I stopped at the library on Saturday and I picked up my three holds and read a couple of magazines while I was there. The only thing that marred my stop was that I didn’t find any poetry books that I couldn’t leave without.
My library is really a great source for fiction, non-fiction, etc. We have comfy couches, free wireless connections, lots of computers, and we even have a cafe! Yes, drinks and food are allowed in my library. But one thing had to give I guess and that would be the poetry section. It is miniscule. Only two shelves devoted to poetry and the books look like they’ve been there for ages. Still, I won’t complain because I know my library is a good one. Hopefully though some rich patron will donate some poetry books.
Anyway here’s what I got on my visit:
The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu. From Kirkus Review: Mengestu skirts immigrant-literature cliches and paints a beautiful portrait of a complex, conflicted man struggling with questions of love and loyalty… A nuanced slice of immigrant life.
Hide & Seek by Clare Sambrook. From Publishers Weekly: This taut, suspenseful debut novel narrated by a young boy takes as its premise the unthinkable and its aftermath: the disappearance of a child during a school field trip.
Consequences of Sin by Clare Langley-Hawthorne. From Publishers Weekly: Langley-Hawthorne’s debut, billed as the first in a new Edwardian series, introduces an aspiring journalist and an Oxford-educated heiress, Ursula Marlow, who has a lot to learn about good detective work.
Don’t all of these sound good? I wish I could read them all right now. To make matters worse guess what I got in the mail? Coupons for Half Price Books. Coupons for all of this week. Oh yes, I will be making trips to Half Price Books.
These are great suggestions, thanks! I’m glad to see that other people enjoy the rush of the book procurement as much as I do. My 7 year old son is the same way and tend to overload our nightstands. I looked at the reviews for Hide and Seek on Amazon, however, and was a little disturbed by a reviewer stating s/he had read the book as a bedtime story to a 9 year old. Odd, that. All of this is my rambling way of saying I enjoy your blog. 😉 Of course, one thing I have to watch myself on is using my reading time READING about READING!
Oohh .. I could see myself spending many hours in that library of yours. I wish we had one here. No wonder you can’t resist stopping there.
That Edwardian mystery looks like it will be one cracking read !
Yes, I’m with Gavin, I’m off to my library site now to see if ‘Consequences of Sin’ is available over here. Our local libraries couldn’t be more different. Mine is in a tiny Victorian building that would hold about two dozen people at any one time, if you took out all the shelves and the people really liked each other. I have to admit that I rarely take books from stock, but as they are a branch library of the main city complex they can get me books from central stores. The most remarkable thing about it is the plaque in the outside wall which says that the tallest woman in England once in lived in a house on that spot. She was well over 7ft!
I am lucky to have several libraries not too far from my house. It’s hard to leave sometimes! 😉 Recently I have discovered a few others in different parts of town, as I have been there either for my business or with my aging/ill cat. I would love to have just a day to explore the different libraries all over town and compare what they have to offer. Is there a national library day or week? I like to look into these poetry suggestions. I really enjoy inspiring poetry, and it often stirs something up inside me and then I start jotting down my own personal version.
How’d you get coupons for Half Price Books?
I am totally jealous that you have such a wonderful sounding library. I live in an area that is upper-middle class and expensive and still the cheapskates around here won’t vote for a new library – it kills me!
I love, love, love my library. I cannot afford to keep myself in books!
Janelle – Thank you for stopping by! And, isn’t that the truth. I do enjoy reading about books but I have to make sure to get in my book reading as well 🙂
Gavin – See, I knew you guys would understand why it’s hard to keep away 🙂 I read another review of the Edwardian series comparing it to the Maisie Dobbs series, which is a favorite of mine, so that was another reason why I had to get this book.
Ann – Your library does sound beautiful though. My library is fairly new so no interesting plaques or anything like that. Well, at least not that I’ve seen. Maybe I should look for some 🙂
Shadan – There is a national library week! I believe it’s in September. And, believe me I’ll be looking for some poetry books to recommend. I like what you said about your feelings on poetry.
SciFiChick – I’ve always found a “mailing list” sign up at all of the HP Bookstores so look for that at yours. Once you sign up they’ll send you coupons every once in a while. They are totally worth it so hope your HP does that too!
Stephanie – Wow, that is sad 🙁 How far is your nearest library then?
Poetry books you shouldn’t be without… anything by James Wright.
Lucky girl! Your library sounds heavenly. The one out here in the sticks is pretty worthless….thus my very slim pocketbook from all the book buying. Eeeek!
Those books you picked up at the library sound good! I’ll be using my Half Price Books coupons too! 🙂
That is a very good library…wish I didn’t live so far from it now. I guess I should go check out the downtown one since it is right down the road.
Those books sound very interesting and of course you should be making a visit to HP Books! Awh, the lure temptation!
I’ve been wanting to read The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears. I look forward to hearing how it is. I walked out of the library with 7 books today. But, 4 of them were pregnancy books! 🙂
If you’re looking for poetry I suggest anything by Jan Zwicky or Tim Lilburn. Jan spoke to our class and gave a reading and Tim was my prof for two years. They’re amazing people and they’ve both won Gov General’s awards for their work.
I’m been paying visit to my local library again recently because I’m not sure what I want to to get at the bookstore. So I’m browsing the library fiction section for interesting titles that might catch my attention.
I found a book called “The Hotel on the Roof of the World” about a man who spent five years at the Holiday Inn in Lhasa.
Nancy – I know, if it wasn’t for the library I would be poor!
JCR – I haven’t read any James Wright. Thank you for the recommendation and next time I’m at the bookstore I will look for some of his poems.
Andi – I have been to other libraries in the D/FW area and some are pretty bad. Oh well, at least you are near HP Books 🙂
Christine – Do check out the downtown one. I’d love to hear what you think of it. I haven’t been there in a while so I need to know if I’m missing out. heh.
Nyssaneala – I hear congratulations are in order for you! Yay! What other goodies did you get?
The Duck Thief – Thank you bunches for the recommendations. I’ll add those to the one JCR left me. I promise to report back 🙂
Matt – The title alone makes me want to check out that book! I can’t wait to read your review on it.
I probably have signed up years ago.. but I’ve moved a couple times since then.. Guess I better do it again!