Top Ten Tuesday | Ifs and Debuts

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

This week's theme is 'Top Ten 2017 Debuts I'm Excited For', but to be honest I'm pretty rubbish at keeping on top of forthcoming debut novels. So instead of sharing ten 2017 debuts with you, I'm going to share ten debut novels I own that I haven't read yet but really want to!

The Butcher's Hook by Janet Ellis: I wasn't sure if I was interested in reading this when it was first released, but I've heard such great reviews describing this as a rather disturbing, Gothic tale I couldn't resist getting my hands on a copy and I'm hoping to read it soon.

The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman: This has praise from Sarah Waters, one of my favourite authors, so I'm looking forward to reading it and consuming more new voices in the realm of historical fiction.

The Lady's Slipper by Deborah Swift: I met Deborah Swift a couple of years ago while I was doing my MA and she was so lovely. She did the same MA as me at the same university and The Lady's Slipper is the product of that MA set in the Lancashire area that I adore. I need to get to this one sooner rather than later!

The Hourglass Factory by Lucy Ribchester: I don't know why I haven't read this yet because this is essentially historical crime meets the Suffragette movement and that's a book I need in my life.

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman: I'm ashamed I haven't read this yet as it was a Christmas gift from my lovely friend Natalie @ A Sea Change last year. I'm planning to get to this one soon!

Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee: I love my historical fiction that focuses on women and poc, so I need to get to this debut soon - I'm considering have a historical fiction and non-fiction binge throughout Women's History Month in March.

The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng: Tan Twan Eng's books have such beautiful covers and I love the sound of his novels, especially as I've read so little by Asian authors or set in Asia.

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: I can't wait to get stuck into Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's fiction and I'd like to start with her debut, which has this stunning cover.

The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer: This was on the 2016 Wales Book of the Year shortlist in the English-language Fiction category and I've heard good things about it. I don't tend to read many thrillers but I always enjoy them when I do, so I'm looking forward to this one.

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson: The amount I've read by or about the trans community is shocking. Sadly Williamson isn't a trans writer, and I'd like to read books about trans people written by trans people, but I also refuse to believe that people can only write about people exactly like them so I'm not going to dismiss Williamson's debut, which has certainly got a lot of people talking about the trans community and what cisgender people can do to be good allies.

Which books made your list this week?

Top Ten Tuesday | My Winter TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

This week's theme is a Thanksgiving freebie, so because I'm British and therefore don't celebrate Thanksgiving, and also just don't like the origin of the holiday (sorry America!), I'm going to talk about the books on my Winter TBR instead.

The majority of these are 2016 releases I want to read before the end of the year, along with a few seasonal reads!

The Muse by Jessie Burton: I read and loved Burton's debut, The Miniaturist (reviewed here!), last year, so it's pretty ridiculous that I haven't read this one yet. To be honest I just haven't been in the mood to pick it up yet, and I'm very much a mood reader, but I want to read it before the end of the year.

A Tyranny of Petticoats edited by Jessica Spotswood: I definitely should have read this anthology by now, especially as I love historical fiction about women which is what this collection is all about. I ended up DNFing the other YA anthology I tried this year so I'm hoping I like this one more.

The Tidal Zone by Sarah Moss: I've heard nothing but brilliant things about this book and this author, and for someone who doesn't usually like covers with people on I think there's something so striking about this one.

The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann: A classic Christmas story I love but have never actually read, which is something I need to change!

The View from the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman: I was surprised by just how chunky this collection of Gaiman's non-fiction is when I bought a copy, but I think it'll be a really interesting collection to dip in and out of during the winter months.

The Butcher's Hook by Janet Ellis: I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this when it first came out, it sounds fairly bizarre, but I've seen so many good reviews that I couldn't resist picking up a copy for myself and I'd really like to read it this year.

The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston: I'm pretty sure this is the third year in a row this book has been on my Winter TBR. It's an ideal winter read so I need to get to it this winter.

Under a Pole Star by Stef Penney: I read Penney's debut, The Tenderness of Wolves (reviewed here!), back in January and while I didn't fall completely in love with it I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since finishing it. Under a Pole Star is another book with a wintery setting, something Penney wrote brilliantly in her debut novel, and I think it's going to be a brilliant book to read this winter.

What is Not Yours is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi: I have to be completely honest, the only reason I bought this is because it's a gorgeous book. I do love the sound of it, though! I read my first Oyeyemi novel this year and even though I sadly wasn't the biggest fan, I think I'll enjoy her style of writing much more in a story collection.

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry: I've started this one, and gotten about a quarter of a way through it, and while I've enjoyed what I've read it just hasn't grabbed me because I've been an absolutely rubbish reader this year. I want to finish it soon!

What did you talk about this week?