Hosted by Shannon at River City Reads.
Almost all my reading this month was from the library.
Library books read:
- The Illegal by Lawrence Hill
- The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood
- Every Blade of Grass by Thomas Wharton
- The Girl With No Name by Marina Chapman (for book club)
- Captive by Claudine Dumont
- Confidence by Russell Smith
- Icefields by Thomas Wharton (just finished)
Checked out, to be read:
- Fallsy Downsies by Stephanie Domet
- Outline by Rachel Cusk (half read)
- Alone at Sea: the Adventures of Joshua Slocum by Ann Spencer (partly read)
- In the Heart of the Sea: the Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
Returned unread:
- The Winter Family by Cliff Jackman
- The Lost Salt Gift of Blood by Alistair MacLeod
On hold:
- The Kitchen God’s Wife by Amy Tan (ready to be picked up) – for Literary Wives
- The Birthday Lunch by Joan Clark (still)
- The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks (still)
- Lavinia by Ursula le Guin (for RL book club)
- Twenty-One Cardinals by Jocelyn Saucier
- The Stranger by Albert Camus (for Novellas in November)
For the kids:
- Chickenhare by Chris Grine
- The Candymakers by Wendy Mass
- Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
- Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
- The Healing Spell by Kimberly Griffiths Little
What are you reading from the library?
Consumed by Ink 
…confesses, guiltily, mostly reading on iPad or iPhone as they don’t bother himself…
As long as you are reading… 🙂
I’ve been very curious about Outline (I think I even checked it out at one point), but feel like I need more of a push to actually read it. I feel like I’ve seen so many awards and raves for it, but very few opinions, so I’m looking forward to hearing what you think.
*butts in* I thought it was a really fascinating exploration of how and why we talk, and what gets revealed about us when we do, and how men and women are both perceived differently and behave differently in terms of how much they speak and when. I also felt a little cheated of plot, of which there isn’t much. So, worth reading, I reckon, but unlikely to find its way to your heart. *butts out*
Sounds about right, Elle!
I’ll tell you what I think so far, because I might not finish it. It is beautifully written, full of great quotes and wisdom. But, for me, the writing isn’t enough. I don’t really care about what is happening, or what is going to happen. However, I know some people have really loved it.
I also want to know what you think about Outline. Looks like you had a great library month!
I’m trying to keep the librarians on their toes. 🙂
My thoughts on Outline are in my response to Shannon’s comment. Elle also explained it in more detail.
I have The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz and RASL, which is a graphic novel. Do you not renew the books you didn’t get read instead of returning them unread, or do you decide you don’t want to read them after all?
I renew some of them, but others are on hold for other people. A few I just decide I’m not in the mood for anymore.
How is The Brief Wondrous Life? That’s one some people love and others feel it doesn’t live up to its hype.
I had a mixed reaction to it. I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not.
Oh no. Don’t tell me there are Returned Unreads. Please don’t tell me.
It’s very sad, I know.
Guess I have only one thing to add. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEMUsC8ppU0
🙂
The Wonder Garden, fabulous new collection of short stories. The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr – for memoir writers this one is a must. Both of these are just published.
They both sound good. I look forward to hearing about them!
I’m a little less ashamed now that I returned two books back to th elibrary unread.
Sometimes it just has to be done. 🙂
I return unread books to the library all the time, because I always request more than I can possibly read, and then I end up placing requests all over again. Probably I could streamline this process! But there are so many books I find tempting.
If I were you, I’d go back to the library for The Lost Salt Gift of Blood, though, and put it on the top of the TBR pile, or start reading right away. Or buy a copy, because it’s just so good. Looking forward to hearing what you think of Fallsy Downsies. I enjoyed that one a lot.
Oh, good to hear you liked Fallsy Downsies – I don’t really know anyone else who has read it. I’ve already renewed it once, so I hope I’ll be able to get to it soon. This month is looking full right now. And, I will go get The Lost Salt Gift of Blood back next time I see it!
I am the same way about putting too many books on hold, because I’m so tempted by them all. Oh, well, there could be worse things… 🙂
“Almost all my reading this month was from the library”.
This is so often true for me as well. *sigh* I’m echoing Sarah’s enthusiasm for these stories, but I just read them over the end of the summer and they felt just so beautifully perfect for that time of year, with the transiion into fall, winter still some distance away. Somehow he manages to twine melancholy with beauty in a way which is now rooted in Septembers for me, thanks to these tales. Whenever you do get back to them, I hope you find it’s the perfect time for you.
I’ll try to keep the timing in mind when I pick this book up again. Good to hear you loved it, too!
Oh the Kitchen God’s Wife is my favorite Amy Tan for sure. Loved that. I might be giving up on the Secret Chord I’m ashamed to say. Its beautifully written it just not flowing for me.
I think I’ll be reading the Amy Tan next, so that’s good to hear!
So far, the reviews for Secret Chord have mostly been good, so it’ll be interesting to hear your thoughts on it (if you end up writing about it at all). I wouldn’t mind having one less book on my list! 🙂
Good library month! I want to know what you think of The Secret Chord!
I’m getting nervous about it The Secret Chord…
How come?
I want to read it because I have liked all her other books. However, the premise doesn’t really appeal to me. Most people seem to be liking it (or even loving it), but not everyone.
I’m not all that sure about it either though I have a review copy to read. I’m holding back from it for now
I don’t know really know what’s holding me back…
I have The Secret Chord out from my library and I’m due to read it next. I have also borrowed Unbowed: A Memoir by Wangari Maathai.
I just added Unbowed to my to-read list (thanks for mentioning it!). I hope you enjoy them both!
I just finished reading ‘The Natural Way of Things’ by Charlotte Wood. I was going to buy a copy for myself but thought I’d try my luck with the library. It’s a new release and I thought I’d have to wait a while to get it but I was first cab off the rank! Such a great book and an important one too. I hope you get ‘The Secret Chord’ soon!
I just looked that one up, and it sounds great! Isn’t it good when the new books fall right into your hands without any effort?
Yes. Especially when they’re ones that you’ve been wanting to read for a long time. If I hadn’t been able to get it from the library so quickly I probably would have gone and bought a copy. I’m impatient like that.
I love this theme or meme or whatever! I just finished (and returned because the hold list was epic and I hate being on there long!) Rowling/Galbraith’s new book Career of Evil.
I am thanking you on behalf of all the people at your library who benefit from your thoughtfulness. 🙂
Haaahaa you’re very welcome! The worst is with e-books. I know most people have no idea how to return them and I went out of my way to figure out how to do it so that I didn’t keep it for the full 21 days (or whatever) when I read so fast.
🙂
Wow, I’m impressed by how much you’ve been using your library! I’d like to get back to doing that more myself 🙂
I actually try hard not to use it so much, because I have some books on my shelf I would love to read, but I just can’t help myself!
Hooray for a loyal library user!! Im heading to my local branch tomorrow to try and get a few books in translation that I’ve been recommended but I can’t get at a reasonable price. I’m hoping the inter-library loan system will prove the answer
The inter-library loan system saves me a lot of money, that’s for sure. I hope you’re able to find what you’re looking for!
I used to feel so guilty when I had to return books unread because I got so ahead of myself. But better that than run out of books!
I also used to feel guilty. Sometimes I still do, but it’s getting easier. Even though I know I can just take it out again, it’s still hard!