Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Marg that encourages readers to share the goodies that they picked up at their libraries each week!
It’s an appropriate time for me to post my first Library Loot entry, since I’ve been to the library 3 times this week and taken out way more than I can possibly read before the due dates.
I adore going to the library. It’s like shopping, but without spending any money. Granted, you don’t get to own the items you “shop” for forever, but it does Hit the Shopping Spot. You leave your apartment, you go to a place with lots of choices, and you take some of it home. Triggers the shopping high with absolutely no buyer’s remorse. Even if I don’t get around to reading every book I check out, I often read the first few pages to get an idea on whether I’d like to read the book someday. Often times I’ll buy it later, or check it out again in the future.
Here’s some of the loot I collected this week:
44 Scotland Street, Espresso Tales, and Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith
I’ve been wanting to try out an Alexander McCall Smith series, and I decided to start with the 44 Scotland Street series. My best friend and I are starting to plan a vacation later this year to Ireland and many other areas around it, and right now I’m sort of obsessed with all things United Kingdom. I picked up the first three books of this series, and I just finished 44 Scotland Street.
My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath
I’ve heard great things about this children’s novel by Newbery Honor author Polly Horvath, and its name alone is enough to perk my interest.
House of Cards by David Ellis Dickerson
I’ve wanted to give this book a try since hearing David Dickerson read at the David Sedaris signing at Strand last year. He was a hoot and his memoir about working at Hallmark writing greeting cards sounds like a fun read.
Nation by Terry Pratchett
This won the 2009 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for fiction, and I read an essay by Terry Pratchett in the Jan/Feb 2010 Horn Book Magazine. It sounds great and it feels like it’s about time that I read a book by Terry Pratchett, he’s well loved by many of my family members.
McCarthy’s Bar: A Journey of Discovery in the West of Ireland by Pete McCarthy
A travel memoir about Ireland: resistance was futile.
I Never Knew That About Ireland by Christopher Winn
This book is packed full of interesting trivia about Ireland. A reserve that came in for me this week.
The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket
My Mom spotted this book at a Barnes and Noble over Christmas, and I put a reserve on it at the library. It’s a gorgeous book with a lot of great photographs, recipes, and tips. “Brocket celebrates everything that is, and can be, wonderful about home life.” I think I’m going to need to buy this one.
Ireland by Frank Delaney
Spotting a theme here?
Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon
Couldn’t resist taking home Michael Chabon’s latest when I saw it in the new books section.
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
Pleased that the library had this waiting for me after seeing her stage show. I’ve already finished it, review is here.
American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson
I’ve heard good things about this memoir, and I do like Craig Ferguson.
Enjoy your library loot!
Wow, is there anything left in the library? ;) Looks like you got some great books! Let me know how you liked the Scotland series. I´ve been thinking of trying MCall Smith´s series, I didn´t like the detective agency series much, but I adore everything British. Hope you have fun planning your trip :)
Hehe, there’s a little bit left. :)
I really liked the first book in the Scotland series, and am excited to read the next.
I couldn’t get into the Ladies Detective agency either, although I didn’t try super hard. I should give it another shot someday, but for now I’m good with the Scotland series. :)
That sounds promising, I think I´ll give this series a try when the first book is not checked out at the library. Reserving costs 1 euro per book :(
In case you can come to my birthday, we will have to go to Book Thing. (Books are free, like the library, but you CAN keep them forever. It’s amazing.)
I’m so jealous of Book Thing! I would love to go there. I need to look into possibly coming for your birthday, I have a friend that just move to Baltimore, so that would be two great reasons to make a trip down. :)
You totally should! :) And I’m pretty sure I’ll see you for Book Expo–which reminds me, when my tax refund comes in, I need to ask you how to register as a book blogger. :) But still, Book Thing needs to be shared. :)
Book Expo for Book Bloggers is free. :)
You should register now:
https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_uid=134&site=PRS
For Job Title put “Book Blogger” and for “Company” put the URL of your blog. :)
FREE? Oh, sweet baby Jesus. And registered. (Also so happy I may be about to weep.) Thank you for your help! :)
No problem! While you’re here we’ll have to plan a Strand Shopping Spree! :)
Oh, twist my arm. :)
Wow that’s a lot of books. How long to you get to keep them for? I always feel pressure when I have too many library books out. And then I feel bad if I don’t read them because I kept them from someone else.
I wanted to get McCarthy’s Bar for my dad. McCarthy is my maiden name and I thought he would get a kick out of it.
Depends on if they are new books or not – new books are 2 weeks and older books are 4. But New Jersey has a great reserve system – I can request a book from any of 77 libraries and it will come in for me to Hoboken in a few days. Each library has different due dates. You can renew everything from 1 to 4 times.
I don’t feel bad if I don’t read something, because of the reserve system people can pretty much get whatever they want, and it’s good for library’s circulation numbers, which they rely on to keep their funding up. :D
One of the travel rules mentioned in McCarthy’s Bar is “never pass a bar that has your name on it.” Apparently there are a lot of McCarthy’s Bars in Ireland too. ;)
Interesting library loot! ‘Ireland – A Novel’ by Frank Delaney and ‘The Gentle Art of Domesticity’ by Jane Brocket look quite interesting! Would like to read your reviews of them sometime. Great to know that you are planning a trip to Ireland!
Welcome to Library Loot! You certainly have a great pile of books to choose from there. I read Alexander McCall Smith quite regularly, and am currently hosting a Terry Pratchett challenge so that one caught my attention too! I love historical fiction, so the Delaney book looks good too!
Enjoy your loot!