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.
Forty Autumns by Nina Willner – I’m already halfway through this fascinating memoir about Willner’s maternal family, separated for decades after her mother fled East Germany in the 1940s. (Book Depository)
Love from Boy edited by Donald Sturrock – I’ve borrowed this collection of Roald Dahl’s letters to his mother before without ever reading them but I’m in the mood for letters and hoping this will hit the spot. (Book Depository)
Mountain Lines by Jonathan Arlan – A walking memoir (which I’d somehow missed on its release back in 2017) about walking the GR5 from Lake Geneva to Nice. (Book Depository)
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas – My love of expat memoirs continues with this story of a woman who moved to America from Iran as a child and whose cultural identity was further confused when she married a Frenchman. (Book Depository)
Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver – This novel about the fragility of American middle class lives is scary and upsetting and sadly realistic. (Book Depository)
In Search of Nice Americans by Geoff Steward – I’d not heard of this before but saw it on a display and am trusting Tony Hawks’ (author of the very funny Round Ireland with a Fridge) words of praise: “Geoff Steward has written a brilliant debut travelogue and I’m sure there will be more. It’s charming, engaging and, above all, really funny.” (Book Depository)
Finally, when not reading I’m having my own mini Ingrid Bergman festival, featuring Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words, a fascinating documentary about Bergman made with her own home movies, Spellbound with Gregory Peck, and the always delightful Indiscreet with Cary Grant.
What did you pick up this week?
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The Captive Reader 
I like expat memoirs myself. Will try to track this down.
It’s an irresistible genre! I hope you’re able to find it without too much trouble.
Ahh, glad you picked up a copy of Funny in Farsi. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Here’s a link to my review:
https://maphead.wordpress.com/2014/05/18/immigrant-stories-challenge-funny-in-farsi-by-firoozeh-dumas/
Thanks for linking to your review! Now I’m even more excited to read it.
Claire and others,
I found a book at my local library this morning and a quick perusal makes me think other ‘readers’ might enjoy it. I haven’t had a chance to start it yet, yet the premise is interesting and the cover art was good enough to make me want to explore it.
Literary Places by Sarah Baxter, illustrated by Amy Grimes. Excerpts from the back cover:
“Explore the landscapes and places that inspired great novels…this unique book will instantly transport you to literary destinations around the globe…the places collected here are not just backdrops to the tales told, they are characters in their own rights…”
Enjoy!
Frank Comstock
Author of
Charlie’s Gift
and
When Past and Future Meet
and multiple unfinished novels and short stories awaiting the right mix of inspiration and time
Thanks for the suggestion, Frank!
I love Indiscreet. Best line ever: Go put on a girdle. You’ll feel better.
It’s such a classic! And I adore Bergman’s clothes in it.
I enjoyed Funny in Farsi! I think she’s got two other books out
Great to know! It’s always a joy to find out an author you enjoy has more books to discover.