Saturday, November 21, 2015

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much:The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett


Is it possible to love books too much?

This is a true story about a man named John Gilkey, a man who loved books. He didn't love to read them, he was obsessed with collecting them, with how having them made him look to other people.

So John Gilkey stole rare books, from book dealers, bookstores, and libraries. He came up with elaborate and successful credit card scams. He got away with thousands of dollars worth of books.

And then Ken Sanders, a book dealer, became obsessed with tracking him down and bringing him to justice.

Bartlett is given unparalleled access to Gilkey, Saunders, and a myriad cast of characters caught in the web of Gilkey's thievery and deception, as she works to answer the question, is it actually possible to love books too much?

4/5 stars

Friday, November 20, 2015

Five Friday: Five Good Books That Start With B

This is part two of my ongoing Alphabet Series. Once again, I've tried to pick books that might not be as well known, or that I haven't talked about on this blog very much if at all.


1. Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan 

  • Mystery magazine central part of plot-some of the murders even emulate some of the stories
  • Mysterious protagonist with secrets in his past
  • Excellent writing
  • Strong female detective


2. Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates
  • Tagline says it all-One game. Six students. Five survivors.
  • Reminiscent of The Secret History
  • Brilliantly unreliable narrator
  • Jaw dropping twist midway through the book
  • Slow, relentless build up of tension

3. Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates
  • Based off a true crime
  • Oates' incredible, lyrical writing style
  • Short, but deep and involved read
  • Packs an emotional punch

4. Broken Harbor by Tana French
  • Really unique, creepy psychological thriller, involving everything from unexplained baby monitors to mysterious noises in the attic
  • One of my personal favorites of French's amazing Dublin Murder Squad series
  • Story is complex, full of twists and turns, and packs an emotional punch


5. Best in Show by Laurien Berenson
  • Fun, light cozy mystery read
  • Set in the world of dog shows
  • Has humor, mystery, and romance

Thursday, November 19, 2015

True Crime Thursday: The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale


This is one of my all-time favorite true crime books. I've read it twice, and plan to re read it again someday.

The crime itself is full of drama, heartbreak, obsession, and scandal. A three year old boy was found murdered in an outdoor privy, and Scotland Yard was called in. The lead detective on the case, Whicher, became fixated on the idea that someone in the boy's family was the murderer, and was consumed by the case. Five years later, the true killer came forward.

Summerscale has an excellent writing style that presents facts and theories in a fascinating, gripping way. The book is also a literary theory of sorts, discussing how Whicher is considered the basis for detective characters such as Sam Spade. Fans of true crime, as well as detective stories, will love this book.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Quotes I Loved From Books I Read This Year ; Ho Ho Readathon Tally; New Book!


Ten Quotes I Loved From Books I Read This Year:

1) “It’s impossible to resist the kindness of strangers. Someone who looks at you, who doesn’t know you, who tells you it’s OK, whatever you did, whatever you’ve done: you suffered, you hurt, you deserve forgiveness.” -The Girl on the Train

2) “I need not be visibly odd. I could engage in the protocols that others followed and move undetected among them. And how could I be sure that other people were not doing the same - playing the game to be accepted but suspecting all the time that they were different?” -The Rosie Project

3) “You can’t go through life not listening to music.” -The Rosie Project

4) “What Kevin had done — though I would never admit it — had somehow become my story, my trauma, tangled my life up in ways I still find complex and uncomfortable."-Visiting Hours: A Memoir of Friendship and Murder

5) "Please don't tell me you're fighting over that piece of paper," said Ed.
"He's not sharing!" screamed Chloe. "Sharing is caring!"
"You get what you get and you don't get upset!" screamed Fred.
-Big Little Lies

6) "Introverts, in contrast, may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were home in their pajamas."-Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

7) "“Don't think of introversion as something that needs to be cured.” -Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

8) “Spend your free time the way you like, not the way you think you're supposed to. Stay home on New Year's Eve if that's what makes you happy. Skip the committee meeting. Cross the street to avoid making aimless chitchat with random acquaintances. Read. Cook. Run. Write a story. Make a deal with yourself that you'll attend a set number of social events in exchange for not feeling guilty when you beg off.” -Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

9) "I’m no recluse, but, like an introvert, I need a lot of time alone to reflect and recharge, and I am easily drained by being around others, but at the same time, like an extrovert, I’m energized by parties and conversation.” -Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own by Kate Bolick

10) "“She loved so many things—cats, dogs, roses, people—that sometimes I wonder if she chose to be alone to best enjoy them all.” -Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own by Kate Bolick



For the Ho Ho Ho Readathon I read:
*Jingle Bell Bark by Laurien Berenson
*Real Elves by Helen Smith
*Tied Up in Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh
*A Cup of Cozy 2 by Nancy Jill Thames


Finally, I was lucky enough to win Read Now Sleep Later's giveaway for the Spooktacular Giveaway, and got my prize in the mail today-a copy of The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender!! hanks so much again Read Now Sleep Later!!

Monday, November 16, 2015

The Shelfie Hop!




This is my beloved Agatha Christie bookcase, where I keep all the different editions, versions, title variations, and amazing amazing books Agatha Christie wrote, plus some biographies of her. 


This is my other bookcase of books I have read and kept. The top shelf is all Sherlock Holmes, canon and non-canon. The rest of the bookcase contains predominantly mysteries and true crime, with some young adult and graphic novels. I definitely need more space for all the books I have read and want to keep! Someday, in the near future I hope, I'm planning to get two taller, wider bookcases.


This is one of my TBR bookcases, near my reading corner.


These are my two other TBR bookcases, which are in my bedroom.


A lot of other blogs are taking part in this really fun hop! :




Sunday, November 15, 2015

Sunday Roundup!

This week The Bookkeeper's Apprentice joined Instagram! You can find me there at @BookkeepersApprentice , or find the link in the sidebar.

I finished four books this week:

 



I've now read two books for Nonfiction November: The Temptress: The Scandalous Life of Alice de Janze and the Mysterious Death of Lord Erroll, and Dead by Sunset. 

Jingle Bell Bark was my first finished read for Ho Ho Ho Readathon, and I also read a short holiday-themed story, Real Elves by Helen Smith. I'm starting Tied Up in Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh tonight as my next book for the Readathon.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Besides reading, I went to an NBA game with my dad, and spent today cooking with my mom and our friend.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

What I'm Reading Wednesday (& Ho Ho Read-A-Thon!)



On Librarything, I am participating in Nonfiction November! I just finished one history/true crime book, The Temptress: The Scandalous Life of Alice de Janze and the Mysterious Death of Lord Errol. My two current nonfiction reads are In a Different Key, an ARC about autism, and American Ghost, which traces the history of a woman whose ghost is said to host her old home.

The other two books in the pile are my choices for the Ho Ho Ho Read-A-Thon, hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer & Book Shelfery : Tied Up in Tinsel, and Jingle Bell Bark. I'm really excited to get started with the Read-A-Thon tomorrow!

What are you reading this week?




Ho-Ho-Ho Read-a-thon