Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Linda from Silly Little Mischief 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.
You know what is amazing? Not having to study every day. I can come home from work, go for a walk, cook dinner, read a book, talk to people like a normal human being…it’s spectacular. Highly, highly recommended.
I can also spend too much time browsing at the library – on weekends AND weekdays. Hence this week’s haul:
No More Champagne by David Lough – I am geekily excited to read this book about the precarious state of Churchill’s personal finances and business affairs.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave – a new novel from the author of Little Bee, focused on the lives of three young Londoners – a young woman who runs away from finishing school to take up war work, an art restorer turned soldier, and a teacher promoted to education administrator when his seniors all go off to war – during the early years of the Second World War.
Our Land at War by Duff Hart-Davis – A look at the impact of the Second World War on rural communities.
The Almost Nearly Perfect People by Michael Booth – a clear-sighted look at Nordic countries in response to the idealised vision the rest of the world seems to have of Scandinavian utopias. The reality is a bit more complicated.
The Ghosts of Europe by Anna Porter – Published in 2010, an examination of how the former communist countries of Central Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) have adjusted to democracy and what their futures might hold.
Swansong 1945 by Walter Kempowski – how did I not know about this book until I stumbled across it at the library? It is a collection of firsthand accounts from a variety of perspectives (there are more than 1,000 extracts) covering four fateful days in the spring of 1945: April 20th – Hitler’s birthday; April 25th – the day American and Soviet troops met on the Elbe; April 30th – Hitler’s suicide; and May 8th – the German surrender.
Channel Shore by Tom Fort – a journey along England’s southern coast, exploring the relationship between land and sea.
My Latest Grievance by Elinor Lipman – the only one of Lipman’s novels I have not yet read. She has a new one coming out in February, which sounds amazing, but the wait is long so I suspect I’ll be filling the time with some rereads – but this first!
The Night Stages by Jane Urquhart – Urquhart’s most recent novel, set primarily in mid-Century Ireland. And also the Gander, Newfoundland airport, which is charmingly unique.
What did you pick up this week?
The Captive Reader 
Wow, you picked up such a wide variety of books! Everyone Brave and Swansong sound really amazing, you’ll have to let us know how they are!
Thanks, Jessica. I’ve finished Everyone Brave is Forgiven and really enjoyed it; Cleave’s writing is so absorbing. Will definitely let you all know how I get on with Swansong 1945!
I recently read the newish biography of Clementine Churchill and among other things it was fascinating to read about their almost-constant money problems — No More Champagne has to be so interesting. And, oh, me, too, I can’t wait for Elinor Lipman’s new book!
Just the thought of reckless spending makes me break out in hives so this should be an interesting read! As for the Lipman, however will we make it until February?
You have inspired me to put two of these on hold at my local library: Fort and Cleave. I really liked ‘Little Bee’ which was published here as ‘The Other Hand’.
This was the first book I’ve read by Cleave and I really enjoyed it. I don’t think I’ll remember much about it a year or two from now but his writing is wonderfully entertaining.
Great books that you have picked up. The Swansong sounds really good
Thanks!
Inspiring as ever, Claire…I placed a hold on Everyone Brave is Forgiven the very second I saw the cover. We’re picking up a puppy on Saturday so reading will take a backseat for a bit but I’m looking forward to your thoughts!
It’s a wonderful cover, isn’t it? I’ll look forward to hearing what you think of it.
Very excited for you about the new puppy!
Everyone Brave is Forgiven keeps catching my eye. Enjoy your loot!
I’m definitely seeing it heavily promoted and with good reason!
These all sound really good! Enjoy your loot!
Thanks, Kay!
The Ghosts of Europe by Anna Porter is now on my list to read! Thanks!
When I found it, I immediately thought of you! I’ll let you know how it goes.
Some very interesting books – particularly the ones about Churchill and the Second World War.
Me again. I finished ‘Everyone Brave’ yesterday: superb. Recently, I have desperately needed books that raise my spirits; it seems incredible that a book set during the Second World War should have achieved that, at least a little. It probably helped that there is humour amidst the darkness, such as in the witty letters exchanged between Mary and Alistair.
‘Coastal Shore’ also had some amusing moments, though overall it was less comforting than I probably expected. There were too many failures of local decision-making, and too many reminders of the divides of economics and class – real and imagined – that scar my country. Two fishermen from the same Cornish port both experienced the same reality and yet perceived it very differently: one was content with his lot, the other moaned about drop outs from my part of the country who were dumped in the area. As a glass half empty person I have some inkling why the latter thinks that way, but as someone both horrified and scared by the demonisation of the outsider, particularly when based on hearsay rather than fact, I can only hope and strive to be more like the more optimistic of the pair.
Thanks again for drawing me to these two books.
Correction: Channel Shore not Coastal Shore!
David, I’m so pleased you enjoyed the Cleave. I found his writing very funny and, because of that, was always eager to get back to the book (I was reading it during the work week on my commute and lunch hour).