I think the only reason I've been able to adhere to my resolution to stop buying new books is thanks to the fact that I have so many books at my fingertips at not one, not even two, but well lots of libraries. I've noticed there is a direct correlation between the number of books I've been buying (nearly zero) to the number I've been requesting from ILL (too many lately). And whatever I said about finishing two books for every new one I started, I think we can disregard that. I mean, I'll try, but faced with a stack of books like this you just can't expect miracles. Every time I share a photo of library books I feel a little like I am making a confession. Bless me Father, I have brought home far too many books I can read before the due dates again this week. And instead of Hail Marys I should get an obligatory two hundred pages to read for my penance. Except you can hardly call that punishment.
Okay, enough of that. So you just want to know what I brought home, right?
On What Grounds, Cleo Coyle - I love cozy mysteries, but I tend to choose the kind that are set in uppercrust drawing rooms or something with a historical spin. Coyle has a new mystery out and it caught my eye on my library's virtual new book list. I like starting at the beginning, so, here I am. This is a cozy mystery with a twist--it's set in a coffee shop. I don't usually read mysteries like this, but it sounds fun. And weird as it may sound I don't really like coffee (except maybe a cappuchino with lots of whip cream), but I love the way it smells.
The Blind Contessa's New Machine, Carey Wallace - This slim little novel sounded interesting. It's set in nineteenth century Italy and the new machine is a typewriter--what the contessa uses to send love letters when she goes blind. How could I pass up a book that is an "iridescent jewel of a novel".
Willa Cather: A Life Saved Up, Hermione Lee - I was gung ho to read about Willa Cather after finishing My Ántonia, but now I'm wondering if maybe I should keep reading her fiction for a while before reading about her. I'm curious about authors, but how much should I know before I read her books. And what if I find out something that puts me off her (which I'm not really expecting to do) and then puts me off the books. Does that sound strange? Books should stand on their own, yet knowing about what shaped the author can also shed so much light on her writing, too. Dilemmas.
Truth or Fiction, The Invisible Worm, Two Moons, Jennifer Johnston - I've already started Truth or Fiction and am liking Johnston's quiet yet elegant style of writing. I've got Kim to thank for this little stack of books. I believe she's a favorite of hers and I've been on the look out for new (to me) contemporary authors writing good, solid literary fiction (yes, that dicey term, but you know what I mean? A book that's a little more highbrow than my usual fare). I think Johnston will work nicely.
The Unvanquished, William Faulkner - I've read all of one novel by Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury, and that was well before my blogging days (thankfully as heaven knows what I would have written about it then). I was aided by Cliff's Notes I will admit. Can't remember much about it now. I am nearly finished with my Willa Cather book, and need a new classic to read and was thinking I need another American author. He only came to mind when I was going to the shelf for the Willa Cather biography--same row of books, when I caught sight of the Faulkner facing out. It caught my eye. Hmm. This might be interesting. It's his first book and I've read it's very accessible. Is that true I wonder? Shall I try it? Am also eying a few other books as well, though.
The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers, Thomas Mullen - I do believe LizF was reading this and when it was mentioned I had to go look it up and it sounds sort of fun if a little outrageous. It's about two brothers who are bank robbers during the Depression who maybe, like cats, have more than one life!
Purge, Sofi Oksanen -Tiina recently wrote about this book and she highly recommended it and who am I to ignore such an enthusiastic suggestion. It is "a breathtakingly suspenseful tale of two women dogged by their own shameful pasts and the dark, unspoken history that binds them."
The Tapestry of Love, Rosy Thornton - And lets see, how many people have already been writing and talking about Rosy Thornton's new book? Lyn? Elaine? There are more of you out there, and you know who you are. This one was problematic as not only am I not buying books, but definitely not hardcovers. I put in a request to buy a copy at the library where I work and happily it was approved for purchase. I think my library is the only one in the entire US that has a copy of this at the moment. And yes, I have it in my hot little hands. How can I not love a book set in Provence with a character who is also a needleworker? Bring on the weekend, I've got books to read!