Do you aleady know about Book Sense? If not you must go take a look at not only the June Picks but also at their Summer Paper Back Picks too. I won't list all the titles I want here (there are too many). Let's just suffice it to say, that my library requests list has just grown by a few titles. I had put a stop to requesting library items (other than DVDs), as it got out of control. I always have far too many library books than I have time to read them all. But so much for self control. No doubt they will all come in at once.
Speaking of which (library books that is), this week's Newsweek reviewed Irene Nemirovsky's Suite Francaise. I started this book and was enjoying it before ILL books jumped ahead of the line. Newsweek gave it a very good review. As a matter of fact I have yet to read anything negative about it at all. I am hoping to get back to it soon before it needs to go back to the library in July. I have not forgotten about these books either. Over the long weekend I do hope to read Oroonoko by Aphra Behn. It seems like the sort of book that is better read in one or two sittings rather than in fits and starts. Although I want to start with the Behn book, I actually have several 18th novels in mind to read (see again this post) including the books as shown above. These are the first part of two Amazon orders. Okay, Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene is not 18th century (more like 100 years earlier), and I am not sure what exactly possessed me to buy it, but isn't it lovely? I think the draw was the fact that Spenser wrote it in honor of Elizabeth I, and even though I haven't gotten around to reading any of the biographies I wanted to read, I am still in an Elizabeth I mood as the Elizabeth I exhibit begins at my public library today. I plan on seeing it soon and hopefully going to the lecture series (first up this Saturday: "Wardrobes from Eleanor to Elizabeth"). I only hope that when I get around to reading it there is some sort of book that I can buy that will help me understand what I am reading! Now the other two are recommendations from Dorothy who is very knowledgeable of this period of literature. I couldn't decide between Pamela or Clarissa both by Samuel Richardson, so I got them both (more self control--okay--not). And I have been enjoying Stefanie's posts as she makes her way through Clarissa. How often do I say this? I only wish I could read faster.