“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of Library.” ~ Jorge Luis Borges

For this week’s Weekly Geeks, Dewey has asked us to come up with a quote a day. I love quotes. Not only do I always have one showing on my blog, but I collect them in my journals. Often I use them as a prompt for journaling. Anyway, I chose the above quote by Jorge Luis Borges for my first quote because libraries are my weakness.

Speaking of libraries, my personal library is getting some new additions and I feel like I’ve won the book lottery. Today I found out I won Matrimony by Joshua Henkin thanks to Tara who was hosting a giveaway, and I also won Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler thanks to Naida who hosted that giveaway. I’m really excited about reading both books as I’ve heard so many good things about them.

Last month I also got some very cool books via giveaways so thank you so much to all of you for hosting such wonderful giveaways and I promise to share in the book wealth. I actually have a couple of giveaways myself coming up later in the month so stay tuned!

As if these books weren’t enough I also happened upon a library sale. It was a small affair but I still came away with some book loot. Here are my goodies:

• Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger. I recently read a review about this book over on Melody’s site so I was glad to find this. I’m in the mood for a thriller.
• Dead at Daybreak by Deon Meyer. A mystery set in South Africa. This is actually the second book in the series but I’ve read some rave reviews about his books so I couldn’t pass it up.
• A Summer of Discontent by Susanna Gregory. Aside from the fact that this is a historical mystery and it sounded interesting, you know what else sold me on this book? It has a map. I love those drawn maps and only wish more mysteries had those.
• The Woods by Harlan Coben. Is it me or are there a lot of stories lately about kids gone missing in the woods? Anyway, I’ve not read any of his books and always hear how they are great so I had to get this one.
• Seneca Falls Inheritance by Miriam Grace Monfredo. This is another mystery but set during the Women’s Right Convention of 1848 and the main character is a librarian. Should be an interesting read don’t you think?
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Another book I’ve heard so many good things about.

So not a lot of stuff but I think I found some good books.

Finally, you guys have all heard about My Friend Amy’s big event right – It’s Book Bloggers Appreciation Week. There are giveaways, interviews, and a whole bunch of fun things have been planned. I’m just busy taking note of so many book blogs to check out!

Anyway, to kick off the event, we are all asked to post about those book bloggers who didn’t make it on the list but we still want to highlight. I recognized some of my blog friends over on the nominations list (congrats to you!) and I’m so tempted to say, just check my links, but I actually need to update that page. And, plus we are supposed to highlight some blogs.

So, I’ve decided to highlight Stefanie’s blog, So Many Books. Her writing is always insightful as she explores some of literature’s finest writers. If you haven’t checked out her Emerson posts you are really missing out. I’ve lost track a bit but I’m pretty sure Stefanie’s was one of the first book blogs I was hooked on when I started my blog back in 2004. We also share a love for Half Price Books so whenever they have a sale I wonder if Stefanie will be checking it out and look forward to her posts. I also get to chat with her over at the MetauxCafe when we discuss the Slaves of Golconda’s reading choices. Thank you Stefanie for your fantastic blog and your friendship.

I decided to “tune out” a bit from the internet this weekend and just spent time with the books but now my bloglines have exploded and I feel so behind. I’m sure you all can relate right? And, don’t even get me started on emails I owe.

But, with all the piles of books waiting to be read, I think every once in a while it’s good to tune out the world and get to reading! I know I will catch up on my emails and blog reading but for now let me tell you what books had me so occupied this weekend.

• Out by Natsuo Kirino. Wow, this book was intense. I honestly had a very bizarre dream last night and I think it was related to this book. I finished it and will have a review soon but let me just say I’m so glad to have finally read it. To think that I had started this book several years ago and couldn’t get into it at the time. See, I do think there is such a thing as right book/wrong time.
• The Wise Woman by Philippa Gregory. I’m more than half way through this book and it’s a quick read but I’m actually thinking about stopping. While I like the setting, the English Reformation, the characters are getting on my last nerve. I don’t like any of them. Normally, I don’t have problem not finishing a book but usually I figure this out by page 30-40 or so and now I feel like I’ve gone past the point of no return. So, we’ll see if I finish this one. Has anyone read it? Any thoughts on it?
• Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie. Poirot investigates the murder of a 13-year-old girl at a Halloween party. Lots of potential culprits so far and I’m really enjoying the story as it develops. While I don’t make it a point to figure out whodunit when I read mysteries I can’t help but want to try with this one. I want to know whodunit and why.
• Note to Self by Samara O’Shea. It’s rare that I go too long without writing in my journal but I realized that it’d been almost a month since I wrote anything. Lucky for me I’ve been reading this book and it really made me think what have I been waiting for? Get back to writing. So I did just that this weekend.

I have so many books waiting to be reviewed too and hopefully I won’t get too caught up in just reading and I can tell you about those soon. Hope everyone had a nice weekend and look forward to catching up on your blogs!