Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader 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.
Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal – This is the sequel to Shades of Milk and Honey, which I read and quite enjoyed a few months ago (and might, eventually, get around to reviewing). Regency/Fantasy is an intriguing mix and the first book was fun and undemanding, the perfect thing for a lazy couple of hours when you just want an interesting story and aren’t too fussed about character development.
The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker – Iris suggested this as a title for Dutch Lit Month, which she’s hosting in June. Given how ridiculously behind I am with my reviews, it seemed prudent to pick this up as early as possible.
Saved by Cake by Marian Keyes – Marg grabbed this last week, which inspired me to place a hold. I will read anything by Marian Keyes and the fact that this is a baking guide only makes me that much more excited to delve into it.
Millions Like Us: Women’s Lives in War and Peace, 1939-1949 by Virginia Nicholson – I’ve got slightly mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, hurrah for it finally coming in after months of waiting on the hold list! On the other, I’ve been deeply unimpressed by the two other books I’ve read by Nicholson (particularly Singled Out). I know a lot of other lovers of social history adore her but I’ve yet to be convinced.
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley – One day I really am going to review the three other Kearsley books I’ve read so that I can tell you all just how fabulous I think she is. I liked Mariana, was delighted by The Rose Garden (so much so that my mother got a copy for Mother’s Day), and adored The Shadowy Horses. I’m not expecting this to eclipse The Shadowy Horses in my affections (how could it?) but I am definitely looking forward to it.
History has all but forgotten the spring of 1708, when an invasion fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown.
Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors, and starts to write.
But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory…making her the only living person who can know the truth of what did happen all those years ago – a tale of love and loyalty…and ultimate betrayal.
Magnificent Obsession by Helen Rappaport – Finally! It was so frustrating last autumn to read all those glowing reviews of this from the UK book bloggers and to know there was still a long wait before I’d be able to get my hands on a copy here in Canada (and it did not help that The Book Depository, my usual first source for books not yet out in North America, didn’t have any copies available in time for Christmas). The cover is hideous but I’m so excited to read this and have been rereading Harriet, Lyn, and Elaine’s glowing reviews in anticipation.
What did you pick up this week?
The Captive Reader 
That’s a nice little haul of books! I’ve not (yet) read S Kearsley, but might give her a try. But what is that cover? The back view of a woman’s head with masses of auburn hair? It looks very odd to me!
What did I pick up? After completing the Norah Lofts’ ‘House’ trilogy, before starting on another historical triolgy I’m reading the latest Charles Todd mystery about WW1 nursing sister, Bess Crawford, The Bitter Truth. It’s entertaining enough to keep me reading, but highly implausible, rather rambling, and sadly, has Americanisms in what is supposed to be a first person account by an Englishwoman; for example, she would not go “marketing” but “shopping”. These really are minor niggles, but they make one realize that the Todds (mother and son) are writing for their Amerian readership and therefore choose to disregard these speech differences (perhaps to make it easier for their home readership?)
What a wonderful loot! I can’t find Shades of Milk and Honey at my library, but I really want to read it someday. And Millions Like Us is on that list too! Magnificient Obsession sounds interesting, though I had never heard of it before,
And I hope you enjoy the Twin! I currently have the Dutch version at home, but I haven’t started it yet.
I am reading ‘Millions Like Us’ at the moment and really enjoying it, Claire! My eyes were crossing last night before admitting defeat.
Yay! The Winter Sea. That was my first Susanna Kearsley and I think it will always have a special place in my heart.
Glad to see you were able to pick up Saved by Cake so quickly too!
Enjoy your loot.
I’d be interested to see what you make of the Rappaport. I didn’t get too far with it – which was disappointing after such a long wait.
Looks like some great loot. I, too, will be looking forward to your take on the Rappaport book.
I wondered it you’d be reading “Millions Like Us.” I got my hands on a used copy a few weeks ago – the library didn’t have a copy – and enjoyed it. You’ll recognize a number of the women she quotes which you will find either boring or like meeting old friends.
Just started “Old Filth” by Jane Gardam and a juvenile book, P. S. More Later that looks to be fun. The Nicholson book sounds like something I might want to try. Of course, they all do . . . sigh.
You’ve got another Kearsley! sigh.
What I picked up this week:
I went to my neighbourhood secondhand bookshop (The Great Escape, on Kingston Rd, in Toronto) to pick up a replacement copy for my lost Crazy for You by Jenny Cruisie. Somehow, two other books jumped off the shelves and into my hands:
The Mitfords, letters between 6 sisters, edited by Charlotte Mosley (I’m currently on a Mitford fest, having ordered Decca, the letters of Jessica Mitford)
Flint and Feather, Charlotte Gray’s bio of Canadian poet E. Pauline Johnson, aka Tekahionwake
Thus, I have depleted my credit there, and actually paid real money to them for a change, which is probably good for their cash flow.
Forgot to mention that The Cornish House by Liz Fenwick is on its way to me (from Amazon) as we speak … I think this will be a nice antidote to the Bess Crawford WW1 mystery I’ve been reading (not as good as the first two) and the Norah Lofts’ historical trilogies (totally brillianto!)
Wonderful weather here in the UK right now … wonderful sitting-in-the-garden-in-the-shade-of-the-walnut-tree weather (or in the summerhouse with an elderflower cordial!)
I *love* Marian Keyes, but I haven’t read any of her non fiction. This one, though, looks too good to pass up.
Oo, is Bakker Dutch? I’ve had my eye on The Twin for ages, for obvious reasons…