The Captive Reader

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.

Auntie’s War by Edward Stourton – I have so been looking forward to this history of the BBC during WWII (it’s one of the last books I have unread from the 2017 releases I wanted to read).  Some of Stourton’s more judgmental statements in the introduction have made me a little wary but I hope these will be set aside as the book progresses.

Northland by Porter Fox – I am a big fan of travel writing and am intrigued by this tale of Fox’s three-year journey along the Canada-US border.  However, like Auntie’s War, I am finding it hard to get into as Fox spends the opening pages mythologizing the obscure and wild “Northland”.  Dude, there are thirty-six million Canadians living above you, mostly clinging to that very border.  Stop make it sounding like a wild frontier.

The Race to Save the Romanovs by Helen Rappaport – Yay, a new book from Rappaport, this time about the doomed efforts to save the Romanov family.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik – I am very, very excited to have Novik’s newest book in my hands.  Like  Uprooted (a wonderful book), Spinning Silver is set in Eastern Europe, inspired by fairy tales (in this case, Rumpelstiltskin), and promises to be a wonderful read.

Alone Time by Stephanie Rosenbloom – as a solo traveler, I am always excited to hear about other people’s experiences travelling on their own and all the reasons they love to do so.  In this slim volume, Rosenbloom describes her solo travel experiences in four different cities – Paris, Istanbul, Florence, and New York.  I read this quickly on the weekend (while travelling solo, in fact) and quite enjoyed it.  It made me think of all the places I’d love to visit on my own that I haven’t been to yet and all the places I’d love to return to.  It also reminded me of how much I love Paris, hate Florence, and would love to visit Istanbul.

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan – I must have seen this on a summer reading list somewhere from someone I trusted because otherwise why on earth would I have placed a hold?  It sounds fluffy and light, perfect for the upcoming long weekend.  Also, I will try just about anything set in Oxford (really – I once wasted a few hours of my life reading Surprised by Oxford, a book full of evangelical cant and horrible dialogue but full of scenic bits about Oxford).

What did you pick up this week?

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