Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Marg and myself that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!
Good news about skipping last week’s Library Loot: I have more to share this week! I’ve already finished (for better or for worse) some of these titles but they definitely deserve to be displayed as loot, even if their appearance is rather tardy.
Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott
I have been reading a lot (A LOT) of books about personal experiences with faith lately, several of which made passing references to Lamott.
Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt
I’ve had this on my TBR list since NPR brought it to my attention last winter. My number one rule as a reader may be ‘Trust NPR’.
The Matchmaker of Kenmare by Frank Delaney
Umm, no idea why I placed a hold on this. I assume it was in the heady days towards the end of December when, as you may remember, I was rushing to use up all my free holds from that year before 2011 arrived with its measly allotment of only 50.
Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá
I picked this up from the ‘Fast Reads’ display at my local branch, all excited at the prospect of popular science. But no. No, no, no, no, no. I made it through the first hundred pages but the writing style was just too obnoxious for me to continue.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Again, picked up from the ‘Fast Reads’ display but with much happier results. Very peppy, enjoyable and, dare I say it, inspiring.
The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh
Lord Peter Wimsey. Need there be any other reason?
Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay
It’s been so long since I placed the hold that I have no idea what the book is about anymore (Russia? Winters? Apparently a ballet dancer?) but presumably there was a reason I was intrigued in the first place. Another sterling example of responsible library use and hold management.
The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker
Oh my gosh, so much fun. Grabbed this from a display shelf on Friday and read it that night. I LOVE memoirs about twenty-something single females, people contemplating their (preferably obscure) faith, and people who have gone through significant weight loss journeys. This book is all of those things, combined into one slim, highly amusing volume. Jackpot.
The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids by Alexandra Robbins
I read Robbins’ Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities back in my pre-blogging days, loved it and am looking forward to this exploration of how the “high-stakes educational culture has spiraled out of control.”
The Attenbury Emeralds looks so good. Going on my TBR
Everything I’ve heard about has been good so far, so I’m really looking forward to it!
One of these days I will read Peter Wimsey books!
Russian Winter has been on my list for a while now too!
Enjoy your loot.
While I’m not usually a fan of mystery novels, Sayers’ books (and now Jill Paton Walsh’s continuations) have always been an exception. I hope you do have a chance to read them one day soon!
I’ve been seeing good reviews of the Matchmaker of Kenmare, but that’s the only one on the list I’m familiar with. I’ll be looking forward to your thoughts on it.
I haven’t read any reviews of it yet so I’m glad to hear that other readers are enjoying it!
These all look like such good reads! I have a hold placed on Russian Winter myself – I’ll be interested to see what you make of it.
I love when my loot is as varied as it is this week. I’ll keep you posted on Russian Winter!
Lots of good books there. I’m sure most will wind up on my tbr list. Enjoy!
Glad to help grow your TBR list!
Making Toast looks tempting, and the cover art is enticing, but I truly don’t think I could bear reading a book with such a tragic premise.
I’m interested to see how I react to it. It certainly promises to be a very emotional story.
Very interesting loot! The Attenbury Emeralds looks great and so does the overachievers. Enjoy your loot 🙂
Thanks Bina! I’m really looking forward to both titles.
Read Anne Lamott “Travelling Mercies”, interesting take on faith, I hope you like this one. Enjoy your loot!
Thanks! Lamott does seem to have found her niche.
One of my favorite themes in both fiction and memoir is contemplation of a faith tradition; especially when an adult is confronting the faith of their upbringing and choosing if/how to integrate it into their adult life. But then that’s one story I’ve lived.
I think I find such stories so interesting simply because I have never been or even really known anyone with a strong religious background. There’s definitely a novelty factor there for me.
Great variety of loot – enjoy!
Thanks Cat. I love weeks like this when my choices are so varied.
I’m interested to see what you think of The Happiness Project. I’ve been eying it, but I’ve been hesitant to pick it up for some reason.
I’ve got The Attenbury Emeralds waiting in a TBR pile too!
Do you pick books based on the covers – they are always the best 🙂
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