When I start planning for the holiday season, I start to look like this. Yes... just a little hyper. ;) But the thing that I always mess up on, the thing that I always fail to plan for, is people going:
So, Kat... What do YOU want for Christmas this year?
(Insert awkward silence here.)
I spend 364 days of the year as a total shopaholic who has absolutely no qualms buying (or saving up and buying) pretty much anything that I want. When the holidays come around, though, I go into Gift mode. I want to get people *the* thing that they want. I love spending money. I *hate* wasting it. If I get someone a gift, it has to be just right.
So to save myself some awkwardness over the question above, this year I have a plan. Since I know I want books (and I'm sure you know that, too) I've compiled a list of titles I want to read but haven't yet. What do I want from you guys? Take a look and tell me if anything here jumps out at you as an "I can't believe you haven't read that yet!" book.
Thanks for putting up with my Christmas-crazed brain less then a week after Halloween. It's a Canadian thing, I tell ya. We already had our Thanksgiving in early October, so it's a total 180 from Halloween to Christmas.
Anyway, on with the list...
The Mephisto Covenant
by Trinity Faegen
Why I Want It: I've had my eye on this one for a while and simply haven't ended up ordering it yet. It was actually one of my selections for Waiting on Wednesday a while back. (Update: Got it)
Cracked Up To Be
by Courtney Summers
Why I Want It: I love contemporary YA and I've heard good things about Courtney Summers. This book grabbed my interest when I was looking around. I intended to grab it at Chapters in September, but they were sold out.
A Beautiful Dark
by Jocelyn Davis
Why I Want It: I usually hate love triangles but this has me intrigued. Maybe it's the whole fire and ice concept that grabbed me or maybe it's just the pretty cover? Not sure, really. I just know I want to read it.
Forbidden
by Tabitha Suzuma
Why I Want It: Normally I'm a wuss who would not touch this kind of book with a twenty foot pole, but considering that DarkFallen recommended it when she and Greta visited, I'll make an exception. Besides that, I am curious if I can be convinced to care about this situation.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth
by Carrie Ryan
Why I Want It: This sounds like it should be totally fascinating and is one of those books that, in the back of my head, I'm going "Why haven't you read this yet, hm?" I'm sure I'll get this sooner or later. (Update: Got it)
A Hunger Like No Other
by Kresley Cole
Why I Want It: The one and only non-YA book on this list. In all reality, though, prior to starting my blog and writing Moon Dance, my focus as a reader was paranormal romance. This is another DarkFallen & Greta recommendation and it definitely sounds like my kind of book.
Hush, Hush
by Becca Fitzpatrick
Why I Want It: I think it's time I quit tiptoeing around this book, or adding it to an order and removing it for whatever reason. Or going to Chapters and meaning to buy it and either forgetting or it not being there. (That happened in Florida.) I know: half of you are rolling your eyes that I haven't read this. The other half are rolling them because I want to. It's time I weighed in on this one. (Update: Got it)
The Iron Knight
by Julia Kagawa
Why I Want It: This is an absolute no-brainer. The only reason I don't own The Iron Knight yet is because I haven't finished The Iron Daughter and The Iron Queen. Why? I'm using them as "reward" books for getting stuff I need read by a certain time done first. (Update: Got it.)
The Near Witch
by Victoria Schwab
Why I Want It: This sounds like it should be a totally fabulous read and I've heard many good things about it. Most notably is the review by my friend Kevin, who seemed to really enjoy it. So I need to check it out.
Nightshade
by Andrea Cremer
Why I Want It: Somewhere out there must be a book about werewolves / shifters that I will love. The concept always seems so fab, but the execution so often disappoints. Nightshade deserves to have its own turn, though. BTW, yes I will be hunting for *this* gorgeous cover. Going to be a pain. (Update: Got it.)
Paper Towns
by John Green
Why I Want It: Um... It's John Green? Okay, seriously now. I loved Will Grayson, Will Grayson so I want to see what John comes up with on his own. I've had a few requests from readers for my take on Paper Towns and it sounds great, so why not?
Rot & Ruin
by Jonathan Maberry
Why I Want It: This was recommended by The Haunted Rose and it sounds totally great. I think a few of you have recommended it, actually, but my mind's going blank over who else did. :) Either way, great books deserve to be read and this looks like its right up my alley.
Shatter Me
by Tahereh Mafi
Why I Want It: Okay. It's Shatter Me. Who doesn't want it? :) Really, though. Odds are I will buy this before the holidays but I would feel a little rude not including this on my holiday list. It sounds really fascinating and exciting and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
Shine
by Lauren Myracle
Why I Want It: This got a lot of attention on Twitter the other week and I ended up going onto GoodReads and looking it up. It sounds like the sort of book that should be / needs to be read. As someone who loves contemporary YA this simply had to make my list.
If I Stay
by Gayle Forman
Why I Want It: Ah, yes. Here we are with another "What?! You haven't read that yet?" book. And no, I haven't. And I won't without a box of Kleenex if what I've read about it is true. I use to avoid books that might get me upset, but I've began to learn they are good for me as a writer, weird as that may sound.
Twenty Boy Summer
by Sarah Ockler
Why I Want It: This is like the contemporary version of Hush, Hush. No, I do *not* mean that in a plot way. I mean I've had it on lists a zillion times and something has "intervened" and kept me from getting it. Time to quit stalling. I really want to read it.
Sweet Venom
by Tera Lynn Childs
Why I Want It: Hello, book that ties into Greek mythology. How are you not on my bookshelf yet? I love the idea of this book and the idea of the three varying viewpoints is something I find appealing. I've wanted to check this one out for a while.
White Cat
by Holly Black
Why I Want It: I've heard many good things about this book. I was not a fan of Tithe, but I've had a lot of people tell me that I should not compare the two. Since I'm the sort who will give an author a second chance, and since the premise sounds good and I have a soft spot for the character's name, onto the list it goes.
Amy and Roger's Epic Detour
by Morgan Matson
Why I Want It: The idea behind the book sounds great, plus when Marie from Ramblings of a Daydreamer dropped by for Saturday Spotlight she linked me to her review of it, which was really convincing. This is one of those "Why haven't I read that yet?" titles that I really need to add to my library. (Update: Got it.)
Dearly, Departed
by Lia Habel
Why I Want It: I have already read and reviewed this book, and I totally loved it. I want this because I know I will want to read it again, the cover is beautiful, and considering that Random House was awesome and let me read it via NetGalley, it stands to reason I should support a book I loved by owning a copy. (And did I mention the cover? Again?) (Update: Got it.)
A Need So Beautiful
by Suzanne Young
Why I Want It: This book sounds like it should be really interesting and I have wanted to check it out for a while. It's actually a book I kept forgetting the title for, somehow, which is probably the only reason I haven't bought it yet.
Obsidian
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Why I Want It: Oh. My. God. Don't get me started on this one. I am extremely intrigued from what I have heard about this book. A lot of my friends have been reading it and I want to see what all the fuss is about. I have a strong hunch this is going to be one of those books I will become obsessed with. We shall see. ;)
Remembrance
by Michelle Madow
Why I Want It: This is in the same situation as Dearly, Departed. I read and reviewed (well, *am reviewing* in this case) the book and I totally loved it. (Ooooh, did I let something slip?) With a story this good and a cover this gorgeous, the only way I will feel right about owning Remembrance is to actually get a copy to go on my shelf.
Touch
by Jus Accardo
Why I Want It: Great sounding premise, cool looking cover and Giselle seemed to really like it. The idea of someone being able to kill with touch seems popular this year, but that won't stop me from enjoying stories as their own unique thing.
Unearthly
by Cynthia Hand
Why I Want It: I have heard so much good stuff about this book and it sounds really, really interesting. This is likely another one where I'm going to get "You haven't read that yet?" from some of you. (Update: Got it.)
Across The Universe
by Beth Revis
Why I Want It: Well for starts it sounds fascinating. Going on, I can't believe I don't already own it. And to finish, I need to correct this awkward oversight immediately. This sounds like a book I should have read and reviewed ages ago. (Update: Got it.)
A Monster Calls
by Patrick Ness
Why I Want It: I've had my eye on this for a while and simply haven't hit the "buy" button. The premise sounds interesting, if potentially sad. Still ... I'm getting much braver about reading stuff that might want to push my buttons and I know I need to read this.
Sweetly
by Jackson Pearce
Why I Want It: I loved Sisters Red. I love fairy tale retellings in general. So this seems like one of those books that I am going to read no matter what. Plus, if I've heard right, this is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, which isn't something you see every day.
Eternal Starling
by Angela Corbett
Why I Want It: The premise sounds totally awesome and I am dying to find out what the deal is with these different societies, different guys, and Evie's role in everything that is going on. Plus I won a bookmark for this... It'd be kinda awkward without the book.
Tiger's Curse
by Colleen Houck
Why I Want It: This looks interesting and I've wanted to check it out for a while. I kept forgetting either the name of the book, or about wanting to read it, though. Shouldn't be a problem now: My friend JoAnne, over at The Fairytale Nerd, wants my view on it so I'll need to make sure to pick it up. (Update: Got it.)
... Holy crap! I listed 30 different books. Eek!
So there you have it. That's my crazy huge Christmas wish list. There is no way on earth that I can conceivably get all of those. Even with being able to get some of them for my Kindle, how in the world would I make time to read them all? (I'm bad, bad, bad for that with books I buy. I tend to be far better with things I review, obviously.) So yes, the list needs to be narrowed down.
What are your recommendations? I'd love to know, so please feel free to leave a comment. Also ... What's on your holiday wish list? Feel free to leave a list in the comments, or make your own holiday post and link it here. :)
