book about a little-known chapter of American history and highly recommended it. I like good historical fiction and contemporary novels now and then, so Orphan Train was something I’d had my eye on for a while.

The Names of Cape Cod: How Cape Cod Places Got Their Names and What They Mean by Eugene Green,  Brian McCauley, William Sachse, and Matthew Dimock (Reference): As soon as I saw this book, I knew it would be helpful for a future writing project I have in mind. That’s all I can say for now!

Eona (Eon Duology, Book #2) by Alison Goodman (YA Asian-Inspired Fantasy): I really enjoyed Eon when I read it last year, so Eona has been on my wishlist since then. And when you see a reading wishlist item in a bookstore, you can’t help but snatch it up, right? 😉

Uprooted by Naomi Novik (Fantasy): AHHHHHHH!!! I’ve read so many good things about this book, so I can’t even tell you how bloody excited I am to read it ASAP. 😀 This will also be my first Naomi Novik novel, and I hope to check out her Temeraire series in the future.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction): World War II seems to be a historical period I can’t stop reading about. I loved Anthony Doerr’s All The Light We Cannot See and Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief; and if I fit in The Nightingale this year, it will be the third WWII novel I’ve read in the past year. Plus, this book comes with rave reviews from two friends AND the bookseller at Where The Sidewalk Ends. Methinks I shouldn’t miss out.

What books did you recently buy or acquire? Have you read or are planning to read of the books discussed above? Feel free to share your opinions and most recent hauls by commenting below.

EDIT: Comments are enabled now. Sorry for the inconvenience!

16 thoughts on “Stacking The Shelves, Vol. 16: Oh Chatham, How I Love Your Indie Bookstores”

  1. What a fantastic haul of books you’ve snaffled yourself there, Sara! There’s two that immediately call to my greedy acquisitive book-soul… I MUST get hold of UPROOTED by Naomi Novik, as a solid fan of her Temeraire books, this is a must-have. And I very much look forward to hearing your thoughts about it! And I also need to get a copy of EON. Like you, I’ve heard a lot about this book and now I’ve seen the sequel is out, I need to catch up!

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      • I’m curious about your impressions too. I found Temeraire to be ok (I’ve read 3-4 books in the series), but I’m very hestitant about Uprooted, because I’ve read that the author is taking bits from Polish folklore and even though I understand there has to be some creative freedom, I’d be a bit OCD about how it’s used (or it’s just the names of the main characters, but in that case it’s kind of worse to me).

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      • I don’t know much about Polish folklore, so I can’t speak to how accurate or faithful Novik’s interpretation may be. But I’m on Page 90, and it’s a charming story so far, very rustic and whimsical. And yes, the character names have a Polish influence.

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    • Thanks, Kyra! Eon was really good. I love the Oriental-inspired world, the dragons, and how the plot isn’t romance-centric. I don’t mind romance at all, but it’s change to see a story without it now and then.

      Will check your post next! 😉

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  7. Pingback: Time Flies!: August 2015 | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog

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