Library Loot: June 16-22, 2010
Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by myself and Marg that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!
Want to share your loot?
My vlog, courtesy of Vimeo (and I’m hoping it’ll look better!):
The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne (for fun), Yellow Moon by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Colorful Reading Challenge), Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth (Booker Prize Challenge)
Twinkle Twinkle by Kaori Ekuni (GLBT Challenge), The Eye of Jade by Diane Wei Liang (for fun), Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman (GLBT Challenge)
Green Mountain, White Cloud by François Cheng (Colourful Reading Challenge), The Man Who Fell in Love with the Moon by Tom Spanbauer (GLBT Challenge), The Circus in Winter by Cathy Day (Reading the Seasons Challenge)
The Aeneid by Virgil (trans. by Robert Fagles) (LT Classics Discussion), Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu (OUaT Challenge)
The Day I Became an Autodidact by Kendall Hailey (for fun; found on Carolyn’s blog), The Principles of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman (Graphic Novels Challenge), Cartographies: Meditations on Travel by Marjorie Agosin (for fun)
The Heart that Bleeds by Alma Guillermoprieto (Mexico Reading Challenge), More Book Lust by Nancy Pearl (for fun), I Saw Ramallah by Mourid Barghouti (Arabic Summer Reading Challenge)
The End of the Free Market by Ian Bremmer (for fun), Odd Girl Out by Rachel Simmons (for fun)
A Striped Armchair 
Oh you got The Day I Became an Autodidact, I absolutely loved that book! I hope you enjoy it.
I got it because of you! Unfortunately, I didn’t get around to reading it, but I do intend to get it out from the library again before I move!
Hold up a minute (I did that by pausing you so I didn’t forget to write this in comments), you don’t recall reading about a circus in fiction? does that mean you haven’t read Geek Love by Katherine Dunn?!
The only book above I have read is The Blithedale Romance, which I enjoyed although not quite as much as House of the Seven Gables.
I’m still working my way through a pile of library books that I posted last week.
Lovely to see you again via vlog (even if you can’t pronounce “autodidact”, hee). Pleased to see you have a work-around for vlog uploading.
I’m sorry to hear about your cousin :( Bully of any kind is cruel and demoralising.
lol @ pausing me! I haven’t read Geek Love…should I read it along w/ the Carter?
Yup! best carnivalesque fiction. Geek Love is very odd but very good (although one people either love or hate).
I just bought that version of the Aeneid. It’s beautiful!
I’m jealous you own it; it is beautiful and I’m going to want a copy for my permanent shelves one day!
Loads of great books there. Enjoy your loot!
Thanks Linda!
I’ve got Call Me By Your Name on my list but I’d forgotten all about it! Good reminder :)
So many of these look great! I read The Aeneid in Ancient Civs at uni but I never got a chance to finish it. I liked it so much better than The Odyssey though (which we also had to read – I got maybe 50 pages in and then let it slide, terrible I know!) Fagle does very accessible translations; Richard Lattimore does more “academic” translations, and I can never decide which would be best to read ;)
What is More Book Lust about? (Can’t watch the vlog at work!) Love the sound of Odd Girl Out, and several others too.
Oh I think I have a recommendation for you, for LGBT challenge: Bottle Rocket Hearts by Zoe Whittell (not sure of name spelling.) I haven’t read it yet I confess, but it’s a debut Canadian novel; her second book’s come out recently by Penguin. I keep meaning to read this myself…
I loved The Odyssey when I was younger, but I haven’t reread it for years. Now I want to give Fagle a try!
I like the recent trend of translating ancient epics to make them more vibrant…for me, it’s true to how the ancient audience would have experienced the story and that’s enough for me! I’ve read bits of the Aeneid in the original, so I don’t feel too bad about feeling unscholarly. lol
More Book Lust is a collection of themed book lists by Nancy Pearl, who’s kind of a ‘rock star’ readers’ advisory librarian. lol It’s a follow-up to her first book, Book Lust. Thanks for rec’ing Bottle Rocket Hearts: love that title!
More Book Lust sounds like my kind of book ;)
Have you read Reading Like a Writer? It’s very inspiring, if you’re ever feeling blue or dissatisfied.
So, have you read Voodoo Season yet, or can Yellow Moon be read out of order? Just wondering…
As always, your library loot post is dangerous to my reading wishlist :)
I have read Voodoo Season, and I’m guessing it’d be better to read them in order!
I LOVE your hair like that! So natural and flowy and pretty. :)
And if you want to read another book about the circus, you might want to try Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I’m not sure it’s totally your style, but I love that book, so I had to throw it out there!
Aww: thanks! I actually followed a Youtube hair tutorial, lol. :D
Water for Elephants has never really appealed to me for some reason, but maybe I’ll give it the 50 pg test one of these days!
I own 2 of the books you looted! I love to watch your Vlog.
Thanks Debbie!
Geek Love is WONDERFUL! I’d also recommend Angela Carter’s Nights at the Circus.
Nights at the Circus, YES! One of my favourite books! You must read it Eva :)
I have Nights at the Circus on my shelf; I totally plan on reading it this year! Promise! Sounds like I need some Geek Love too, lol.
Someone mentioned Water For Elephants above and I have to say it is a fabulous book about a circus during prohibition. I am so pleased to see your big library loot posts back. I have missed them.
Thanks Vivienne!
So many wonderful books! I have not read any of those ( I did borrow the Finnish translation of Twinkle Twinkle once, but did not read it back then & the same with The Aeneid), but there are many books in your loot that I would love to read. I’m looking forward to your reviews.
Greetings,
Tiina
Twinkle Twinkle is SO good! You must read it!
Lots of good choices! I started The Man Who Fell in Love with the Moon by Tom Spanbauer a few years ago. I can’t remember why I never finished it. I am interested in what you think.
I didn’t get around to it, but I hope to later this year.
Boy, did you clean out the library! ;) I think I haven´t read lots of fiction featuring a circus either, Water for Elephants comes to mind, but you´ve probably read that already.
lol! My library self control tends to go out the window pretty quickly. ;) I haven’t read Water for Elephants, no.
I remembering reading The Blithedale Romance back when I went through my Hawthorne phase…but I can’t remember anything about it now!
How funny!
Call Me by Your Name has been on my radar for awhile–I’ll be interested to see what you think of it.
I’m about to get it again from the library, so I should be reading it within the next month or so!
How fun! I just posted my Library Loot – not too much variety, but it’s a good start. =) Thanks for the great idea!
Thanks for joining in!
I really like Nancy Pearl’s books because she comes up with great lists. I hope you’ll enjoy this one more than the first Book Lust.
Looking forward to your thoughts on The Eye of Jade. I’ve had that on my shelves for a while now. It does look good but I just haven’t gotten around to it.
Eye of Jade was a bit…scattered. I think the series has potential, but it wasn’t that well written.
Vimeo seems to work a lot better…the covers of the books are much clearer now.
I can’t remember if Water for Elephants takes place in a circus or a carnival. Really enjoyed that one.
I’ll have to try The Blithedale Romance again — didn’t care too much for it the first time, but have developed a soft sport for Hawthorne since.
Nice big tasty stack! Way to go!!!
Yay for Vimeo!
What a wonderful mix of books. Going through the lot I wouldnt be able to decide which to go with first. The Circus in Winter the Blythedale Romance and Twinkle Twinkle all sing out to me!!!
Twinkle Twinkle was incredible! Unfortunately I didn’t get around to the other two.
I just realized the guy I’m subletting from owns the Fagles translation of the Odyssey. Yayyy, it’s been years since I read The Odyssey. I’m excited to give this another reread.
You may have said this in your vlog – I can’t make my computer stream video today – but have you read Maira Kalman’s “And the Pursuit of Happiness” column on the NY Times website? Also very beautiful!
Sweet! I got my copy of the Fagles Odyssey when I found it lying in the stairwell in my college dorm! lol I haven’t read her online column, but now I want to. The book was incredible!
These look good. I want to read Odd Girl Out and The Day I Became an Autodidact.
Unfortunately I got sick and wasn’t able to read either, but they sound marvelous don’t they?!
I’d also like to read The Day I Became an Autodidact. I saw Ramallah and End of the Free Market also look good !
I Saw Ramallah was really good! The other ones my fibro prevented me from reading.
You have an interesting mix of titles there, as always:) Yellow Moon looks intriguing – have you read the first in the series, Voodoo Dreams? I’ve just put that onto my wish list. I loved Twinkle, Twinkle – Kaori Ekuni is one of my favourite contemporary Japanese writers. I hope you enjoy it too.
I have read Voodoo Dreams: it was great fun! And I adored Twinkle, Twinkle too!
Good loot this week. Enjoy!
Thanks Amy!
I’m interested to hear what you think of the Aeneid. My son and I read it last summer and I have to admit I struggled to stay interested. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood or something?
Did you read the Fagles translation? I’m loving it! I think translation is so key sometimes. :)
must go check out the LT Classics discussion group. I’ve been wanting to read THE AENEID and needed motivation. Of course, was supposed to be reading Dante this summer….Never enough time…
I really want to read all of Dante some time soon! lol I’m adoring The Aeneid, if that’s enough motivation. ;)
Not such a restrained haul this week eh Eva?;)
No…I am weak! lol
Wow, all of those books look great!
Thanks!
I’m continually amazed (and secretly jealous) at the variety in your book selections – I wish I enjoyed non-fiction as much as you do. Great vlog too!
I hadn’t seen The Eye of Jade before – sounds fun, and having visited China many years ago the idea of a female PI in Beijing sounds very appealing.
Aww; thanks! Eye of Jade isn’t particularly well written, but I did love all the China details. :D
My recommendation towards my, as always, favourite post of the week has to be Call Me By Your Name. Its a little graphic but the story and the love affair will just touch you so much, its quite incredible.
I’m so glad to hear that: I’m getting it back from the library so I can read it! :D
Hi Eva, you look especially lovely with your hair. :)
Your choice of books are always so interesting. I’m not sure if I remember right but you love Salman Rushdie, right? If so, try reading A Son of the Circus. It’s the best novel centered around a circus that I’ve read. It made me laugh and cry at the same time.
So sorry to hear about your cousin. My second son has come home a few times with tears, because of being bullied. It’s certainly something I’m as yet learning to deal with as my eldest never had to go through it so far.
You’re the only other person I know who has read Green Mountain, White Cloud. Isn’t it so understated? Like a dream. I’m actually reading Eileen Chang right now and loving it so much. I can understand why she’s bcome a favourite Chinese author for you. I think she’s my fave Chinese author now as well.
I’m also read The Iliad, translated by Fagles. And will be following up right away with The Odyssey and The Aeneid, also Fagles. I chose his translation for the accessibility.
I didn’t like More Book Lust as much as Book Lust, but a book of lists can never go wrong. I still say it’s a must-have or must-read, for us obsessed. :)
Among your loot, I’m also wanting to read Sacred Hunger and The Principles of Uncertainty. Enjoy your books, Eva! Happy weekend! xo
Thanks so much Claire! I do love Salman Rushdie, so thank you for the recommendation! I’m sorry that your second son has had problems; I hope they go away soon.
You know, Green Mountain, White Cloud definitely feels like a Claire book, so I’m delighted that you’ve read it. :) And isn’t Eileen Chang marvelous?!
Principles of Uncertainty was incredible: you should definitely put it on your TBR list!
I’ve been terribly absent from book blogging, but I’m glad to see my favorite vlog is still going. Great loot.
Thanks Juanita!
Lots of great loot, Eva!
I read ODD GIRL OUT when my older daughter was in second grade. This is when Simmons says that the ‘triangle’ relationships of three or more girls often squeeze one out, and they pair up. So true in our case, and the book really helped me to understand the behavior (well, to see where it was leading, in any case, and how to help prevent bullying).
If you enjoy this book, you might also look at Simmons’ THE CURSE OF THE GOOD GIRL. Fascinating stuff, and perfect for the Women Unbound challenge.
I’m so glad the book helped you! I read Curse of the Good Girl when it first came out, and I definitely found it fascinating (if a bit depressing, since I saw so much of myself in it).
Sounds like you got lots of good stuff!
Yep: I love my library! :)
What a great selection of books, Eva.
I love your hair in your vlog!! Sooo pretty down like that. :D
Hope you’re having a great week!
Thanks Christine! As I told Heather, I used a Youtube tutorial, lol. Gotta love the internet!
I absolutely LOVE The Principles of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman – one of my favorite books of all time. I hope you enjoy it too!
I loved it too! I want to own it so I can read it again and again. :D