#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook and you can learn more about it here or in the post announcing it. It occurs every Monday when we post about 5 books on our TBR.
I admit, this was quite a tricky one, mainly because ‘whimsical’ always sounds so…undefined? I feel like people will have different views on what or what isn’t ‘whimsical’, but it’s also something hard to tell from a title and genre, so it took a while to find five books on my TBR for this. I do think in different ways these are all whimsical, which to me usually means it’s got elements of magic, but in a playful, fun way. Not to say ‘whimsy’ can’t be dark (and dark whimsy can be incredible when done well!) but for the most part these are fairly light-hearted, playful books – from what I can tell before reading, anyway!
#5OnMyTBR May 8th: Whimsical
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
Format: ebook
Genre: Fantasy
I would definitely class Discworld as ‘whimsey’. I’ve been trying to read these in order, but I’m currently missing the book immediately before this. I might just read this anyway as I know a lot of these can be read out of order, but ideally I’ll get Pyramids first. We’ll see. Either way, this is one I’m very keen to get to, as it’s among the most well-beloved of the whole series.
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix
Format: ebook
Genre: Urban Fantasy
This book sounds like so much fun, and with a character Merlin as a young left-handed bookseller, part of a magical extended family with the right-handed booksellers…this definitely has the fun, playful elements, but considering it’s Nix, I’m expecting a touch of darkness to it, too.
Format: ebook
Genre: Urban Fantasy
This looks like it could be really fun – especially with the setting being a MASH camp with various paranormal creatures, it sounds like it could be riffing a bit on the Paranormal Romance genre, while being a comedic addition to the subgenre. I was intrigued the moment I read the blurb, and I have other books in the series too, but I worry my high hopes for this book are preventing me actually starting it, as books don’t always live up to expectations!
Rumaysa: A Fairytale by Radiya Hafiza
Format: ebook
Genre: Middle Grade/Children’s Fantasy
This book looks so cute, and definitely sounds whimsical from the blurb! Rumaysa is a Muslim girl who lets her hijab down to escape a tower, and meets Cinderayla and Sleeping Sara. It’s definitely nailed down the playful aspect in the way the fairy tales are combined, and I think this will be a really enjoyable read.
Thunderpaws and the Tower of London by Ben Housden
Format: ebook
Genre: Urban Fantasy
A book about a cat who lives at the Tower of London, dealing with ravens and Royal ghosts, who stumbles into mysteries…need I say more?
That’s quite a good crop of books I think, definitely all ones I find myself hoping to get to read soon! Though I’ll likely be saying that about the 5 next week, too. Still, who doesn’t need a whimsey now and then?
Do you have any whimsical books you’re looking forward to, or any you’d recommend?
Unwrapping Words 