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.
At the Strangers’ Gate by Adam Gopnik – another one off my list of 2017 new releases I didn’t get to last year. New York during the 1980s isn’t usually something I’d have much interest in but I am interested in Gopnik.
A Beggar in Purple by Rupert Hart-Davis – having just finished the first volume of Hart-Davis’ letters with George Lyttelton, I turn now to this selection of entries from his commonplace book.
Judgement Day by Penelope Lively – I have been so looking forward to reading more Lively for a Century of Books! Thomas at Hogglestock read this last year and thought it was one of the best novels he read all year so it seemed like a perfect place to start.
Thank You, Nelson by Nancy Spain – I’ve had this on my TBR list since 2012 when I read Ann Thwaite’s excellent biography of A.A. Milne. In 1945 he reviewed this book, an account of Spain’s time in the WRNS, very favourably for the Sunday Times. Since I’d like to believe A.A.M. knew a good thing when he saw it, I thought I’d finally follow his advice and give it a try.
Lagom by Niki Brantmark – I can’t help it. I love to flip through these craze books on how X country has figured out the secret to a happy life and congratulate all the people who are making money on them. Well done publishers. You will never get any of my money but you do have my admiration.
Any good week at the library involves pulling a lot of random books off the shelves and bringing them home with no really firm commitment to read them this time around. Sometimes it’s just nice to have them close to hand in case a very, very specific reading mood hits. I brought three such books home this week:
Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence – as we know, I cannot resist a book about books. Here, a librarian writes letters to the books in her life.
Sourdough by Robin Sloan – I was combing through old NPR book reviews and immediately after reading a loving review for this I found it on my library’s display shelf. Kismet.
Living the Dream by Lauren Berry – I’ve had this on my radar since Sarra Manning recommended it last summer
What did you pick up this week?
The Captive Reader 
Oo great idea to get the Nancy Spain. I’ve read one of her detective novels (which was wonderfully catty, but otherwise a bit meh) so I’d love to hear what this one is like. And Dear Farenheit 451 is on my coffee table as we speak…
There is basically nothing about Thank You, Nelson available on the internet (how is this possible?) so I’m going in blind. Will be interesting to see what I find!
I love the library! I have Our Dark Duet right now, and a few digital audio books… Splintered and A Gathering of Shadows… glad to find another library fan!
Awesome! If you ever blog about your library finds so feel free to link up with Library Loot!
Nice assortment. I always enjoy looking over your selections. So, is Lagom the new Hygge? (Did I spell that right?) I laughed out loud at your comments regarding other country’s perfect lifestyles and I must say I agree. I don’t ever take the bait but it’s honestly fun to see so many others hopping on and off each sparkling bandwagon as it takes its place in the parade. May the clever writers enjoy their windfalls; make your money while you can, because others are waiting in the wings! 😉 🙂
The Nancy Spain sounds intriguing. Penelope Lively I find is hit and miss for me. Your thoughts on both of these would be most interesting if you get to them.
Oh! – and my husband has snagged Sword of Bone from under my hand, as it were. He was with me when I checked the mail, and it was just out of its wrapping and he dipped into it and then took it right away. He reports that it is very good, and joins me in our sincere thanks to you for sharing with us. I am looking forward to reading it myself.
Happy reading, Claire! Stay warm and dry, if you can. Aren’t we having a stormish kind of January? The forecast (and the weather itself – sun! snow! rain! cold!) changes day to day and we’re having some interesting precipitation up here in the Cariboo; reports from the coast are that it is exceedingly WET right now.
They do seem to be trying to make lagom the new hygge but I doubt it will catch on. Balance (which is what lagom is about) seem less saleable than all the candles and knitwear required for hygge.
Happy to hear that your family (if not yet you personally) are enjoying Sword of Bone!
I always like it when a recommendation hits home for someone. Now fingers crossed that you won’t be disappointed.
I wasn’t! I read it today and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Annie Spence one is the one I’d love to read.
It looks fun doesn’t it?
Any week with a Penelope Lively book in it is a good week, yes?
Absolutely yes!
Sourdough was a good one
Happy to hear it!