Thank you Eva and Alessandra for encouraging us to visit the library. You know, I love libraries but I’m trying to stay away a bit as my unread books are threatening to take over the whole place, but I had put a book on hold and you know how that goes. One stop in a library and you are powerless to resist the lure of the new books shelf and before you know it you are roaming around in the different sections.
So, today I stopped in and came away with these books. Let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought:
- The Portable Sixties Reader, edited by Ann Charters. I had seen this book at a B&N a while back and was intrigued, okay, I liked the cover. But the copy they had was kind of beat up so I left it behind. I wanted to read a bit into this and see what I thought. The book has writings from Bob Dylan, Malcolm X, Susan Sontag, William S. Burroughs, and many others. I get the feeling this is a book that I will have to order and add to my personal library.
- The Best American Short Stories 2008, edited by Salman Rushdie. What can I say, I’m suddenly on a “must read short stories” kick. I’m particularly looking forward to the stories by Nicole Krauss, Alice Munro and A.M. Homes. Thank you to Lexi for reminding me to look for this book!
- The Water’s Lovely by Ruth Rendell. It’s been a while since I’ve read anything by Rendell and I do love her suspenseful novels.
- What It Is by Lynda Barry. I was so moved by her book One Hundred Demons that when I saw this one on the shelf I had to snatch it up. I’ve already taken a few quick peeks and it’s so vivid and eye-catching. In this book Barry charts her own beginnings as an artist and encourages the reader to make art. It has an activity book! Ok, I get the feeling this is another book I must have.
I’m off to enjoy my library loot.
17 Comments
Looking forward to hearing your review of The Water’s Lovely. I’ve only read one Rendell, but liked it a lot.
I started The Best American Short Stories 2008 weeks ago. The stories I read so far were perfect! Rushdie did such a great job in selecting stories. Unfortunately I had to return the book to the library before I could finish it. I hope you like it.
I just recently rejoined the library (I lost my card) and I have been browsing the web site the last couple days. Still no books out, but I have a list…
Enjoy your loot! I’m curious about that anthology edited by Rushdie. And I really want to get my hands on Lynda Barry’s books.
Love the Loot! I always think short stories aren’t meaty enough, but then I read one and get all flustered by everything that goes on. I’m too young to have such a narrow mind; especially, after reading Eudora Welty’s work. I’ll never be able to read “Moon Lake” again without blushing! 😉
One stop in a library and you are powerless to resist the lure of the new books shelf and before you know it you are roaming around in the different sections.
So true! Enjoy your loot!
I haven’t read any of those but they do sound interesting. I’d like to read some more short stories this year, along with all the other hundreds of books I’d like to read! 😉
Wow, lots of short stories.
Have fun
Sounds like you found some great reads. I haven’t been to the library in forever, partly because I have a huge stack of review books (never mind the piles of books I purchased pre-blog and still haven’t read) and partly because their hours don’t always jibe with my work schedule.
I haven’t read any of those books, but they do look good! I’d like to read Rendell, and I do know that Didion writes very interesting things about the 60s. I’ll have to visit my library one of these days soon!
You’re welcome! You will probably have the thing read before I will, however. Library due dates are great motivators!
I have that Rendell on my TBR pile–not sure when I’ll get to it though. I am doing terribly reading my library books–after I signed up for the Winter Reading Program. Now I’ll have to fly through five books. I’ve been working on a few others in my pile (all my own books!). I’m afraid it’s too cold to walk to the library this week–maybe next week. Just as well as I am too behind anyway!
booklogged – I’ve read several of her books and have not been disappointed! I just hope I can get to this one before it’s due 🙂
Vasilly – Ooh, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it. I don’t know that I’ll get to finish the book before it’s due either but I figured it’d be a good way to check it out and I can always buy it and add it to my library if I like it!
Kailana – Yay, you were able to replace your card. Watch out though I bet your first trip back to the library and you’ll be checking out tons! 🙂
Nymeth – There is something so vulnerable and open about Lynda Barry’s books. Granted I’ve only read one and skimmed some others but I’m very impressed. This book is so neat – but I probably have to get my own so I can use the activity book part 🙂
Maggie – Ok, I’m scribbling Eudora Welty’s in my book wish list 😉 I understand though, I always feel like I’m not going to get enough out of a short story but I think in the past couple of years my thinking on that has really shifted.
Alessandra – Thank you for hosting this with Eva. So fun! You girls are a bad influence though 😉
tanabata – ha,ha… Oh indeed. There’s never enough time for all of our books right?
Isabel – I know, I’m becoming a rebel 🙂
Anna – That’s also why I’ve been staying away a bit. My shelves of unread books are staggering. Amazing that sometimes I still don’t know what exactly I want to read 🙂 I think it’s just fun knowing you can take out a bunch of books out.
Dorothy W. – Rendell is so good. I think you’d like her mysteries as she’s much more about analyzing the whys. I need to check that book and see if there’s a Didion essay. She’s another writer I’ve been meaning to read for a long time!
Lexi – Sure, if I re-new it a few times! haha.. I am terrible about checking out a bunch of books and returning them unread. It’s ok, though, they end up on my wish list usually 🙂
Danielle – I still think it’s so cool that your library has a winter reading program. I don’t like the branch of the library that’s near me really so I didn’t really check out too much. That’s one thing I definitely miss from Dallas – my old branch was wonderful. And, they had a reading program too. Anyway, stay warm and cozy with all your books 🙂
I read the Water’s Lovely and really enjoyed it. It was actually my first taste of Ruth Rendell.
They all sound good, Iliana. I really need to try Ruth Rendall’s writing.
enjoy your library loot, you got some good ones! I went this week and added 4 books to my TBR mountain 🙂
Is your “living the good life” quote in the sidebar new? I just noticed it when I popped in for a closer look at your Library Loot.
I’ve been on a short story kick lately, too. I sent Christopher Meeks’ *Months and Seasons* to a friend who was in a reading funk (trouble adjusting to a big move), and it totally pulled her up!