A couple of weeks ago I was having a really tough week at work. We were on endless conference calls, my lunch hour was mainly spent at my desk, and I think in general we were all having a bit of spring fever.

One day when I couldn’t leave my desk for my usual lunch hour I decided I needed to do some book shopping or else. So I decided to visit BookCloseouts. I had forgotten about my little shopping spree though until today when my box arrived.

All of my books came from their bargain section so my little splurge wasn’t too hard on my purse. Here’s what I got:

• The Book of Dead Birds by Gayle Brandeis. I remember hearing quite a bit about this book when it came out a while back so I thought I’d give it a try.
• A Dry Spell by Clare Chambers. I found out about this author through Danielle so I’m excited to read this book.
• The Mysteries of Glass by Sue Gee. I read The Hours of Night a couple of years ago and meant to read another of her books. Thanks to a recent post by Ann I remembered I should read another of Sue Gee’s books.
• Thorn by Vena Cork. According to a review, fans of Nicci French or Minette Walters, or anyone with a taste for edgy psychological thrillers, will find her one of the most exciting discoveries in years. It’s been hit or miss with me with some of the Nicci French books but I do like Minette Walters a lot so I need to check this one out.
• The Woman Who Painted Her Dreams by Isla Dewar. Another author who I’ve read one book from and enjoyed so would like to read more by her.
• Small Island by Andrea Levy. A novel that’s won the Orange Prize and the Whitbread Book awards should be good right? It does sound interesting to me so why not.
• Mr. Golightly’s Holiday by Salley Vickers. I enjoyed Miss Garnet’s Angel and have had this book on my wishlist.

Book therapy is a good thing.

I was reading a newsletter from the Reading Group Center, and there was a mention of some of the books which have been adapted to film and are coming out this year. Of course I prefer to read the book first and maybe see the movie later. Sometimes I rather not though mainly because the actors don’t match the descriptions I have in my mind. It probably just depends on how much I enjoyed the book or if it’s still fresh on my mind.
Anyway here are some of the movies that are coming out this year.

• Atonement by Ian McEwan
• Away from Her by Alice Munro
• Evening by Susan Minot
• The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter
• Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
• Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• Lust, Caution by Eileen Chang
• No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
• Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz
• Silk by Alessandro Barrico

The only one I’m really scared of here is Love in the Time of Cholera. I know I’ve raved about this book many times and it really is one of my most favorite books ever so I’d rather not see what Hollywood has done with it.

Any books to film adaptations you are dreading? Any you are looking forward to?