The next best thing to buying books is borrowing them, of course. I am not sure why I can't content myself with reading from my own bookshelves, as I certainly have plenty to keep me busy for a very long while. There is just something about buying or borrowing a new (to me anyway) book. I am a pretty tenacious person. If I set my mind to doing something--in most cases I can accomplish it (within reason of course). But I have not been able to cut off my habit of new books--even for a short amount of time. I guess I don't honestly try too hard. As I am trying to hold on to my remaining gift cards for later (I have a list of new books that will be coming out in the near future, plus old ones I eventually want to buy), I am back to my old ways--I have started a promising stack of library books. The nice thing about library books--I don't have to pay for them, and I don't have to find space on my shelves for them. I stay reasonably guilt free--except when I end up taking some of them back unread.
My latest finds:
- Strong is Your Hold, Galway Kinnell--I work with someone who is actually a published poet and is always trying to get me to check out poetry books. He recommended this book of poems by Galway Kinnell, and the cool thing about it is it comes with a CD that has the poet reading his own poems. Maybe this is just what I need to read some poetry---rather in this case listen to some poetry. I will let you know how it goes!
- Wanderlust, Rebecca Solnit. You will remember this one from yesterday's list? I have checked this one out before, but it went back unread. Maybe this time around? I have started reading just a bit of it to tempt myself. I have to say the hardcover is really lovely--it has a nice shape to it, so I might have to keep my eye out for a used copy. There are also quotes on the bottom of each page running from the front of the book to the back!
- The Case of the Missing Books: A Mobile Library Mystery, Ian Sansom. I don't know anything about this one, but it sounded like fun: "Make the acquaintance of Israel Armstrong--a sensitive, intelligent Jewish vegetarian, mobile librarian, and sometimes sleuth at-large on the Emerald Isle--in the exuberant debut of a delightful new series from Ian Sansom." Quirky, eh!
- A Good Man is Hard to Find, Flannery O"Connor. I admit to being easily swayed by other readers when they recommend a book. Especially when several of my favorite book bloggers are all talking about Flannery O'Connor. I am obviously missing out on something. If nothing else I think I need to at least read the title story. I want to read more short stories, but like so many other forms of fiction, my desire just seems to fall by the wayside. Three short stories a week, and I would have the book finished by the due date...
- The Mirror of Her Dreams, Stephen R. Donaldson. A coworker recommended this fantasy read. I am not overly optimistic about finishing this one, however. It is a pretty hefty 600+ page book. It sounds good. The trouble is, they all do!
And a movie...
- Agata and the Storm. An Italian film--"When Agata, the popular bookshop proprietor and dispenser of sunny wisdom is suddenly wooed by a man almost half her age, her electricity hits high-voltage. Yet it is Agata's joy and magnetism in the face of life in all its irony that eventually offers the eye of the storm." I'm not entirely sure what that last sentence means, but I guess I will find out when I watch the movie!