The Captive Reader

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.

I fled south last week for a quick and very warm holiday in Southern California.  While I was gone, a few holds piled up so I had the very satisfying experience of lugging a full bag home from the library yesterday.

Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer – I was reading Jo Walton’s October reading list on Tor.com and her incredible enthusiasm for Palmer convinced me that I have to try this.  (Book Depository)

The Cut Out Girl by Bart van Es – This won the Slightly Foxed Best First Biography prize and sounds excellent.  (Book Depository)

The Art of Making Memories by Meik Wiking – Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, has written fun books on hygge and lykke and now looks at how memories – and the art of making them – can enhance our happiness too. (Book Depository)

Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen – Sharlene borrowed this a few weeks ago (and looks like she is reading it now) and it sounded so interesting that I wanted to try it for myself.  (Book Depository)

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo –  This showed up on a list of Russian-inspired fantasy novels I read a while back (I am such an easy target for these) and, with winter closing in, I’m in just the right mood for it.  (Book Depository)

Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker – I read a review of this in the Globe and Mail during the summer and was intrigued enough to place a hold.  3 months later (almost to the day), here it is!  In the meantime, I had a chance to read one of Tucker’s earlier books, The Simple Wild, which I really, really enjoyed.  Light reading, absolutely, but well done. (Book Depository)

Short and Sweet by Dan Lepard – While on vacation, I ended up spending far too much time reading old food columns on the Guarding website and remembered how much I enjoy Lepard’s writing and recipes.  I’m not sure I’ll actually bake much from this but it’s always fun to look through.  (Book Depository)

Everyday Dorie by Dorie Greenspan – A fun and tempting change from Greenspan’s usual baking books. (Book Depository)

One Magic Square by Lolo Houbein – A new community garden has opened near me (this sounds like a good thing but it actually a very frustrating tax dodge by real estate developers) and I’ve nabbed some space.  I’m having lots of fun starting to plan my plot and this book looks like it should give me plenty of ideas. (Book Depository)

What did you pick up this week?