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. 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!
Marg has the Mr Linky this week!
2012 has, so far, been remarkable for my meager library hauls each week. My restraint has been very practical, allowing me to read more from my own shelves than I might otherwise, but it has been very boring. I have been dreaming of a trip to the Central Library and, on Sunday, I finally went. I only picked up a small number of books but it was a glorious feeling – as was seeing the surprisingly large number of people crowded into the building’s atrium, waiting for the library doors to open at noon. There are some very eager library users out there!
Lots of non-fiction this week, starting with some excellent-sounding memoirs: I picked up I’m Perfect, You’re Doomed: Tales from a Jehovah’s Witness Upbringing by Kyria Abrahams based on Maphead’s recommendation and Love Among the Daughters: Memories of the Twenties in England and America by Elspeth Huxley after reading Danielle’s enticing review.
The only thing better than a memoir, is a diary. I adore Charles Ritchie’s diaries. I gushed about An Appetite for Life last year and began 2012 in the best manner possible, rereading The Siren Years. But unlike those earlier volumes, which I know so well, I’ve only read Diplomatic Passport: More Undiplomatic Diaries, 1946-1962 once or twice and ages ago at that. I can’t wait to see what I make of it now.
I read Farthing by Jo Walton last week and was…not precisely put off? I was intrigued by the alternate history she created (the books are set in an England that made peace with Hitler in 1941) but so many other things bothered me (characters, plot, narration choices…). It was a quick, easy read though and I grew attached enough to her troubled society to want to try Ha’penny for myself. I’m about halfway through it now and am finding it far less irritating, I’m pleased to say.
Leningrad: Tragedy of a City under Siege, 1941-1944 by Anna Reid is perhaps a little heavier in subject matter than what I’m inclined towards right now but it got such wonderful reviews when it came out that I can’t be anything but pleased that my turn in the hold queue arrived. But I think after that I’ll be in need of something more cheerful and Three Houses, a slim memoir by Angela Thirkell, looks like it should fit the bill. It has a singularly creepy cover though, with that demonic-looking child.
Finally compiling the Part IV of the Gardening Reading List a couple of weeks ago made me eager to actually track down some of the titles. I picked up The Curious Gardener: A Year in the Garden by Anna Pavord (from Part I of the list) and The Laskett by Roy Strong (recommended by blog reader Margaret Powling). I’ve already been dipping in and out of The Curious Gardener and it is wonderful.
But, so I don’t forget what season it actually is while I’m dreaming of the garden, I also brought home Winter: Five Windows on the Season by Adam Gopnik.
What did you pick up this week?
What a delicious selection. The only one I have is The Laskett. And lovely it is, too.
Thank you so much for the recommendation of The Laskett, Margaret. I’m really excited to read it, especially now that I’ve glanced quickly through it and have some idea of his writing style.
I am intrigued by the Walton book. I’m very interested in alternate history right now. Enjoy your loot!
It is definitely an intriguing trilogy and very fun to read. I would certainly recommend tracking down Farthing to start (despite some of my issues with it).
What interesting titles. Your choices always send me straight to the library catalogue with hopes I’ll find them there. Enjoy your loot!
Thanks, Cat. I hope you do find the ones you’re interested in in your catalogue!
You always find the most interesting and diverse loot at the library. I’ll look forward to your thoughts on these.
Thanks, Susan!
Yay for Elspeth Huxley! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
You know this works reciprocally–I now have An Appetite for Life on my reading pile–a purchase as my library didn’t own it. Can’t wait to read it. Also, am wondering if I should read the books in a particular order? I thought this was the first (it seems to be so chronologically), but he actually published a later diary first. It seems to make more sense to start at the beginning so to speak. I’ve been going a little crazy with library books lately…Maybe I’ll share my latest haul, too.
Yay for Charles Ritchie! The Siren Years was published first, though you’re right that An Appetite for Life is first chronologically. Honestly, you can start anywhere with them. I read The Siren Years first because it was the first one I came across, knowing nothing of Ritchie, but now I reread them chronologically, following him as he ages.
Do share your library haul! What could be more fun that sharing new books with fellow readers?
I hope you end up liking I’m Perfect as much as I did. The Leningrad book sounds promising.
I hope I do too! It’s been so long since I read anything about Russia or any good social history book that I’m also really excited about Leningrad.
With Three Houses, did you notice that the demonic child is actually Angela Thirkell? That’s a photo of her with her grandfather, Edward Burne-Jones.
I didn’t realise it was Thirkell so thanks for pointing that out, Lisa! However, much as I love her, that doesn’t make her appear any less demonic to me
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That’s such a diverse and interesting selection. Leningrad sounds really interesting…I think I just added another book I want to read to my already too long list. 8)
Oh yes, the great danger of reading other blogs is an ever-expanding wishlist!
I just finished the Huxley a few weeks ago – I kept reading the Cornell parts to my husband (he went to school there). Student life had apparently changed considerably from the time she went there – the 20s – and his time there in the 60s.
And the Leningrad book is very good; the subject matter is difficult, but I’d imagine most readers will have a great deal of admiration for those who lived through that terrible siege. The author uses sources more recently uncovered. Books on the subject written 30-40 years ago usually state that people rarely kept diaries – but it turns out that many ordinary people did just that, and those sources give a much better picture of what and how people endured.
I know nothing about Cornell, aside from the fact that it’s in America, so I’m sure I’ll learn a lot while I’m reading the Huxley! And I’m glad to hear you were impressed by Leningrad; I’m really looking forward to it.
Nice to see I’m not the only one whose curiosity was piqued by Maphead’s rec of I’m Perfect, You’re Doomed. And I’m tucking your opinion of Farthing and Ha’Penny away in case I don’t get on with Farthing, which I currently have out from the library.
Maphead got me really excited for it, especially since I have family members who are Jehovah’s Witness. Everyone else seems to have adored Farthing so I do hope you get on with it as well as they did. I think my expectations were a little built up. It is interesting, just not brilliant. She does write compellingly enough that I haven’t been able to abandon the story – I’ve now picked up the final book in the trilogy!
The Adam Gopnik’s Winter looks interesting. Do let us know your thoughts once you’ve gone throught it. I have his Paris To The Moon sitting on my shelf for quite many moons now…. really should get to it soon.
Gopnik is excellent and everything I’ve heard about Winter makes it sound like a lovely, thoughtful read. I will certainy report back once I’m done with it! Paris to the Moon is WONDERFUL, so I hope you do get to it soon!