Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Marg and myself 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!
Well, I made it. I placed the last of my 50 free holds for 2010 with ten hours to spare. But now they’re all coming in at once (only two of the books below were pulled off the shelves) and with my reading time drastically reduced since the holidays are over it’s getting to be a lot of fun trying to balance everything (particularly with more holds still on the way). As usual, it’s a matter of prioritizing those titles that are most likely to have other holds on them and which I won’t be able to renew. I love this kind of logistical planning (because I’m not just a book geek, I’m also a logistics geek) and view it as the best kind of challenge!
Here’s my lovely loot for this week:
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
There’s a travel show called “Departures” that I adore and in 2010 two absolutely fantastic episodes were devoted to North Korea. Coupled with Guy Delisle’s Pyongyang, this has drastically increased my interest in learning more about modern-day North Korea. Every review I’ve seen of Nothing to Envy so far has been positive so I’m hoping for good things.
Farewell Leicester Square by Betty Miller
I have to admit that this is one of those Persephone titles that I had little to no interest in but when I saw that the Vancouver library had a copy I had to have it. The library appears to have acquired a number of Persephone titles which I was of course thrilled to see.
Inheritance: the story of Knole and the Sackvilles by Robert Sackville-West
I love family memoirs and throwing in the history of the house as well is just icing on the cake.
Confessions of a Rebel Debutante by Anna Field
I’m always a little scared of memoirs by stand up comedians (but then I’m scared of stand up comedians in general) so we’ll see how this goes.
The Pastor’s Wife by Elizabeth von Arnim
I am powerless to resist von Arnim.
Ingeborg Bullivant, the put-upon daughter of the Bishop of Redchester, suddenly becomes possessed by the demon Rebellion and takes a week’s tour to Lucerne. Constantly in the company of a ponderous German pastor, she is put into a quandary when he proposes marriage. Faced with her father’s wrath on her return, however, Ingeborg accepts her Herr Dremmel with simple relief. But the role of a pastor’s wife in East Prussia is not as Ingeborg had imagined, for she has merely exchanged one set of rules for another …
Cocktail Time by P.G. Wodehouse
Ditto Wodehouse, particularly those novels featuring Frederick, Earl of Ickenham.
The Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam
I saw a glowing recommendation of this somewhere but cannot remember for the life of me where it was. Apparently the source was sufficiently trustworthy enough for me to place a hold.
Free For All: Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library by Don Borchert
Just look at the title – how could I not want to read this? That said, it does hurt me to write ‘gangstas’.
Fortunes of War: The Balkan Trilogy by Olivia Manning
One of those titles that has been on my TBR list for ages, ever since I first saw the Emma Thompson/Kenneth Branagh miniseries as a young teen.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Because Rachel told me to and I trust her implicitly.
Out of India: A Raj Childhood by Michael Foss
I love to read about India and I particularly love to read about the Raj – see my glowing review of Women of the Raj for further proof of this obsession.
The 39 Steps by John Buchan
Because it’s fun and the cover was too pretty to resist.
Ooh, Inheritance is a fantastic read – I went and heard Robert Sackille West talk about it back in the summer. I’m desperate to visit Knole but it is a bit far for a day trip for me so needs to wait until we have time and money for a weekend away in Kent.
I’m very excited about Inheritance so I’m glad to hear how much you liked it! I hope you do have a chance to visit Knole – take pictures for those of us who are much too far away to even contemplate day or weekend trips!
Good loot! I’m participating for the first time and have managed to linky twice! sorry!!
Don’t worry, the Mr Linky is rather clever and has only added the one link. Welcome to Library Loot!
Wow! Having to use requests before the end of the year sounds like another added pressure! Glad you figured out what you wanted to request.
It took many hours browsing blogs and book lists. Sigh, my life is so difficult. 😉
I really want to read THE BALKAN TRILOGY. I read Manning’s SCHOOL FOR LOVE in 2009 and just loved it.
I haven’t read anything by Manning yet so I’m glad to have your endorsement of her!
I’ve never heard of the Balkan trilogy. I’m interested in that part of the world though, so I might just look it up!
All I know about it is what I remember of the miniseries but, like you, I find that part of the world particularly fascinating and the era (WWII) is always a favourite.
So pleased that you got Gilead – and that you trust me implicitly! Not many people do!! 😉 I can’t wait to hear what you think.
I had the incredible fortune to grow up very near to Knole house, and my mum and sister have since moved to within walking distance of it. It’s a beautiful place, and Robert Sackville’s children’s toys are scattered all over the lawns, which gives it a very homely feel! I hope you enjoy reading about it!
So many interesting books here. I wish I had money without working and could go to the library and get loads of books and sit in the sun and read them all day!
I’m really excited about Gilead which considering it’s a title I’ve passed by countless times over the past few years is an impressive PR job on your part!
Between you and Verity I’m now feeling the need to not just read about Knole but to visit it too. I can only imagine how much worse this urge will be after I read the book…
I just found your blog through the Vintage Reads blog. I am so glad I did. I was just about to place a book order – courtesy of Christmas vouchers, and then saw your fabulous post. I have a rather large wish list now. I look forward to reading these – especially the one about Knole. Thank you.
So glad that you found me! Book vouchers are the best Christmas presents, in my opinion, since they allow you such fun in searching for and considering all the different books you could order. Whatever you decide on, enjoy!
Like Rachel, I also thought Gilead was beautiful. It’s so gently-written, that it feels almost like glass. I hope you enjoy it!
Oh I’m so pleased that you enjoyed it too, now I’m ever more eager to read it!
First, Claire, you only get 50 holds for free a year at the library? Isn’t the library supposed to be free? I think I would be heartbroken if such a rule existed at my library.
There are so many books here that I also want to read: The 39 Steps, Fortunes of War: The Balkan Trilogy, The Pastor’s Wife, and almost any Persephone title looks appealing to me. I will be waiting to hear what you think of them all.
I just finished Gilead last night, and I thought it was beautiful. I’ll be interested to hear what you think about it. Not to discourage you at all, but it does contain a lot of Christian theology, and I’ve gathered you are not a religious person. As I was reading it, I was wondering what a non-Christian would think about it.
Finally, there was a Emma Thompson/Kenneth Branagh miniseries of Fortunes of War? I never heard of it. I will have to find it.
Different libraries have different rules. In Calgary, there was an annual library fee though the holds were free. I don’t love the 50 holds rule but it’s certainly going to force me to be more considerate in my selections (my parents have both said I can use their holds too, which makes this all easier to handle).
I’m certainly not a religious person but I read quite a lot about religion or just books like this with a religious bent. I may not approve of organized religion but it’s more the practice rather than the theology itself that irks me.
I’ve seen Free For All mentioned on a few other blogs. I’m very interested in it. Enjoy your loot!
Thanks Linda! I actually haven’t read any reviews of Free For All so I’m going in blind, which is always fun!
Wow! What a collection! I’ve never heard of the Balkan Trilogy so that one intrigued me. I have to tag on to Rachel’s recommendation — I’m only about 100 pgs. into Gilead, but I am loving it (and purposely reading it slower so that it lasts longer). It’s also teaching me some new words. 🙂
New words are always fun (when I was a little reader I used to keep a notebook of them) so I’m glad to have that to look forward to! So happy to hear from yet another person who is enjoying Gilead – it’s certainly encouraging.
What a wonderful pile of loot. Several titles there I’m adding to my list. Hope you will enjoy them all.
Thanks Cat!
Every time I read your Library Loot posts, I have to resist the urge to nip out to the library and borrow myself some books! But this week I have to be good and finish my previous loot first! Happy reading.
You are good! I’m trying very, very hard to finish my oldest books first but that hasn’t been very successful. Still, I’m having fun and reading lots of great stuff which is what matters!
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What a great set of books! I’m in line waiting for Inheritance, and the Olivia Manning is a joy.
Betty Miller’s books aren’t calling me too loudly, but bear in mind that she’s been published by Virago as well as Persephone, so surely she must have something?!
I haven’t had huge success with Virago in the past (save for Elizabeth von Arnim and E.M. Delafield) so I’m not sure that’s much of an endorsement for Miller! I’m just going to try and keep an open mind and see what happens (with both Miller and Virago).
What an incredible cash of books. I will be interested in the PG Wodehouse and Out of India. Have fun!
Wodehouse is always fun. Even his less brilliant novels, like this one, are still a delightful distraction. I’m really excited about Out of India and am looking forward to reporting back on it!
Sp many interesting books here. Out of India and Confessions of a Rebel Debutante, Nothing to Envy and Farewell Leicester Square are the ones I am particularly looking forward to.
It was a great week for books, wasn’t it? I’m particularly eager to read Nothing to Envy and Out of India.
Nothing to Envy is marvelous! Inheritance sounds really neat: it’s going on my TBR list. 🙂 And thanks for reminding me to add some von Arnim and Wodehouse to my Nook!
I read Free for All ages ago: I found it eye-opening, but not as bookish as I expected. And I’ve still got Fortunes of War out from the library: I went through a slump, but now that I’m reading again I’m itching to get to it!
That 39 Steps cover is beautiful; I loved the recent adaptation with Rupert Perry-Jones.
Happy to hear another endorsement for Nothing to Envy; I think I might start it next. And every library (whether paper or electronic) needs a few volumes by von Arnim and Wodehouse to be considered complete!
I’m sure reading The 39 Steps will make me eager to rewatch the television adaptation (which I did enjoy, despite its liberties with the original story).
What a lovely loot you have here! I could include each and every one of those books to my TBR list, but I’m resisiting. 🙂 The Sackville-West book and The Pastor’s Wife seem especially interesting to me. I’ve read the first part of the Balkan trilogy when I was probably too young to really appreciate it. Maybe I sould reread it.
And Free for All sounds really intriguing!
I have not read Gilead, yet, but have heard good things about it.
Resistence is probably a good idea otherwise you’ll end up buried in libraries books as has happened to me!
Free For All and The Balkan Trilogy are both on my list. I look forward to your thoughts on those and the others! I’ve not heard of Out of India, but I, too, love reading about India.
I’d never heard of Out of India before either but I saw it on the shelves and had to grab it!
Wasn’t Rachel’s review of Gilead infectious?? I still haven’t read it though… or The Pastor’s Wife, despite loving The Enchancted April. I’ve got so many E von As on my shelf, and have only read one…
Rachel’s enthusiasm is always infectious and finally she was enthusing over a title I can easily access! So far, Elizabeth and Her German Garden is my favourite E von A book but then I haven’t read that many (yet)!
I’m eager to read Nothing to Envy.
I’ve heard only good things and I’m really looking forward to starting it!
I’m putting several of these on my long long long to-read list, especially Free for All and Cocktail Time. Thanks!
Glad to have interested you in these titles! Time with Wodehouse is always time well spent.
So many good ones on this list! I recently read Free for All and it was hysterical as it was true. I was embarrassed seen with it for those who only saw the word “gangsta” on the cover, so I hear you! Knole has been a fascination of mine forever…must read this!
Oh I’m so glad to hear from someone who has actually read Free For All and so glad to hear, what’s more, that you liked it! It seems to be one of those often mentioned but rarely reviewed books and I picked it up on the strength of its premise rather than any positive reviews. I know very little of Knole but I’m still terribly excited to learn all about it!
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