We’ve already celebrated Thanksgiving up here in Canada but since this will go up on American Thanksgiving, just wanted to wish all of you celebrating a happy, delicious day with your loved ones.
I know I’m super thankful to Shannon at Rivercity Reading for starting this handy little library love chain letter because it means I don’t have to think about content for a blog post! And of course, I’m so thankful to have such wonderful libraries close to home because they continue to support my love of reading without devastating my bank account.
Let’s get to it!
Library Books Read
Dreams of Joy by Lisa See
Broken Harbour by Tana French
Snobs by Julian Fellowes
The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty
The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi
It felt like I had a strong library reading month but actually, I just had a strong library visiting month. I did manage to read these before my crippling inability to CHOOSE a book handcuffed me. (Anyone else feeling this right now? I dread finishing books because I have to DECIDE what I’m going to read next and I don’t want to make the “wrong” choice. As if there’s such a thing.)
Checked Out, To Be Read
The Wife, The Maid and the Mistress by Arial Lawhon
Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie
The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra (I thought I had A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, Chelsey, but I don’t! This is the one I grabbed)
Carol by Patricia Highsmith
For some reason when it’s time to choose a new book and I look at these books I don’t want to read any of them. But I have the same issue with all the books I have yet to read, the ones I’ve borrowed and my own. What is happening?
Returned Unread
The Bishop’s Man by Linden McIntyre
I started reading it, was looking forward to reading it in fact. But nothing about it hooked me and after 60 pages I decided that actually I wasn’t in the mood to read about the horrible things priests did to kids that the Church did nothing about.
On Hold
Still nothing! I don’t deserve to get to hold anything – I was late returning some of the books and now I owe $0.60.
What did your library month look like? Any tips for healing my choosing paralysis?
The Paperback Princess 
$0.60!! Are you banned now?
I have had the decision-making problems many times. That’s when I get one of my kids to help me choose, usually based on the cover they like the best. It usually works out pretty well. You could ask your husband. Or pick from a hat. Or ask us!
I hear the Anthony Marra book is good. I have A Constellation, but haven’t read it yet, but am dying to. So why haven’t I? I have no idea.
Too bad you couldn’t get into The Bishop’s Man – I was looking forward to your opinion. But, maybe the fact that you couldn’t get into it says enough.
I’m curious to hear what you thought of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell!
Banned for LIFE.
I just finished The Pearl That Broke Its Shell today and it was wonderful. I had some issues with the way the story kept flipping back and forth between the two women every chapter but overall, I really liked it. It made me cry.
I was going to dip into The Bookseller…but maybe I will give the Anthony Marra a spin. Thanks!
I thought the *same thing* about feeling like it was a great library month and then being so confused when I saw how many books I actually read. I had actually just checked out a ton of books and read so few. I really hope you get to BOTH Anthony Marra books, he’s so so wonderful!
I started the Anthony Marra one last night. “Started” might be a bit of a strong word, I think I’ve read about 5 pages. But that’s the one that I’m reading next.
What is the deal with this library slump? Is it a slump? Do I need more strategy when I get books?
Oh, my gosh, Eva; you are definitely not alone in your struggle to choose the next book; I’m thankful for my library hold list because it often determines which book I’ll read since I’ll only have it for a limited time – ha! I didn’t realize that these Tana French novels were actually part of a series; thanks for the heads up! I’ve heard great things about her novels but have yet to try one; they sound really good. Hope you have a great weekend!
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I think maybe I have too many library books out and that’s what’s making me anxious.
The books are a part of a series but as far as I can tell (I’ve just read 2) they are all standalone. I haven’t seen any kind of crossover yet. The Secret Place WAS really good but Broken Harbour was barely ok for me.
If you give Tana French another chance, go for The Likeness, which has an unlikely premise but is very good. Faithful Place is also a good one.
I will definitely give her another chance! I will keep those ones in mind.
Oh I really want to read The Tsar of Love and Techno! I will look forward to your thoughts on that one.
I’m about 50 pages from finishing it. It’s beautifully written – Anthony Marra is a talented writer. But it’s missing something for me. I will try and pinpoint what that is when I post about it. Or maybe it will have a spectacular, mind-blowing ending and all will be forgiven?
Stealing post idea 🙂
And I can believe that The Bishop’s Man didn’t quite suite your needs – the author is Canadian after all 🙂 – Tania
It’s a link-up! Join us!
hahahaha HEY! I’ve made serious progress on the CanLit front this year.
You really have, I just couldn’t resist poking fun 🙂 -Tania
Oh, no! Not $.60!
I always used to feel SO guilty about library fines, but now I just look at it as supporting my library. I’ll get the book back on time if there’s a hold on it (and for popular books with long hold lists, I make an effort to get it read and returned well before the due date). But if no one else is waiting to read it… eh. A few cents now and then is sometimes worth the convenience.
hahaha I know, $0.60 is not very much. That’s a good way to look at it, I’d never thought of it like that before!
Haha, I also think of my fines as a good way of supporting the library as long as no one has the book on hold 🙂
I think I liked Constellation a little better than a Tsar of Love and Techno, but they were both wonderful. I hope you end up enjoying it! 🙂