Bookshelf Roundup 01/01/23: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
Happy new year, and welcome to my first post of 2023! Not gonna lie, I’m kind of relieved 2022 is behind us. It wasn’t a bad year, but it was certainly quite eventful with many ups and downs, and I’m just hoping that 2023 will be a little more…stable. That’s all I ask!
Anyway, I believe last week I promised some puppy pictures of our new corgi friend! Since it’s said that the word corgi is derived from the Welsh for “dwarf dog”, we thought it only fitting to name him after the leader of the dwarves, the one and only King Under the Mountain. My husband is also a big fan of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, could you guess? Say hello to Thorin (AKA the Oakenpup, Thor-gi, or Mr. Waddles Flufflebutt):
The original plan had been to look into getting another dog in the spring because after the loss of Strider earlier this year, I wasn’t sure I was ready. But sometimes fate just decides these things for you. Thorin came at the perfect time and we all love him so much already! Our older dog also seems to be getting used to having a young pup around.
And now that we’ve had our fill of cuteness overload, we return to our regular scheduled programming 🙂
Received for Review
My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received, and be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!
We kick off the new year with a small but exciting book haul. Big thanks to Orbit for an ARC of The Faithless by C. L. Clark, the sequel to The Unbroken. I had some mixed feelings about the first book, but its ending pushed me over the edge to continue the series so I’m hoping this one will be solid.
Also thanks to Union Square Co. for a review copy of The Second Death of Edie and Violet Bond by Amanda Glaze , a story about twin spiritualists set in Sacramento in 1885. This one was new to me, but I’m always up for giving any historical fantasy a try!
Thank you also to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending me an ARC of Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb. I only have a handful of YA books on my anticipated list for 2023, and this is one of them!
One new audiobook in the digital haul this week, with thanks to the kind folks at Macmillan Audio for a listening copy of Weyward by Emilia Hart.
Reviews
Never the Wind by Francesco Dimitri (4.5 of 5 stars)
Marple: Twelve New Mysteries created by Agatha Christie (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Family Game by Catherine Steadman (2 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
What I’ve Been Reading
Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read!
The BiblioSanctum 
I’m pretty sure that last one is less Tolkien and more Gravity Falls. Oh also, you’re allowed your opinion, but 2022 definitely sucked. Happy New Year Steff!!
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Sounds about right. My 7-year-old came up with that nickname, and she’s a big fan of Gravity Falls 😀
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Happy new years!
and hurray for corgi’s. Mrs B had one growing up and even now will squeal with delight every time she sees on in real life. So more pictures as you please 😀
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That’s so cool, she owned a corgi growing up? I’ve had many dogs, but this is my first corgi. We’ve been obsessed with them for a long time though, they’re such adorable pups. Even before we got Thorin, seeing a corgi in real life always made us squeal also!
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They’re great dogs to have around kids. Not too big to hurt them but extremely protective and will bark like nobody’s business if something off is going on.
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OMG Thorin is simply too cute! I want to pet him LOL. Also I got the Encyclopaedia of Fae in a book box this week and I am so very curious to read it!
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Thank you! And Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia was so awesome, I hope you’ll love it!
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Omg! The Oakenpup is so cute! Loving all the names, esp Mr. Waddles Flufflebutt, lol!
Hope 2023 is better one for you. Happy New Year.
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Haha, my 7-year-old calls him flufflebutt, but his butt is pretty darn fluffy 😀
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OOOOOOMG! He is ADORABLE!! I’ve always loved the Welsh Corgis! I think it came from seeing a moving as a kid with one in it and never got over them! He’s soooooooooooo cute! Loving all the nicknames, especially Mr. Waddles Flufflebutt! EEP!! ❤
Nice new reads as well! Some new to me ones but some look familiar! I hope you thoroughly enjoy them all once you get to read them!
Here’s my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
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They are really cute! This is our first corgi, but we’ve been obsessed with them for quite some time, they are definitely quite memorable!
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Thorin is adorable! Congrats on your new family member. Happy New Year!😁
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Thank you, happy new year to you as well!
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Oh my goodness! Thorin is utterly irrisistible:))). What a gorgeous addition to your family, Mogsy. And I love the look of the Heather Fawcett book – to the extent that I’ve scampered across to Netgalley and requested an arc… Fingers crossed! A very happy New Year to you, Mogsy.
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Thank you, we’re so happy he’s part of the family! And I’m so glad Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries caught your eye, I hope you love it! I certainly did 😀
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Fingers crossed I get a copy…
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We’ll be reading the same books!
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Can’t wait to see what you think!
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Ohmygosh, I LOVE THORIN SO MUCH. I would, um, not be complaining if we got Thorin photos every round up. 😂 Happy New Year!!!
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Haha, I’m sure there will be more photos incoming! 😀
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Thorin is so adorably cute! And as a Tolkien fan I can only approve of the choice for his name 😉
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Haha, I am hoping he can help us connect with other Tolkien fans in real life, if we ever go out with him and people ask him his name. They will immediately get where it comes fron 😀
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Oh my gosh, Thorin is adorable!!
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Thank you!
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Happy new year! He is so cute!!!
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Happy new year, Melliane!
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Wow, what an incredible new puppy! So glad to hear he’s fitting right into the family. And as big a fan as I am of Tolkien I still find myself just a little partial to Mr. Waddles Flufflebutt, but please don’t let anyone else know that. 🙂
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Haha, don’t worry I won’t hold it against you. At this stage, Mr. Waddles Flufflebutt probably suits him better anyway!
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Your new puppy is adorable!
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Thank you!
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Awwwww puppy .D
Great books too
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OMG – that puppy is so adorable and I love all his names. I’ve got an attack of cute aggression and want to hug him badly.
Happy New Year to you all. Hope 2023 treats you well.
Lynn 😀
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