Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Library Loot 4
1. The Regeneration Trilogy by Pat Barker
2. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham
3. M Is For Magic by Neil Gaiman
4. The Chocolate Run by Dorothy Koomson
5. Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson
6. Surfacing by Margaret Atwood
Plus three Thomas the Tank Engine books and one Postman Pat book for Elliot. I still have out Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay and What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt (which is what I'm currently reading)(Did you know that Siri Hustvedt and Paul Auster are married? I didn't until yesterday.)
I almost picked up Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood and Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, but I didn't. They are both books I'd like to read and that I think I'd enjoy reading. The problem is that I own both of those books and I'm really likely to put off reading them forever because I know that they will always be there but that I have to return library books by a certain date. Maybe in a more desperate situation I'll resort to checking those books out.
I was hoping for a better selection of children's books. I really need them as a buffer between the serious books. That's why I went back for the Dorothy Koomson book. I'd read My Best Friend's Girl last year and really enjoyed it. And I was very excited with the Neil Gaiman.
(Incidentally, What I Loved, The Regeneration Trilogy, Surfacing, The Midwich Cuckoos, The Blind Assassin and Cloud Atlas are all on the 1001 Books To Read Before You Die, which I've taken up again. I'm feeling a little competitive and want to boost up my numbers. (Currently 114/1001) Ms Mac had mentioned it to me absolutely ages ago, but there are quite a few titles on the list that are short stories that could be viewed online. She'd mentioned The Yellow Wallpaper and I'd already read it so I didn't really look into any further until last night. I managed to read all three of the Edgar Allen Poe stories on the list (The Purloined Letter, The Pit and the Pendulum, and The Fall of the House of Usher) so if you're interested (like me) that might be something to look into more... Apparently A Modest Proposal by Johnathan Swift is only a few pages long and there are others.)
I'll tell you, these last few days were hell-ish. I really wanted to go to the library and it snowed so I wasn't able until this morning. I hate being stuck indoors, especially when I'm running low on books. Even though I'm only 100 pages into What I Loved and still had another book to read after that (though I know once I start Saffy's Angel it won't take me long to read it), I start to panic a little bit. I get this weird jittery feeling and everything just doesn't feel right. It's amazing what books, or lack of books does to my mental health. Luckily, the roads looked clear this morning. And Elliot is back in pre-school this afternoon.
We did have fun for a little while, in the snow.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Regeneration is just AMAZING. Enjoy!
ReplyDeletex
Nice library haul; I need to read more Laurie Halse Anderson, especially after finishing Chains. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the look of The Regeneration Trilogy - I will have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI get jittery too if I don't have enough books from the library. I don't know why because I have stacks of my own books to read, as well as the ones people keep lending me. I haven't read one of my own books since New Year!
Prom sounds interesting, as does the Neil Gaiman! I'll look into the Regerenation Trilogy as well. :)
ReplyDeleteI've also had Cloud Atlas on my shelf for the longest time and I've been unable to read it. I might try your library trick but I'm not sure it'll work. In the words of Laynie Browne - sometimes a book comes to you at the wrong time.
ReplyDeleteyay for M is for Magic! I haven't read Surfacing or Prom, but it's hard to go wrong with Atwood and I've heard nothing but good things about Anderson. I have Speak on my pile; I really ought to move it up.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy them all!
I use the library trick to get myself to read books that I already own but either can't find or can't find time for. Funny how my mind goes for the library books first :)
ReplyDeleteBecky
It sounds like you got some really good books from the library! And I know what you mean about having to have enough books checked out. I need to have enough books or I can't concentrate on what I am reading :)
ReplyDeleteI really, really liked The Blind Assassin and urge you to read it and tell me you enjoyed it too.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad my friend gave me the 1001 Books book because it's pointed me in the direction of a lot of books I would never otherwise have read, like Maragret Atwood. I'm slowly working my way through it, just picking out titles that appeal to me. It's good to know that there are more of the shorter story titles online too. Can you point me in their direction one day?
Eliott looks like he's having a ball in that snow. Next year, Joshua will be toddling about in it too!
You are such a reader! My goal is to read two novels before my child is born in June!
ReplyDeleteI meant to say earlier that I just finished a Dorothy Koomsom book last night- Goodnight, Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThat woman has the ability to make me sob like no other author. It was heartbreaking but lovely.
I hate running low on books too always go to the library and hoard more when I know they'll be closed for a couple of days for holidays or whatever. Funny thing is, I have tons of unread books so it's not like I'm going to run out any time soon! :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway enjoy the books and the snow! Your little one is a cutie!
I knew about Hustvedt and Auster, I enjoy work by both of them. I want to read What I Loved. I recently read The Sorrows of an American and loved it. I've heard only good thing about the Barker trilogy. I don't know the name Koomson, I should check it out. Glad things are looking up for you. Happy reading.
ReplyDeleteI hope you love What I Loved as much as I did. Creeptaculous! I'm a Siri Hustved/Paul Auster junkie all the way.
ReplyDeleteAndi - I did love it, very much. Review coming soon.
ReplyDeleteSandra - I'd like to read other books by Hustvedt after What I Loved, it was fantastic.
Iliana - I know! I have at least two shelves of unread books, why the panic attack?! Still.
Ms Mac - I would have never picked up any of her books without your recommendation. (and I emailed you about your other comment!)
Damselfly - two books before June? I cringe to think of it, but if it works for you :)
samantha - that's it, exactly. My mind always wanders to what I'm reading next and if there's nothing there than I go into panic mode!
Becky - glad it's not just me!
Nymeth - funny, I thought the same things, but I tried both Surfacing and Prom and couldn't get into either book.
saveophelia - I believe that. Timing is everything.
Eva - do! I just finished Regeneration and it was great.
Scrap Girl - I can't remember the last time I read one of my own books!
Melissa - I've heard good things about Chains as well, but I wasn't that into Prom. Gave up on it.
Beautiful Intellectual - it really was!