Library Loot III

Library Loot is a weekly blog event that I recently joined that encourages bloggers to share what books they borrowed from the library that week. To participate, simply make your Library Loot post on your blog and link it using the Mr. Linky link at Marg's blog Reading Adventures or Eva's blog A Striped Armchair. FYI, this week's Mr.Linky is at Marg's.

To tell the truth, I didn't think I was going to borrow anything from the library this week. I'm currently in the middle of reading Branded By Fire by Nalini Singh--which is very, very good so far, by the way--- and then I'm anxious to start reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the very highly anticipated sequel to the amazing book The Hunger Games that I read and reviewed last October. I'm so excited that Catching Fire finally out and very thrilled to see it receiving rave reviews so far. Needless to say, I didn't think I'd have time to read a library book this week-- or next for that matter since the new school year starts up next week in my part of the world and that's always a busy time in our household. But I did have to go back to return Perfect Chemistry, anyway. And I couldn't just leave the library empty handed now, could I?

So here's my library loot:

Open Season by Linda Howard.

Even though this is a 2002 publication, Open Season still happens to come up in circles whenever someone blogs about all time favorite romances. Or when romance readers participate in a Re-Reading Challenge like the one Nath at Books, Books and More Books hosts. It seems I don't come across a lot of reviews for Linda Howard's novels, although the ladies at Book Binge are very good posting reviews of Howard's latest releases, but when someone does review a Linda Howard novel, everyone is a fan. Readers come out of the wood work commenting on their favorite scene in the book or what other Linda Howard novel is their favorite. So when I saw that Nath read and reviewed Open Season for her August Re-read Challenge, I thought it was time I check out this much loved Linda Howard novel. So I went to the library and literally . . . checked it out! The only copy my library had was the Large Print version and uh... when they say Large Print, they mean REALLY LARGE PRINT. I'm not so sure I like it and hope it doesn't interfere with my enjoyment of reading the book. It's kind of odd to read.

In the front vestibule of my library there's a bookshelf of used books for sale, proceeds from which benefit the Friends of the "my town's" Library Association, a group that sponsors all kinds of great programs at the library. I always check out the selection on this sale shelf because you never know what kind of bargain you'll find. Usually I forget to bring money and by the time I come back a few days later, the treasure that I spotted is gone already. But this time I was prepared and look what I found for 50 cents!

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff.

This is a much loved and much talked about young adult novel that was originally published in 2004 and is the winner of several notable literary awards, including The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature from the ALA and The Guardian Award for Children's Fiction. The protagonist is a 15 year old girl named Daisy, a Manhattanite who is sent to the countryside of England to spend the summer with her cousins in a time in the not so distant future. When England is attacked by an unnamed enemy, the country goes to war and Daisy and her cousins are left to get by on their own. How I Live Now sounds like a tense and riveting story with life lessons on how teens view and deal with the realities and terrors of war and how it helps shape a self centered teen into a compassionate young woman. At least that's what it sounds like to me. I'll let you know what it's really like after I've read it.