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.
Marg has the Mr Linky this week!
I am going through a bit of a reading slump. I thought I was through it but no, not so much. It is not that I am not reading – I am – but I am having trouble focusing on anything too involved. Even Trollope, wonderful, wonderful Trollope, is proving difficult for me right now. I am loving every page of Orley Farm but just can’t sink into the story the way I want to. Hopefully, this won’t last long but until it is over I have switched to easier and shorter books, like this week’s loot:
The Passing Bells by Phillip Rock – I cannot tell you how many times I have read this book. There is a copy on the bookshelf at our place in California (my aunt having bought it when it was first published in 1978) and from the age of eleven onwards I would read it every time I was down there on vacation (usually twice a year). My extended family has an unending appetite for historical family sagas and this fits the bill perfectly. But what I didn’t realise until The Passing Bells was reprinted last December was that it is the first volume in a trilogy. I am not sure I can tell you how exciting it is, after years of enjoying a story, to discover that it is continued in not one but two more books. I have those other two on hold but it will be nice to start again at the beginning.
Q’s Legacy by Helene Hanff – Hanff’s third memoir (following 84, Charing Cross Road and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street).
1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die – Now that this summer’s trip to Europe has been planned and flights booked, it is safe to read this. If I had read it during the planning stages, I would have been changing the itinerary every two hours, determined to see as many of these gardens as possible! Still, if I can figure out a way to fit visits to one or two of them into the trip I already have planned, that would be rather lovely.
What did you pick up this week?
The Captive Reader 
I’ll have to keep my eye out for The Passing Bells. I love anything by Hanff (and this one met my “Q” need a few years ago for the A-Z Reading Challenge 🙂 ). I appear to be having the same trouble as you. Not even Jeeves is holding my attention at the moment. I keep looking at other “skinnier books” on the shelves. I’m blaming the weather – it’s been very spring-like here for a couple of weeks, which is making me want to be out doing more active things than reading (gasp! Not like myself). Surely, we will get at least one more cold blast before spring really arrives? Rain is expected today — that should get me to curl up. Happy reading to you!
I’ve already finished reading The Passing Bells, Susan, and had forgotten how much I enjoy it. The trilogy is being marketed based on the similarities with Downton Abbey (there are many) and would make for the perfect reading during the long wait for Series 4!
I’m seeing the name Philip Rock on so many blogs this week will be definitely keeping an eye out. I’ve only read 84 Charing Cross Road and loved it. You always end up with very very nice mailboxes!
I haven’t found any of my blogging friends who are reading Rock’s books yet but I am sure more and more will over the next few months, as they hear about the trilogy!
I’m going to keep an eye out for The Passing Bells. I think I might like it.
I think you might too!
Helene Hanff’s books are a treat!
I am currently reading Toute Allure by Karen Wheeler – great fun, highly recommended. This is a follow up to Tout Sweet, again great fun, highly recommended! Right now I need light reading and these fit the bill.
I have slightly mixed feelings about Hanff herself but I love her writing nonetheless so am excited to finally read this!
Oo, I have Q’s Legacy, and have been intending to read it for years.
I wanted to read it last year for A Century of Books but then the library lost its only copy…and only just found it now, six months later. Whoops.
Goodness! I remember The Passing Bells from when it was originally published. That tells me two things: that I am old and that it was a good enough book that I can remember it low these many years later!
While I was rereading it (because, of course, I started reading as soon as I picked it up from the library) I was shocked by how many scenes I remembered and how clearly. Despite constant rereadings through my teens, I hadn’t picked it up in five or six years but everything was still vivid. Now I can’t wait to finish the next two books in the trilogy!
I’ve started Orley Farm twice at least, and have never gotten very far with it, but it’s still on my TBR shelves. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Philip Rock but now I’m interested to find a copy of this. I can imagine how exciting it was to find that there was so much more to the story!
I made it about 200 pages in, loving every one of them, but it doesn’t look like I’m going to finish, not any time soon. I do look forward to returning to it though and seeing how everyone’s stories end!
The Passing Bells sounds wonderful! Unfortunately, my library doesn’t have any Phillip Rock books in its collection…. I think you’ll love Q’s Legacy. Her description of tracking down and reading all of the critical books referenced in one small section of his writing was one of the funniest things I read last year.
The Phillip Rock books were just reprinted at the end of last year so maybe your library will get them in the coming months, or you could always request they purchase them! And I am very much looking forward to reading Hanff’s book; she has such an excellent sense of humour.
I’m having trouble focussing, too, Claire. Late winter slump? Helene Hanff always gives me a smile. I may just pull one of her books out for a whirl.
My slump has me sitting with an unread The Laskett. Sigh. It needs to go back to the library. While I’ve enjoyed quick bursts of reading a few pages and devouring the pictures, just haven’t been able to give it what it deserves. I will definitely return to it, though.
No!!! I am devastated to hear that The Laskett is going back to the library unfinished but at least you know where to find it when you’re ready to try again.
Fear not. I will revisit it.