A More Successful Visit to the Library

Last week I was rather disappointed when I went to the public library. I am sure I must have mentioned how bare the new fiction shelves were, and I walked away with only two books (that I felt only tepid about reading to be honest).  This week I thought I would hit the bookstore instead (there should be plenty of new stuff there!), but it turns out that several books that I requested came in at the library, so I went back there instead.  There were still no really exciting looking books on the new fiction shelves, but I had a few waiting for me, and bonus--I have not spent any money or used up my gift certificates.  I read a blurb somewhere about James Meek's A People's Act of Love.  The inside jacket starts out: "A literary sensation acquired by twenty-one premier publishers around the world and met with a groundswell of praise from writers and critics, The People's Act of Love is a masterpiece of storytelling and a major literary achievement."  Sheesh.  Not much to live up to there, eh?  Now my expectations are going to be pretty high, so I hope the book does not disappoint!  My other selections: The Life All Around Me by Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons (I think I will have to reread Ellen Foster first though, as it has been quite a while since I read that one), and The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig (a bit of fluffy reading as well).  I also checked out the movie adaptation The Magnificent Ambersons by Orson Welles.  I am curious to see how it translates into a film.  I am looking for the re-make as well!  However, this weekend my goal is to get through Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking.  So far it is good, but not really easy reading in terms of subject matter!