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.
Sharlene has the Mr Linky this week.
Why the Germans Do it Better by John Kampfner – This was on a number of “Best of 2020” lists and it’s taken me a year to finally get my hands on it so I’m very excited. The comparison of the title is to the UK – not the entire world – and while the reasons seems clear and plentiful to an outside observer I can’t wait to read about them in detail.
Bellwether by Connie Willis – The consequence of revisiting Nancy Pearl’s Book Lust books is that I inevitably end up with more books to read. To be fair, this has been recommended so often and by so many people that Pearl can’t take all the credit for making me want to read it. I’ve had mixed experiences with Willis – after reading only To Say Nothing of the Dog, Blackout, and All Clear, I was ready to write her off. But then I read the superlatively good Doomsday Book and laughed all the way through Crosstalk so am keeping an open mind.
100 Poems to Break Your Heart by Edward Hirsch – My father chats regularly with his elder sister and mentioned recently that her reading project for this winter is to read poetry. Feeling inspired, I thought I’d add some more to my own reading diet.
What did you pick up this week?
The Captive Reader 
I’ve had similar reading experience with Connie Willis. Loved Doomsday Book (actually have read it twice) but couldn’t make it through To Say Nothing of the Dog- just didn’t get it. Have quite a few of hers on my list that I want to try someday, but I think it’s going to be hit-or-miss.
I think I’ve made my peace with the hit-or-miss nature of my reactions but I don’t think she’ll ever be someone I race to read a new release by.
I have a slightly opposite experience with Connie Willis. I absolutely adore To Say Nothing of the Dog and reread it regularly. I love the allusions to Three Men in a Boat. It is one of those books I pick up when I am having a bad day. I also enjoy Blackout and All Clear though I know they could have done with a bit more editing. We agree on Doomsday Book and I thought Crosstalk was good but not great.
I see the fun of To Say Nothing of the Dog – allusions are always a delight – but it was too madcap for me (which, alongside a lack of editing, is my main criticism of Willis).
I suppose that’s part of the problem for me- I never read Three Men in a Boat so the allusions were lost on me.