Library Loot - March 27

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Alessandra that encourages bloggers to share the books
they’ve checked out from the library.


I only picked up two items at the library this week,
since I had a bunch at home already:


I, Coriander
by Sally Gardner
Published in 2005.
This children's novel is the April pick
for my main book club.












The Lace Reader
by Brunonia Barry
Published in 2008.
This is a current
Salt Lake County Library
Reader's Choice nominee.




Have you read either of these? What did you think?

The Associate by John Grisham

Published in 2009. 384 pages.


I've read most (but not quite all) of John Grisham's twenty-one novels. The Associate is typical Grisham. I loved every escapist moment of it!

Apparently, the book - which is reminiscent of The Firm - is being made into a film starring Shia LeBeouf.

2009.13

Morality for Beautiful Girlsby Alexander McCall Smith

Originally published in 2001.
Audio book read by Lisette Lecat.


This is the third in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I listened to it on CD while driving to and from the office last month. After having read the first two volumes of the series, it was fun hearing the proper pronunciation of names and places.

I really liked how McCall Smith wove a variety of story lines together, several of which touched on the "morality for beautiful girls" theme. I also like the thought-provoking nature of this set of questions from Reading Group Guides:

One reviewer observed that "for all their apparent simplicity, the Precious Ramotswe books are highly sophisticated" [The Spectator]. In what ways do these books appear simple? What accounts for their underlying sophistication? What do they teach us about ourselves?

I'm now listening to the next book in the series, The Kalahari Typing School for Men.

2009.12

It's That Time of Year

March 20 - June 20
Hosted by Katrina at Callapiddar Days
Spring Reading Thing 2007 was the first reading challenge in which I ever participated. I can't pass up another opportunity to play along! Here's my too-long, subject-to-revision list for Spring Reading Thing 2009:

• The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff


• Adrift by Steven Callahan*


• American Gods by Neil Gaiman


• Bones by Jonathan Kellerman


• Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale


• The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti


• The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly


• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson**


• Cross Country by James Patterson*


• The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer


• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman


• Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult


• Hot Lunch by Alex Bradley


• The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith*


• Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer


• Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde


• Lucky by Alice Sebold*


• March by Geraldine Brooks*


• Pigboy by Vicki Grant


• Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock


• Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and Nathan Hale


• Schooled by Gordon Korman


• The Second Opinion by Michael Palmer


• The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer*


• Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro


• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

*Already started reading.
**Re-read for me.

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon

Mark Your Calendar!
April 18
Beginning at 12:00 GMT

For more information,
check out the read-a-thon blog.

Compulsion by Jonathan Kellerman

Published in 2008. 388 pages.


Compulsion is the twenty-second book in the Alex Delaware series. I continue to enjoy this long-running series, and I'm eager to read the most recent volume, Bones.

2009.11

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Societyby Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Published in 2008. 277 pages.


This epistolary historical fiction novel was delightful! At the same time, it poignantly illustrated the horrors of Germany's occupation of Guernsey Island during World War II. I highly recommend it!

I'd had this book on my to-read list for several months, and I was excited to read it in February to discuss with my book lunch group. Unfortunately, the week of the meeting I was very busy at the office and completely forgot to go, so I didn't get to hear what the others thought. I'm hoping they'll post a thought or two in the comments.

The book's website includes a recipe for Potato Peel Pie as well as other fun and interesting information related to the book.

2009.10