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Last week was a busy book week, making for a long Mailbox Monday post.
Two came in the mail:
The Ice Chorus by Sarah Stonich (a novel set in Ireland that sounds really, really good -- I am excited about this one).
A Century of November by W. D. Wetherell (they are making this into a movie and I want to read it before I see it).
Also, I celebrated the spirit of Independence Day (and Friday off work) with a shopping spree at a couple of Portland's independent book stores, Second Glance Books (also on facebook, here) and Broadway Books. I went in to use the gift certificates I won by participating in Reading Local's monthly contest, but ended up spending more than my contest winnings -- that's the whole point, right?
From Broadway Books, I got:
Through the Children's Gate: A Home in New York by Adam Gopnik (I loved his Paris to the Moon book)
Alice Waters and Chez Panisse: The Romantic, Impractical, Often Eccentric, Ultimately Brilliant Making of a Food Revolution by Thomas McNamee
The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby (which I have wanted to read since enjoying High Fidelity so much)
60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Including the Coast, Mount Hood, St. Helens, and the Santiam River by Paul Gerald
and my favorite:
Super Sunday in Newport: Notes From My First Year in Town by Matt Love.
At Second Glance Books, I found many books on my Must Read lists and became instant best book buddies with Rachelle, the friendliest book seller in town:
The Horse's Mouth by Joyce Cary (on Anthony Burgess's list of favorites)
Small Island by Andrea Levy (winner of the Orange Prize and the Costa Book of the Year award)
Thinks . . . by David Lodge
Home Truths by David Lodge
A Cup of Light by Nicole Mones (because I really liked Lost in Translation)
The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald
Jump-Off Creek by Molly Gloss (on my Oregon Books list)
Middleman and Other Stories by Bharati Mukherjee (National Book Critics Circle award winner)
The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem (because I loved his National Book Critics Circle award winner, Motherless Brooklyn)
I'm bowled over by all the books - and such good and interesting ones. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI think you'll really like A Horse's Mouth - I loved it & my father, a painter & sculptor, says it's got the best description of what the world looks like through a painter's eyes that he's ever read.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you found a lot of good reads. The Book Shop just went on my list. Happy reading:)
ReplyDeleteI am very excited about all the books. Since I used my contest winnings for almost all of it, I am extra excited!
ReplyDeleteHoly cow! You got a lot of great looking books last week. It looks like you had a lot of fun shopping.
ReplyDeleteAs to the TBR list, be sure to find a DVD of THE CAINE MUTINY when you finish Wouk's book. And THE REIVERS -- it's almost unFaulknerian, but I loved it.
ReplyDeleteAs to the TBR list, be sure to find a DVD of THE CAINE MUTINY when you finish Wouk's book. And THE REIVERS -- it's almost unFaulknerian, but I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI've had Jonathan Lethem on my radar for awhile. My husband read one of his books and liked it quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteI finished one of my books for the challenge (Gilead)! Now I need to sit down and WRITE about it.
Wow! That's quite a collection! You'll be busy for awhile! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteOoh, there's several books you've gotten that I want to read! The Ice Chorus, A Cup of Light and The Book Shop all look great! Enjoy your books!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to read another book by Jonathan Lethem after I read Motherless Brooklyn. Have you read any of his other works?
ReplyDeleteLooks like some good thought-provoking books! I love books like the "60 Hikes Withing 60 Miles" one.
ReplyDeleteNice list, and you are right, Rachelle is the nicest bookseller in town.
ReplyDeleteTerri -- Can't wait for your review!
ReplyDeleteGary -- come about August, when it finally warms up in Oregon, I get in a mood to read Faulkner. Something about the light? :) Maybe this year it will be The Rievers.
Colin -- Motherless Brooklyn is the only one I've read, but it knocked me off my pins. I'm looking forward to more.
Hey Gilion. Thanks again, and what a pleasure to meet you.
ReplyDeleteYou really did get some great stuff. I have even read a couple of them! Like most everyone else, I read Motherless Brooklyn first, then Fortress of Solitude. They are two very different books. I have since read several of his, and I really like him as a writer.
Oh, and Tripp...Awww. You are so nice! I have the nicest customers. I do love selling books!