This winter’s book haul is a combination of Christmas gifts, gift card purchases, and of course a few titles bought on a whim, because why not? Just before Christmas, I listed the Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under the Tree for me, and amazingly, I got almost all of them!!

Swing Time by Zadie Smith:  I picked up a copy of Swing Time as part of a ticket purchase to her recent reading in Houston. I had high expectations for her going in, and, no shocker her, she exceeded all of them! Zadie Smith is a superb human being aside from being a talented writer – if you don’t have the time for a novel, definitely check out her essays and short stories (all available via internet, for free).

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah: Ok, so I might have this on my Kindle, but I still have yet to read it. Hopefully having the hardcover will be the right push!

The Trees by Ali Shaw: I finally have my own copy!! Check out my review, here!

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi: A beautifully written tale of two sisters who follow two very different paths in life. I started listening to the audiobook earlier this winter, but I knew from the start that it would be something I’d much prefer to read in print. I’m so glad to add this to my shelves!

Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood: A good old fashioned whim – I saw this on sale at Half Price, and there was no avoiding it. I desperately need some Atwood added into my reading.

The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw: More Ali Shaw! His latest novel, The Trees is one of my absolute favorites from 2016, and I can’t wait to dive into his debut! It seems the hardcover version is out of print, but I lucked out when I spotted it in Half Price’s clearance section!!

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey: Another author I loved in 2016 was Eowyn Ivey. I’m hoping to see more magical realism than in To the Bright Edge of the World, but even either way, I know it’s one I’ll love!

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel: There’s no stopping the exclamation points this haul! After reading Station Eleven last spring, I knew I’d need to have it among my collection – it’s guaranteed reread. Check out my review here.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling: My AMAZING boyfriend gifted the illustrated version of the first Harry Potter for Christmas this year. I’ve been wanting to reread Harry Potter for a few years now, and the illustrated versions are the perfect opportunity!

The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani: Such a beautiful cover! I’m not sure if I’ll manage a reread anytime soon, but it’s such a lovely romance. See a review here.

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: Turn down the alarms, the situation has been rectified! I repeat, Lord of the Rings is back on my shelves, thanks to my amazing parents. Now, all that’s left is a copy of The Hobbit!

The Sellout by Paul Beatty: Winner of the 2016 Man Booker Prize, this was an obvious choice. Especially at only $7 – Half Price never fails!

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness: I might already have a copy of the film edition, but you can never have too many copies of A Monster Calls. Besides, now I have one to lend out, because everyone should read this book! Don’t believe me? Read my review here!

The Master & Margarita by Mikhil Bulgakov: Another whimsical purchase, this time at Houston’s very own Brazos Bookstore (pictured above and host to Zadie Smith’s recent reading). I only went in to pick up my ticket for the event, but silly me – you can’t leave a bookstore without a book!

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti: You guys, I won an arc copy through Goodreads!!! I’ve seriously never won anything like this before – I’m beyond ecstatic! Never ignore the Goodreads Giveaways, you can actually win!!

4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster: I also pre-purchased a copy of 4 3 2 1 on Amazon, anticipating the book’s release on January 31st! Archibald Isaac Ferguson is born nearly two weeks early on March 3, 1947 in Newark, New Jersey, but from a simple beginning comes a story of four “simultaneous and independent” Fergusons as four copies of the young boy lead very different lives after leaving the hospital that fateful night. An entirely inventive work promising grandiose prose and an unforgettable story of love, heartbreak, and choice itself, 4 3 2 1 is one of my most anticipated reads of 2017. I typically read a book before purchasing, but I’ve clearly already thrown the rule book out the window at this point, and at 880 pages, I’m going to need more than a 2 week lending period to get through this one. I can’t wait to start!

What’s new to your shelves this winter?