Wednesday, September 2, 2009

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.


19 comments:

  1. Hi Christine! I really should join this since half my reading does come from the library, but I'm feeling lazy and I have a blog post of my own overdue. But I had to also comment about Open Season. Great book and I hope you like it. I borrowed it from the library ages ago and then just a couple of weeks ago found a copy of it in the Friends of the Library bin, so I had to "rescue" it for my keeper shelf. Oh, and I end up borrowing large print books all the time. They're great treadmill reading and my library will keep them longer than they will MM romances, so I often find older titles only in the large print section.

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  2. Oooh - great idea, Phyl! Large print for the treadmill. I never would have thought of that! Dang. No excuses now.

    Christine, Open Season is a great read. Enjoy it!

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  3. It's a law of physics that one can't leave the library empty handed! I had to get Agnes Grey in large print; usually, it takes me 20 pages to adjust and then I'm fine. Of course, then I go back to normal books and feel like I can't read them at all! And what a great score for only 50 cents!

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  4. I am only catching up to the buzz for The Hunger Games but I look forward to what you're going to think about its sequel; Catching Fire!!

    I once bought a used book from the States and when I opened up the book it was a LP format and I was going WTF? I was under the impression it might be for people whose vision is bad or something? I never got the hang of it and found out later there are one or two publishers out there who release in LP.

    Hope you enjoy your Library Loot Christine :)

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  5. I am very excited about reading Catching Fire soon!

    I really like large print books, mainly because they are much easier on the eyes for me. Of course, if I went and got my eyes tested and got the correct strength glasses then all books would be easier!

    I've only read one Linda Howard book. I liked it, but haven't really been all that inspired to pick up any more!


    Phyl, we would love to have you join in on Library Loot!

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  6. Looks good, enjoy :D
    Oh yes I so need catching Fire too, can't wait

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  7. Hi Phyl! You don't have to go into as much detail as I did in my Library Loot post. I'm just really chatty, I guess. You can simply link a list... that's still fun! :)

    Hi Lori! Yeah... no excuses now! And see what I mean? Another fan of Open Season comes out of the woodwork! LOL!

    Hi Eva! I admit that I have left the library empty handed a time or two... but I didn't like it.

    Hi Leontine! You should definitely read Hunger Games. It's so intense! And yes, the LP is for those with limited eyesight, so it is good that they're published, but kinda weird for the regular-sighted folk. I'm sure I'll deal with it just fine.

    Hi Marg! I read Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard last summer and thought it was fun enough to give the author another try. We'll see...

    Hi Blodeuedd! Did you buy Catching Fire yet? There's a giveaway at BookSmugglers, Marg's blog (see above), and at Anna's blog. Maybe you can win a copy! :)

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  8. Wow that How I Live Now sounds incredibly wonderful. I think my YA reading has doubled since you started doing reviews and blurbs. That's a good thing.

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  9. I can NEVER leave the library without a book in hand. The Linda Howard book sounds really interesting.

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  10. I really need to read that Linda Howard. I have quite a few of hers on my TBR pile.

    I love looking through the books for sale at the library. It's amazing what you can find there. Ours range from 50 cents to $2. Hard to beat. :)

    I'm going to see if my library has "How I Live Now" and get it for my teen daughter. It sounds really good.

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  11. And I couldn't just leave the library empty handed now, could I?

    LOL! That's my problem too :) Although I try to avoid it as my library hold list is now at 99! GULP! And one of those is The Hunger Games *grin*

    And I loved Open Season. I am so Daisy it isn't funny :(

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  12. i luv libraries. :)

    nice loot!

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  13. Open Season is FANTASTIC! I really like Linda Howard's books and this is one of my favorites. Her Blair Mallory series is nice too.

    I actually have all of her books, if you're interested in others you can come over and get what you like.

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  14. How I Live Now is on my wish list -- what a great find for 50 cents! Enjoy your books!

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  15. So how are you finding Open Season so far, Christine? I hope you still enjoy it. I think it's cool for people who has problem to be able to read books... LOL, one day, that might be us ^_^;

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  16. Oh, I LOVED Open Season. It is one of my keepers. Ms. Howard's books from that time are among my favorites (OS, Mr. Perfect, After the Night.)

    I can't wait to hear what you think.

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  17. Hello friends! So sorry it's taken me so long to acknowledge your lovely comments . . .

    Tracy ~ I'm so glad to have inspired you to add more YA to your reading! Not only is reading YA good for us... it'll be great for you to share with your daughters soon enough!

    Samantha ~ Those rare times I leave the library empty handed, it's only because we had books that day and I was rushing in moments before they closed to drop them off before I'd get smacked with late fees and had no time to check out something else.

    Leslie ~ Thanks for checking out my loot! I love that used bookshelf at my library. I'm so glad I remembered my wallet this time. Last time they had all three Lord of the Rings trilogy books for $3 each but I had no money! I was so mad. That would have been a great addition to the family bookshelf.

    orannia ~ Your library hold list is at 99? LOL! I hope you get to HUNGER GAMES soon! It's soooo good!

    You're just like Daisy? Awwww... I adore her!

    sula ~ Hiya! I luv libraries, too! Thanks for checking out my loot. =)

    Mariana ~ Hi! OMG, I'm so sorry!! I owe you an email from weeks ago. *blushes*

    Thanks for the heads up on her Blair Mallory series. I'm completely unfamiliar with her work other than MR. PERFECT and OPEN SEASON, so I'm definitely open to recommendations on her other works.

    avisannschild ~ Thanks for stopping by. I hope to read HOW I LIVE NOW soon... and I hope you get to it soon as well.

    nath ~ I finished OPEN SEASON and posted a review earlier today. I really enjoyed it... the romance was adorable.

    Shannon ~ I'll have to add AFTER THE NIGHT to my Linda Howard queue.

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  18. Hi there! I just discovered your blog and am now a follower. I absolutely LOVE Meg Rosoff. All of her books have been favorites of mine. How I live Now was the first that I read. LOVED it!

    I look forward to reading more from you.

    Michelle

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  19. Hi Michelle!
    What a cute avatar! :)
    I'm glad you found my blog and thank you for following me! How I Live Now will be my first Meg Rosoff novel and I'm really looking forward to it. So many YA readers love it.

    I'm off to visit your blog....

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