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!
My parents have fled to warmer climes so I now have the house to myself, which means no pesky interruptions to my reading for things like conversation or socialization. Moving home has definitely cut into my reading time, in the best possible way, but I am looking forward to having just this one month to revert to my old ways. I might even get the chance to finally write up the outstanding reviews for all the books I’ve read in February and March! And I can spend hours at the library with no fear of being teased for it afterwards (anything more than half an hour is grounds for bemused heckling from my nearest and dearest).
In an unrelated aside, I am running a giveaway this week for one copy of The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig. If you’re interested, see the review for details.
Here’s my loot for the week:
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Three months into 2011 and I’ve yet to read one book for the Victorian Lit challenge – this might be the book I finally start with. Maybe. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve borrowed it from the library in the last ten years and returned it unread, but I retain hope.
Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
I have never read anything by Rushdie and honestly know him best through his appearances on “Charlie Rose”. It was on that show that I first saw him speak about his children’s books Haroun and the Sea of Stories and Luka and the Fire of Life. While I may never feel the need to pick up The Satanic Verses, I am always happy to try a fantastical fable.
How the Girl Guides Won the War by Janie Hampton
I’d passed on this several times before reading dovegreyreader’s review of it in February (the comments section of her post is particularly wonderful with lots of readers reminiscing about their own experiences with the Guides). Since then, I’d been keeping an eye out for it on the shelves and today it appeared!
Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson
A title that has been on my TBR list for ages.
In Another Europe: A Journey to Romania by Georgina Harding
Honestly, I don’t have any particularly strong interest in Romania, particularly not Romania circa 1988, but I’m on the lookout for titles for the Eastern European Reading Challenge so, seeing this on the shelf, I thought ‘why not?’
Blackout by Connie Willis
I may not have adored To Say Nothing of the Dog but I did enjoy it and am looking forward to reading Willis’ most recent time-travel tale. The library catalogue advises that Blackout’s sequel, All Clear is currently in transit to me, which is perfect as I hear that they are books you want to read as close together as possible.
Oh I enjoyed The girl guides – a library find for me…
I just acquired Black Out this last weekend. Have you read Firewatch? I have been informed that you should read that before Black Out.
Enjoy your loot!
Middlemarch was a little slow for the first 100 pages, but I’m so glad I read it! It’s a long read but so worth it. I’m hoping to read Daniel Deronda later this year.
One of these days I am going to pick up How the Girl Guides Won the War. It sounds wonderful and who could resist that cover!?
Ah, Middlemarch has been staring at me for a little over a year from the TBR shelf. I’d like to get to it this summer. We’re hitting the last leg of the school year and it’s too busy for me to settle in with a tome right now. I’ll be interested in hearing your thoughts on it if you get to it. I’ve heard of the Girl Guides book as well, but can’t remember from where, so I’ll be watching for thoughts on that as well.
An empty house sounds blissful to me at the moment. Enjoy your quiet while you’ve got it! 🙂
Thank you for hosting Library Loot this week. Enjoy your books.
I ended up loving Middlemarch, but it took a while to get into it. I also liked Blackout/All Clear, but thought it was a bit long for its story. Wow, I sound really down on the books but really I highly recommend them.
i too have never read anything by Rushdie, but have always felt as if i should…just to say i have since his name is so popular! and whoa-i haven’t hear of Connie Willis’ books before, but im always up for trying a time travel, will definitely check those out!
I hope you love Haroun and the Sea of Stories! I did, but I’m a Rushdie girl. 🙂
Haha, I understand how you feel about the ridicule. My family doesn’t seem to understand how I spend so much time at the library!!!
I finally read Middlemarch last year and really enjoy it when once I got going. Rushdie’s on my list of authors to read but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. Enjoy!
Astrid and Veronika caught my eye in a Powell’s newsletter. I love the cover. I checked it out from the library a few months ago but had to return it before I could read it. I was able to pick up another of Olsson’s books from the library’s discard section for like 10 cents.
I’m guilty of doing the same thing with Middlemarch–checking it out and not getting to it. Now though I suppose I could find a free ebook file to read on my computer and never have the excuse of a due date again.
Both the Rushdie and Blackout sound intriguing and I love the cover of How the Girl Guides Won the War.
I’ve read one of Rushdie’s books – Midnight’s Children – and I was underwhelmed…. I hope you enjoy your books!
Oh, I really liked Astrid & Veronika. George Eliot, Salman Rushdie, and Connie Willis have been on my list forever. Enjoy!
I read Middlemarch last year – it took a while, but was definitely worth the investment of time! Eliot’s insight into people and situations is brilliant.
Middlemarch is on my TBR list for this year. Have to read it if I’m going to complete a couple of challenges!
[…] Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. This week’s links are on Claire’s blog. […]
Argh, I shouldn’t look at your list, there are so many books on there that I’d like to read (and the tbr pile is already 500+) xD
Enjoy your haul!