The Waiting List: 5 May Releases I'm Excited For

The Waiting List is a feature hosted by PrintedWordsAnd, where I list some upcoming releases for the month that I'm most excited about!

1. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games #0) by Suzanne Collins

Expected Publication Date: May 19th, 2020

I'm fairly sure there is going to top many May release lists and honestly, I wouldn't blame them. It's been so long since we were introduced to The Hunger Games and now that Suzanne Collins has decided to revisit the world, the book community is holding their breath in anticipation.

This release is centered around Snow, before he was president. It's definitely not a character we would've chosen to hear from but I think he makes for an interesting character to read about. Feels like I'm 14 again!

2. Burn by Patrick Ness

Expected Publication Date: May 7th, 2020

I will be very honest in saying I have no clue what this book is about, even though I've read the synopsis multiple times. There's dragons involved, hired to help out a farm, during the 1950s. Seriously, what? What I do know though, is that Patrick Ness is a wizard with words and anything he writes is bound to be an experience.

3. Library of Legends by Jamie Chang

Expected Publication Date: May 12th, 2020

A historical novel about a girl named Lian who embarks on dangerous journey across China, escaping Japan's attacks whilst trying to protect a collection of myths and folklore know as the Library of Legends. This gives me Cinderella Sister and Mao's Last Dancer vibes, and if anything, I'm hoping this read gives me a feeling of nostalgia along with a rather fulfilling adventure.

4. The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhader

Expected Publication Date: May 19th, 2020

I truly expect this to be a magical read, and something really out of the blue for me. Zeyn Joukhader delivers a story about 3 generations of Syrian Americans, tied to a mysterious species of birds and what truths lies in their relationships to the birds.

5. The Boy in the Red Dress by Kristin Lambert

Expected Publication Date: May 12th, 2020

Millie runs the Cloak & Dagger, a swinging speakeasy, in the 1920s. The club's star performer, Marion, the boy in the red dress, finds himself being named the main suspect in the murder of a young socialite. Millie doesn't believe it's true but no one else is willing to help her prove Marion's innocence. Posed as A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Miss Fisher's Murder Mystery I'm expecting an enthralling murder mystery bundled together with the glitz and glam of the roaring 20s.

Other Releases To Look Out For

The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues #1) by Alwyn Hamilton

House of Dragons (House of Dragons #1) by Jessica Cluess

Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke

Four Days of You and Me by Miranda Kenneally

We Dream of Space by Erin Entranda Kelly

What Releases Are You Excited For?

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10 Books I Want To Read Whilst We're Staying At Home // April/May TBR

I will have to admit that in the last 5 years I have really lost my motivation to read. It's not that I don't like reading anymore, I just have prioritised other things in my life over it. However, now that I have found myself with a lot more time on hand, this really is the time to pick up my love for reading again. 

I have 10 books that I want to read as we continue to stay at home and honestly, this has made me excited to start reading again! There is a mix of YA, Adult and Middle Grade novels to break up my list and keep things interesting. 

What Are You Currently Reading?

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Michelle McNamara Leaves Behind An Incredible Legacy With I'll Be Gone In the Dark

Title: I'll Be Gone In The Dark 

Author: Michelle McNamara 

Publication Date: February 27th, 2018 

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The masterful true crime account of the Golden State Killer - the serial rapist turned murderer who terrorised California for over a decade - from the late Michelle McNamara. 

I'll Be Gone in the Dark offers a unique snapshot of suburban West Coast America in the 1980s and a chilling account of the wreckage left behind by a criminal mastermind. It is also a portrait of one woman's obsession and her unflagging pursuit of the truth, three decades later, in spite of the personal cost. 

Review

I’m worried that this review won’t really convey how accurately I feel about I’ll Be Gone in the Dark or do Michelle McNamara’s work justice. I write this with so much respect for what McNamara has left behind with this incredible read. She really has left us a legacy to remember her with. 

It’s McNamara’s writing style, how she sets out the content and facts and overall tone that makes I’ll Be Gone in the Dark stand out. It’s easy enough to head online and search up the details of the killer’s crimes and cases, but McNamara adds to the learning experience by also detailing her research efforts, the connections she made and how much her long-standing fascination with the Golden State Killer really affected her personal life. I loved that McNamara was so upfront and honest as she wrote this. She didn’t mind inviting myself, as a reader, into her daily life as she reflected on how she became interested in true crimes, which then extended into her obsession with discovering who the Golden State Killer is. She admits to her obsession, which makes reading through her much more relatable. It’s well known that we are find fascination in gruesome events or stories, and serial killers are something many people invest their time into reading, watching or learning about. McNamara’s writing also flows in a way that delivers the details of the cases in an immersive way. I could vividly envision what was occurring, which becomes very confronting but also made sure I was engrossed whilst reading. 

Beyond appreciating my reading experience, I think, ultimately, the reason why I hold I’ll Be Gone in the Dark in high regard is because of the feeling I had while reading a book that was completed and released posthumous. Michelle McNamara, sadly, passed away in 2016 - 2 years before I’ll Be Gone in the Dark was finally published. Unfortunately, I was not aware of who she was until picking up this book and so did not have the experience of reading her articles and blog pieces when she was still alive. She didn’t get the opportunity to finish writing this novel or see her work come to fruition but the completion of it, with the help of a number of people in her life, really gave us something special. That’s how I felt, at least, throughout reading it. It was also somewhat saddening to think that what I was holding in my hand had the author’s heart and soul poured into it without her even witnessing its completion, but if anything, McNamara should be proud of what I’ll Be Gone in the Dark has become. 

It’s hard not to get lost in I’ll Be Gone in the Dark and find yourself becoming obsessed as McNamara was with the Golden State Killer. I will be honest in saying I barely knew anything about the Golden State Killer when starting this so reading I’ll Be Gone in the Dark was my first introduction to the killer and the murders he committed. This might have enhanced my reading experience as I cannot speak on behalf of those who are aware and know a fair deal about the killer. 

Ultimately, I want to thank Michelle for being the drive force behind I’ll Be Gone in the Dark and leaving us with something that took up a part of her life.  

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Why I Both Liked and Disliked American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Title: American Gods

Author: Neil Gaiman

Publication Date: March 4th, 2005

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Days before his release from prison, Shadow's wife, Laura dies in a mysterious car crash. Numbly, he makes his way back home. On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr Wednesday, who claims to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the kind of America. 

Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a story of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break. 

Scary, gripping and deeply unsettling, American Gods takes a long, hard look into the soul of America. You'll be surprised by what - and who - it finds there ...

Review

I am going to be very honest and say that I finished reading American Gods in October of 2018. 2018!?! As in over a year ago. 

I put off writing this review partly because I wanted to watch the TV series and do a comparison, but mostly because I was highly confused about how I felt about the read overall. I struggled with whether I wanted to write a review as well as how to write one, but ultimately felt that American Gods is worth talking about to hear what others think about it and encourage people to pick it up as well! 

You’d be hard pressed to find a novel by Neil Gaiman that is not well written. Gaiman has a way with his words, being able to bring to life rich and in-depth characters alongside immersive storylines. I flew through 3/4 of American Gods, engrossed with Shadow’s journey as he transitions from prison life to reality and becomes involved with Mr Wednesday. It was fascinating. That’s the easiest way to explain it. It was like I had been invited into this exclusive, secretive world and the longer I was there the more addicted I became and wanted to be a part of it. A part of me wanted Shadow to leave as he had already dealt with so much in his life, and another part didn’t wanted to continue to see what he got up to so it felt somewhat like a guilty pleasure. It feels weird describing my reading experience as such but it is very much true. Beyond just Shadow and Mr Wednesday’s journey, Gaiman draws on mythological legends of gods that had been previously idolised to create a plot with a fantasy element to it. I found it made the story much more interesting and I liked that I was being educated on a topic that I would never have looked into myself.

Not only was I fully captivated by the storyline, I also appreciated how much effort Gaiman put into creating his characters to make them as realistic and relatable as possible. The characteristics had traits that any normal human being would, not quite black or white. When the different characters are first presented, you easily judge them as good or bad straightaway but those lines begin to blur as you continue to read about them. This allowed the story to explore questions of what is right and wrong, whether behaviours and actions can be excused if the intention is deemed right or good and if good can and should always defeat evil. 

The struggle I had with American Gods was when I reached the last quarter. It really felt like I had hit a brick wall and it took me 2-3 months to really drag myself to the end. This isn’t to discredit the entire novel. If anything, I think it came down to my own reading experience as the plot line became more complicated and I found myself less motivated to endure it. The last quarter really made me realise I had to pay attention and rely on my memory of what had happened previously and the different characters that were introduced. No matter when they were involved in the story, at the end they still had some type of impact and it really came down to myself, as a reader, to try and remember who they were and what relations they had to the Shadow and the story itself. It really didn’t help that I kept picking up and putting down the book, because it made it harder to remember what had happened a few pages back and which characters were which. 

Maybe it’s the fact that I found it hard to finish the book and that ruined my overall reading experience, hence why I couldn’t decide if I liked American Gods or not. Also, I was slightly disappointed in myself for not enduring until the end and read the book within a timely manner. However, not that I have had time to reflect, I can honestly say that American Gods is a story that I would 100% immerse myself back in and see if my initial thoughts will change. 

I love a thought-provoking and memorable read, and Gaiman delivers that with this book. For those who have watched the show or plan to, maybe it will make it easier to follow along, in terms of the characters. Just make sure you’re ready to pay attention and you’ll be treated to a creative and captivating story that is bound to make an impression on you. 

Also, I just wanted to share that this is my favourite passage from the entire book:

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/71624-there-was-a-girl-and-her-uncle-sold-her-put

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20 Korean Dramas You Watch On Netflix To Get You Through Self ISO Period

I’m not going to lie, I have spent more time on Netflix during the last week compared to the last 4 months. This is definitely due to the fact that I have to be at home and I am coming to a point where binge-watching series is helping past the time. There is nothing wrong with wanting to spend most of your time on Netflix or any other streaming platform these days. I am guilty of spending the last 3 nights consuming TV shows, specifically Korean dramas, until 2 or 3AM. I wouldn’t condone this behaviour because sleep is important to our health BUT I’m working on it. 

The influx of Korean dramas on Netflix has certainly been interesting to me. I find that it has made the viewing of K-dramas so much more universal, exposing a different form of entertainment to a larger range of audience. Personally, I haven’t watched all the new series, post 2017, but have started to see Netflix making available shows that I loved when I was obsessed with watching dramas. 

So today I’ve compiled a list of shows that I think is worth watching if you are getting into or already involved in the Korean drama world. If anything I think older dramas are worth watching just to see how Korean dramas have evolved, from story lines, costume and make up to production value. I’m pretty amazed by the quality of the Netflix-produced dramas that I’ve come by recently as older dramas looked nothing like these back then. 

Watch Below 

Dramas Mentioned

Romantic Comedies The Master's Sun My Love from the Star Another Miss Oh! My Girlfriend is a Gumiho BIG You Are Beautiful Crime/Thriller I Hear Your Voice While You Were Sleeping Vagabond Melodrama Nice Guy

Romance The Hymn of Death It's Okay That's Love Love Rain To Kill Time Doctors Let's Eat 1&2 Dream High 1&2 Wok of Love Old School Full House Coffee Prince Pasta

Links to these can be found in the description box of the video.

Let Me Know If You Have Any Recommendations!

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