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 got home on Monday afternoon and was so excited by my proximity to my beloved neighbourhood library that I decided to pop by and say hello to it right away. It wasn’t until I was halfway there that I remember it’s closed on Mondays; long days on the road clearly took their toll on my mind! But it was open on Tuesday and so of course I popped by. I picked up a couple of holds, browsed the shelves, and even ran into an old friend and found myself invited to a party. A truly delightful outing! 
Thunder on the Right by Mary Stewart – Anbolyn has been talking about Mary Stewart a lot recently so when I saw this on the library shelf, I had to pick it up. I completely ignored the advice of this fun Which Mary Stewart Novel Should You Read? Quiz but with only one Mary Stewart title available at my library branch, I took what was on offer! It’s not one of Anbolyn’s favourites but I’m one of those readers who likes to start with an author’s lesser works and build up to her best.
The Four Graces by D.E. Stevenson – more DES! Barb reviewed this last September and it sounds delightful. It is linked to the “Miss Buncle” books.
The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig – Willig’s newest book.
What did you pick up this week?
The Captive Reader 
Oddly enough, I have exactly this edition of the Four Graces (with a tatty dustjacket!) that I found for 99p in a charity shop! But I want to read my copies of the Miss Buncle books before I read this one.
99p! What a deal! I haven’t come across any DES books in the used bookstores here.
Ooh, I didn’t know The Ashford Affair was out yet! I’ll look forward to your review. And I own a used Mary Stewart book, but I can’t remember which one.
It is (obviously) and it’s only a few more months until the next Pink Carnation book comes out! I follow Willig’s rather excellent blog (she has great reading recommendations), which is the only way I’ve kept abreast of the new publications. This one looks fun – I love that it’s partially set in Kenya – and should be a great weekend read.
Yes, I’d say Thunder on the Right is the least of Mary Stewart’s works (which still makes it head and shoulders above many other writers’ suspense novels). It’s the only one, I think, written in 3rd person, which feels oddly distancing.
The Four Graces (I’m rereading it too at the moment) is one of my very top DES favourites, and while it does follow the Miss Buncle Books, it’s only really linked to the immediate predecessor, The Two Mrs. Abbotts.
I’m a fan of 3rd person so that alone isn’t going to prejudice me against it. We’ll see how it goes.
I’m very excited to start The Four Graces and glad to hear it’s one of your favourites!
Oh, 3rd person is normally fine, but for some reason, it felt out of place in this book.
I’m not familiar with these. I have heard of Lauren Willig but haven’t read any of her books. Enjoy!
Willig’s Pink Carnation series is lots of fun but this is her first historical novel outside of that series so I’m really interested to see how it goes.
All sound my kind of book … I’m currently reading Judith Lennox’s latest, The Turning Point and loving it.
Yes, this was a very Margaret-y sort of week for me! Glad to hear you’re enjoying your current read!
Wonderful to see Mary Stewart’s books still being enjoyed. I’m looking forward to rereading one or two for Anbolyn’s event in September. Happy reading!
The reading week should be great! No matter what I think of Thunder on the Right, I know I’ll be reading another Stewart or two in September.
Glad to see you’re going to try a Mary Stewart book! Thunder on the Right is not so great, but it does have all the elements of a Stewart novel – suspense, mountainous setting, feisty heroine and a subtle romance. It will introduce you to her formula. Thanks for getting the word out about her novels!
I’ve already finished it! Picked it up last night and finished this morning. It didn’t wow me but then I didn’t expect it too and I’m certainly intrigued enough to move on to her better books.
I just discovered your blog and will try to participate in Library Loot next week. I will add your blog to my list to follow.