I realised I haven't posted a book pile in awhile! So I suppose the time has come for my latest confessions. :)
First, a member of bookmooch was running a 3-for-1 deal, and I saw two books that'll be great additions to the R.I.P. II challenge (if I get through everything else early). The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr is described as a gothic take on the supernatural Holmes from Hound of the Baskervilles. I adore Laurie King's take on Sherlock Holmes, and I don't expect Carr to live up to her, but this one sounds much spookier. I'm not a Holmes purist, so I'm just hoping for a good story. :) I also grabbed a *gorgeous* edition of The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, which isan awesome take on Dracula. I read it for the first time last year (borrowed it from my mom), and that I've been meaning to buy a copy ever since. Since I got another free pick, I went with Tracy Chevalier's The Virgin Blue, which I've seen recommended here and there. I'm not sure what to expect, since I really didn't enjoy The Lady and the Unicorn, but a friend who's read both assures me that The Virgin Blue is much better. Plus, that happens to be one of my favourite colours!
I ended up mooching quite a bit this past month. I grabbed War in a Time of Peace by David Halberstam after reading about him at Book Chase. He sounds like a great writer, and this book which sounds really interesting and discusses US military action taken during the Clinton era (i.e.-peacekeeping, a topic near and dear to my heart). My final original R.I.P. II challenge pick is The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons, based on a glowing review at Super Fast Reader (for sure this time!). A bookmooch member and I made a 'trade' off each other's wishlists, so I got Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (a 'prequel' to Jane Eyre). I also managed to grabThe Golden Compass by Philop Pullman in the Knopf edition. I love the series, but I'm picky about covers, so I already had the second. Now I'm just waiting for the third to appear on bookmooch! Finally, The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander, a historical novel of Russia (another topic near and dear to my heart), which I somehow expected to be as big as The Historian. It's gotten good reviews, but I probably wouldn't have mooched it if I knew how small it was!
All of that leaves three 'guilt' books: Midwives by Chris Bohjalian, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I found them on the 3-for-2 tables at B&N; I've been coveting the Ishiguro forever, plan on reading the See soon, and Midwives sounded very interesting.
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10 comments:
I enjoyed Wide Sargasso Sea a lot. The only Tracy Chevalier I've read was Girl with the Pearl Earring and I loved it. I haven't actually heard much about The Virgin Blue, so I look forward to your review
I love Bookmooch and have gotten some really great books through them (including The Historian, which I plan to read for RIP II. Unfortunately, since taking my bookmooch account off of vacation (while I was in China) I am no longer receiving their e-mails! They suggested starting a g-mail account, but I have enough of a hard time keeping up with my blog e-mail and personal e-mail addresses. This stinks!
Stephanie
www.thewrittenword.wordpress.com
I enjoyed The Historian and I'm intrigued by the Caleb Carr--I've wanted to read his books for a while now, so I'm looking forward to reading your take on The Italian Secretary. And I'm currently reading The Wide Sargasso Sea and enjoying it. Lovely pile o' books!
I have Never Let Me Go on my nightstand as we speak. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on it if you get to it before I do. :)
Isn't Bookmooch great? I'll be interested in hearing what you think of Wide Sargasso Sea. It was really popular when I was in college, and I enjoyed it, but it wasn't what I was expecting...
Nymeth, I'm glad you enjoyed Wide Sargasso Sea!
Stephanie, I'm sorry about the e-mail problem. :( I use gmail for everything; that's weird that it won't work. I'm so jealous of you getting to read The Historian for the first time. I loved it. :)
Sarah, I'll let you know what I think!
Andi, I'm sure you'll get to it before me! I have sooo many books for challenges, doesn't leave much free time.
Gentle Reader, Bookmooch is amazing! Glad to see another vote for Wide Sargasso Sea. :)
Nice pile of books! You rock!
I just read Wide Sargasso Sea this year - an interesting book. I did really like it. I'll be looking forward to your thoughts!
The Italian Secretary is an excellent book!!
Bybee, *blush* I rock? Awesome! lol You rock more-I'm still waiting for a teetering pile of all those books you got. :)
Verbibore, I'm excited to read it. :)
Heather, oh-I'm glad someone read it annd liked it! I'll try to get it read soon. :)
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