Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Sharlene from Real Life Reading 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.
Have you stocked up on books for Christmas? I am urgently placing holds, willing everything to arrive by Sunday (the last day my library is open until the 27th) so I have supplies laid in for the holiday break. I still have my fingers crossed that some long awaited holds will come in before then but these books will keep me well entertained regardless:
Prague Spring by Simon Mawer – Naturally, I’m intrigued by any novel about the Prague Spring. This sounds like it is focused on outsiders’ perspectives and I’ve been seeing lots of enthusiastic reviews in my favourite publications.
House of Gold by Natasha Solomons – I tried with this one. I really did. For years, I’ve felt like Solomons was so close to becoming an author I could really enjoy (her early books – Mr Rosenblum Dreams in English and The Novel in the Viola – had promise but were far from perfect) and I really thought she’d turned the corner. Her last novel, The Song Collector, was marvellous and I loved every page. Unfortunately, the magic has not lasted and this tale inspired by the Rothschild family has proved a big disappointment. I made it halfway through but have given up in disgust.
The Assassination of the Archduke by Greg King and Sue Woolmans – I’ve borrowed this a few times over the years but never gotten to it. Assassination might not be everyone’s idea of Christmas reading but I’ve always been interested in Franz Ferdinand and this book has come highly recommended by other history geeks.
Walking to the End of the World by Beth Jusino – Always on the lookout for new travelogues about walking, I was at the top of the hold list for this memoir.
Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg – Another favourite topic is the social impact of urban planning so this look at the important role played by shared public spaces sounds excellent.
Falling for London by Sean Mallen – This memoir of a Canadian journalist’s experiences after landing his dream posting in London is in every shop window I pass these days. I love any sort of ex-pat memoir but one set in London is particularly alluring.
What did you pick up this week?
This post contains affiliate links from Book Depository, an online book retailer with free international shipping. If you buy via these links it means I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you).
The Captive Reader 
That book on walking the Camino looks interesting – I had a friend who did that last year although I kind of doubt that she did 1000 miles!
I’ve had a number of friends and colleague do it and it’s certainly an impressive achievement. I love walking holidays but this is one I have no interest in doing myself – it sounds far too crowded and sections are much too urban to appeal to me. But I love to read about it!
What did you not like about House of Gold? I read it a few months ago and thought it was … okay.
I liked the concept but in execution everything fell apart for me. I’ve always felt that Solomons struggles with her female characters and Greta is a perfect example of that, with quirks in place of characterization. Also, all the details were just a little bit off – a passion for gardening that focuses only on the most obvious flowers (never landscaping or shrubs or trees or the 90% of things gardeners worry about when planning) or idiomatic speech that didn’t suit either the era or the characters. My tipping point was when Otto – proper, well mannered, Austrian Otto – used the phrase “blow me” (while at the office) to express his surprise. I couldn’t go any further after that.
You are right about all of this! It was not my favorite, but I somehow finished it. I though Greta was a very flat character. I think I kept reading in hopes that she would develop and come into her own – it wasn’t to be.
I really enjoyed Mr Rosenblum’s List, but I eventually gave up on The Novel in the Viola (not least because it was a straight copy of an Eva Ibbotson novel). Sounds like I should be selective of which others I try!
Also… how’s A Century of Books going? 😉 (sorry!)
I abandoned the idea of completing ACOB in one year a while back, which has been very freeing. I have 20-odd books to review but work has been hectic this year (ACOB isn’t ideal when starting a new job, it turns out) and life has been far more social than usual. All good things. I haven’t given up precisely, I’ve just modified my ambitions 🙂
That makes sense 🙂 Yes, I can imagine the combo of ACOB and new job, while rhyming, wouldn’t be super helpful.