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!
Marg has the Mr Linky this week!
I’m doing my best to catch up on my loot from the last few weeks (with a few exceptions – I’ve been dipping into my childhood book collection to read some Louisa May Alcott) so a much more reasonable haul today:
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
Connie Willis is one of those authors who has been on my radar for years but who I’ve just never gotten around to. But then Ana named this as one of her favourite books of 2010 and I knew immediately which Willis book I would start with!
A Place in My Country: In Search of the Rural Dream by Ian Walthew
The Shooting Times described this as “a tale of moving to the country that even those who actually live and work there might enjoy.” I love this kind of memoir and how could I possibly resist a book favourably reviewed by the delightfully obscure (at least in most literary circles) Shooting Times?
Eucalyptus by Murray Bail
My interest in Australia has been sparked not just by the many delightful Aussie book bloggers I’ve met over the last year but by my best friend’s move to Queensland. And whenever I ask for Aussie Lit recommendations this title always comes up; it seemed as good a place as any to start!
Saplings by Noel Streatfeild
Another of the Persephone titles I was thrilled to find in the library’s catalogue. I’ve never read anything by Streatfeild (no, not even her children’s books) – indeed, I hadn’t even heard of her until I started blogging – so I’m really looking forward to this.
Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights: Recipes for Every Season, Mood and Appetite by Sophie Dahl
I adore cookbooks and several people have recommend this one not just for the recipes but for the memoir-like snippets of Dahl’s writing that begin each section. I read it over the weekend and really enjoyed it; the recipes were tempting and I was left longing for Dahl to write a full-length memoir.
The Captive Reader 
‘Saplings’ is in my January to read pile as well. I’ve known and loved Streatfeild since I was a child but didn’t realise that she wrote for adults until the Persephone book appeared. I have a book to read for next week’s book group first, but then I think I might just move this one to the top of the pile.
Sounds like you might get to it before I do. Hopefully we’ll both enjoy it as much as the other Persephone-addicts have!
Saplings is wonderful! And you must seek out Ballet Shoes too…
Well if I must, I must!
I loved Streatfield’s children’s books and did not know until recently that she also wrote for adults. Unfortunately, my library does not carry Saplings…
Saplings was one of the first Persephone titles I was drawn to but my library at the time didn’t carry it. Good things come to those who wait (and move)! Time to request your library purchase a copy perhaps (and get all your friends to do the same)?
Ah, some familiar names. 🙂 Saplings was my first Persephone. I’ve read one Connie Willis book, Passage – I think she is known for her ability to keep you turning the pages. I’m not sure why I haven’t read more of her so I will look forward to your review to see if she is someone I should revisit. Pardon my ignorance (and laziness, since I could go google this), but is Sophie Dahl daughter of/relation of Roald? (I feel like I should know this, or maybe even that I do, but it’s not coming to my barely caffeinated mind at the moment.) Looks like a fun stack!
Oh, how nice that Saplings was your first Persephone (though you don’t mention if you liked it or not!). I certainly remember my first (Mariana) very fondly.
Yes, Sophie Dahl is the granddaughter of Roald. She was a model but is now a writer and, apparently, passionate home cook.
I need to read more Australian books, so I’m curious about Eucalpytus!
I’d never heard of Streatfeild pre-blogging either.
When your entire impression of Australian literature comes from The Thorn Birds and My Brilliant Career, as mine did, you know it’s time to read more!
I am little scared of disliking Saplings for fear of offending all the people who have been devoted to Streatfeild since childhood!
Saplings is on my to-read shelf as well — how lucky you found it in the library! Somehow I never read Ballet Shoes as a child so hopefully I’ll both her adult and children’s fiction.
I was so excited that my library had it (and so thrilled to see all the other Persephone titles in their catalogue)! Right now I’m not feeling any particular need to read Ballet Shoes as well but who knows…
I haven’t heard of any of these! Hope you enjoy them though! 😀
Thanks Mollie!
Hi Claire,
I have nothing but good things about ‘Eucalyptus’.
I hope that your friend is safe in Queensland, with all the flooding there right now.
Hi Yvonne! Glad to hear more praise for Eucalptus! Happily, my friend is quite safe in the idyllically named Surfers Paradise.
Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights looks fabulous. I’ll have to add this to my tbr list. I read Streatfeild as a young’un. I would like to read her adult books too. Enjoy your loot!
Do read Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights! It’s very enjoyable and I’m quite excited to try some of the recipes. They’re all simple but sound delicious.
The Tv programme that went with Sophie Dahl’s book was great. But not great if you are into healthy eating like me.
Too much of all the naughty but nice stuff thrown around.
Made good TV though, but I have not read the book.
I never saw the show so can’t really say how it compares to the book. There are lots of vegetarian recipes and an emphasis on eating fresh, real foods. She does have a strange fondness for spelt flour which I can’t quite come to terms with…
Great loot, I feel like adding them all to the trb! 🙂 I definitely want to try To say nothing of the dog and Saplings. And Dahl’s cookbook sounds yummy! Happy reading!
Thanks Bina! I’ll keep you posted on what I think of Sapligns and To Say Nothing of the Dog!
A place in the country, the Miss. Dahl’s book and Saplings look really good. Enjoy.
Thanks! I’m really looking forward to this batch of books!
I have not read The Saplings yet but have it on my TBR list. Ballet Shoes,The Party Frock,The Painted Garden, Gemma books still sit on my bookshelves. My daughter loved them and I’m saving them until her daughters are old enough and hopefully like them too. I have found so many childrens authors that write great adult books. Such as Penelope Lively, Monica Dickens, Ruby Ferguson.
How lovely that you’re saving your daughter’s books for your grandchildren! We have a number of my father’s childhood books and it’s wonderful not just to read them but to be able to look at the dedications and childish scribbles in each.
I read Saplings because I love her children’s books. I really enjoyed it, but the tone is very different between the adult book and the kidlit. Thanks for reminding me that I’ve been meaning to look for more of her adult titles.
I’m a Connie Willis fan — I’ve just started a recent loot, her All Clear.
Maybe it’s good then that I’m not familiar with Streatfeild’s children’s books and am going into Saplings fresh with no expectations? Still, if you’re looking for more of her adult titles presumably that means you enjoyed it!
I so hope you’ll enjoy To Say Nothing of the Dog! And Saplings is just brilliant – my second favourite Persephone to date (the first being Alas, Poor Lady).
Your second favourite Persephone? That’s high praise indeed! I have to admit that your favourite, Alas, Poor Lady, is one that I’m not terribly familiar with – yet!
Saplings is wonderful… I actually worried about the characters when I wasn’t reading the book and going about my daily business.
I need to get to Connie Willis too. I’ve have The Doomsday Book on my tbr pile for far too long. Mind, I could say that about a *lot* of books!
That is high praise indeed for Saplings!
I’m the same way with my overgrown TBR piles. Still, better than having one that’s too small!
I need to read something by Connie Willis! I’ll look forward to your thoughts on To Say Nothing of the Dog. I’ll need a place to start, too!
I’ll let you know how it goes!
I grew up loving Streatfeild’s ballet books but never thought to look up her books for adults.
And Connie Willis! I loved Passage and I hope to read mor of hers soon, so I look forward to reading your thoughts on To Say Nothing of the Dog
I’ve heard so many great things about Willis over the years that I’m quite excited to finally be reading her!
Hope you enjoy the Connie Willis book. Lots of people I know really loved it. I thought it was okay, but liked her Domesday Book much better. Happy Reading!
Got mine up, if you’d like to take a peek: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2011/01/library-loot-january-12-18.html
The Doomsday Book was certainly the title that first interested me in Willis but I’d heard some not-so-great reviews of it from friends, which is why I decided to start with this. Glad to hear you liked Doomsday – it certainly gives me hope for it!
I’ll look out for your review of Saplings – it’s wonderful but oh so sad. Ballet Shoes is fabulous, too.
Oh a Sophie Dahl! I don’t know why but I gravitate towards her books, didn’t know she had a cookbook, thanks for featuring! I’ll certainly get my hands on that..