I'm officially 'on the wagon' when it comes to library books. I took a serious look at what I had at home, what I am waiting for and what I can realistically read (or try to read anyway), and took a big bagful of books back. It was a little painful as I want to read all the books I check out, but I'm just not a fast enough reader, so expect to see far fewer library loot posts here over the summer (unless I go crazy again). So I have only nine books at home (which still sort of sounds like a lot though I am in the midst of reading three of them at the moment) including these four new titles.
I'm wondering if the Middle Ages is the place for me to be at the moment. Vanitha Sankaran's Watermark (subtitle: A Novel of the Middle Ages) has a heroine who is mute, which means she's regarded with distrust and even fear. She's the daughter of a papermaker in a small French village which appeals to me very strongly (am hoping for lots of papermaking description), so I'll give it a try.
I've already started Diane Janes's The Pull of the Moon. I read a description somewhere and it was compared to Donna Tartt's The Secret History (a novel I have somehow avoided reading, but I bet I would enjoy it), but to me it sounded much more like Barbara Vine's A Fatal Inversion, a novel which I rank very high when it comes to psychological mysteries (few writers in my estimation compare to Barbara Vine/Ruth Rendell at her best--even her so-so is generally a cut above the rest). The Pull of the Moon is set in both the present day but the story that's told reaches back to the 1970s when three friends spend a reckless summer in an isolated farmhouse. Along the way they meet hippie-ish, Trudie, who will end up buried in a grave before the end of the summer. Sounds familiar. I'm wary of reading this, which might pale in comparison (too soon to tell), but I can't help myself.
I have Kay to thank for introducing me to Chris Grabenstein's Tilt-a-Whirl, which Booklist called a debut that "stands out as refreshingly different." The setting is Sea Haven on the Jersey Shore! Do you see why I am drawn to it (aside from the fact, of course the story appeals, too). I've been adding more titles to my Beach/Seaside reads, so another list may be in the works, we'll see.
I have never read anything by Jane Smiley. She is one of my gaps (I have a whole long list of them, I'm afraid) in my reading. I checked out her new one, Private Life, though I wonder if I should start with one of her older novels. I may have no choice as a line of readers is waiting for this one behind me.
Other than these I think I only have season two of MI-5 waiting for me. I've moved from mysteries to thrillers and am now ready to expand to spy novels (or shows). The thing is I've not substituted one for the other as I go, I just add more to my repertoire--dangerous.
At the moment I have a growing stack of books (from my own piles) that I am contemplating starting. I'm not sure what my problem is. I am thoroughly enjoying some excellent books. In some cases I am 3/4 of the way to the end, but I just want more. No wonder I can't finish anything. I think when I read something that takes me a while to work my way through (yesterday's book) I just want something new and different. I may not start any of them, but it's sort of fun to pull them out and look them over. Likely I will start one at least since I am nearing the end of several others (rationalization in process, please go about your normal business).
One last thing. My posting may become a bit irregular in the upcoming weeks. I'm afraid I am having some unplanned renovations done to my house that will require my attention. I've already been taking Saturdays off, so I may add a few more days as well. From the beginning I have posted almost daily and I am getting a little worn out, so maybe this is a good thing. I'm not entirely sure what my schedule will look like, but don't be surprised if things go a little quiet here. I've also fallen drastically behind in answering emails and leaving comments on blogs, which I feel really terrible about (especially when so many people kindly drop by here often). I have been reading posts via Google Reader, but it's not the same--just reading and not chatting. Hopefully I can rectify that soon. I hate to think how many posts I have flagged right now in order to leave comments on. As always I need just a few more hours in the day.