Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Library Loot X

Library Loot is a weekly blog event 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.


This is my first library loot in over a month, and once again my list is very short. I usually only borrow a couple of books at a time so I feel less pressure to read my choices too fast before they're due again, especially since I have plenty of books on my own bookshelves that I want to read, too.


Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

This young adult novel is the debut novel by the authors. I sought it out after picking up on some really great feedback in the world of book blogging and was excited that my library was just processing it when I went looking for it, so I'm the first patron to borrow it from my library. Pretty neat.

I have to say I was surprised at it's door stopper size (I love that expression that I learned from orannia of Walkabout and her Big Book Challenge for 2010)... especially for a young adult novel. Beautiful Creatures comes in at 563 pages, which may not sound so huge to a lot of readers, but most of the books I read, both young adult and adult fiction, hover around the 300 page mark.

Speaking of the 300 mark, I happen to be at page 341 of Beautiful Creatures at the moment and I have to say that it is very, very good so far. One thing, though, is that usually by the half way mark of a book, whether you consciously think about it or not, you make some kind of connection between the title of the book and its content. I haven't quite gotten that yet and it has stumped me a bit. The subtle artwork suits the book very well... I'm just not so sure if I think "beautiful creatures" is a fitting phrase to describe the book. I'm not going to worry about it too much, though, because the story has me entranced and that's what's most important. Besides, I still have another 222 pages to go to the end. Maybe I'll be enlightened. :)

Beautiful Creatures is a contemporary story with intriguing and realistic characters, strong connections to its Deep South setting and the community's Civil War history, and dark, supernatural world.


Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts

This is the second book in Nora Roberts' latest contemporary romance series called The Bride Quartet. The series focuses on four childhood friends who have formed a wedding service called Vows and each novel is the love story of each of the four friends. The first book, Vision in White is Mackensie's story and she is the photographer for Vows. Bed of Roses is Emma's story and she is the florist for Vows.

I love how the titles are all wedding themed as well as indicative of the lead character's profession. Very clever.

And isn't this book cover just gorgeous? Even the pages of the novel are beautiful. It's obvious a lot of careful thought and planning went into making these novels as beautiful and elegant to look at as they are to read!

I enjoyed Vision in White very much and am looking forward to reading Bed of Roses. I actually already read the first chapter, but got pulled into Beautiful Creatures, which is due back to the library sooner, so will finish that first before I pick up Bed of Roses again.


What's your latest library loot?

Have you ever read a book whose title didn't fit the story?

22 comments:

  1. I loved Beautiful Creatures and I almost missed the meaning of the title it was so subtle.

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  2. I read Bed of Roses first before I got my hands on Vision in White. Some people think both books are dry and weak but I disagree to them all. Vision in White inspired me to buy my first DSLR. When I get inspired I do crazy things but I really don't get inspired that often anyway so I'm ok. I loved both books so far and am looking forward to the next one coming up this June (i think) now with the story of Laurel, although I have learned to like Parker more than the rest of them. Or I just happen to like Ms. Roberts in general. Or I just can't make up my mind...But I hope Christine you'll finish and like Bed of Roses.

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  3. I liked Bed of Roses, but not as much as Vision in White. The excerpt in the back for the next book has already piqued my interest. I picked up two books from the library yesterday. *G*

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  4. I have Beautiful Creatures on my TBR list and looking forward to reading it. I have lots of library loot this week - I'm currently reading Magic Strikes (Ilona Andrews) and have Fragile (Shiloh Hunter) and Mystic Horseman (Kathleen Eagle) to read. Corambis (Sarah Monette) is also there, but I need to write the review of The Mirador first :)

    As for titles - mostly they are quite obvious, so the subtle one really require brain racking :)

    And thank you for the shout out :)

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  5. Great books. I hadn't even thought to order Beautiful Creatures from the library so I went on and put my name down for it next after I read your post. Thanks! Hope you enjoy them. I already bought Bed of Roses.

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  6. You got two books that I've got on my library list too. I'm in the #1 spot for Beautiful Creatures so I should get that next week. I had no idea it was so big!

    Over the weekend I got In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. Now to find time to read them before they're due back. :)

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  7. I am enjoying this series by Nora Roberts so far, mainly for the friendships between the women. It is nothing like with what I have with my friends but I love the feel of it!

    And yes, the cover is gorgeous. In my opinion, NR lucks out with the covers most of the time. I guess the publishers figure that she is going to have a huge sales regardless of what the over looks like.

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  8. Wow, 500 pages for a YA... that's big :D But then, you're more than half-way done, so it's good :D

    I hope you enjoy Bed of Roses :D

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  9. I'm sure I've read a book that didn't fit its title but I'm blanking on it right now. My post is here.

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  10. I agree about those covers for the Roberts books, they're just yummy. I'm so glad you enjoyed Vision in White and I hope you enjoy Bed of Roses as well. ViW was my favorite of the two, but I can't wait for Laurel's story. :)

    Great picks!

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  11. Hello all! Thanks so much for stopping by yesterday to check out my library loot. I had a busy and exhausting day yesterday--and this morning, actually, so I'm just getting around to replying to your lovely comments now.

    Caitlin, if I still don't pick up on the title meaning by the end of the book, I'll be in touch with you! ;) Adorable profile pic by the way.

    Linda, Thanks! I'll be by to check out your loot, too! Love your new(ish) profile pic, too! I love wedding photos. :)

    Natalie, I agree with you on Nora's Bride Quartet... at least so far as I've only read VISION OF WHTE so far. I'm enjoying the friendships between the four women, too. I also love following their business and learning about each woman's specialty. And the romance is so sweet and realistic, right?

    By the way, I have a DSLR, too. I've had it over a year, but I'm still learning how to use it. We'll have to compare notes.

    Brandy, did you see the cover of the next book yet? It's up on amazon: Savor the Moment. Looks delicious!

    orannia, I'm glad you're going to read BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, too! How do you like MAGIC STRIKES so far? errr.... maybe you finished it already. Unlike me, you're a fast reader.

    Alaine, Excellent! From what I've seen on your blog, you and I have similar tastes in YA fiction, so I think you'll really like BEAUTIFUL CREATURES.

    Leslie, another soon to be reader of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES! It is a big book, but the pages actually do fly by. When I get around to sitting still to read, that is. ;)

    I've heard a lot of great things about WINTERGIRLS. I should at that to my library queue. I think I even saw it at the library the last time I was there.

    Marg, I'm enjoying this series by NR for the same reason. It's very girl-oriented fun!

    I agree that NR will have huge sales no matter what her covers look liked, but it is clear that a lot of thought and planning went into the Bride Quartet. The whole package is quite elegant.

    nath, I predict that I'm going to enjoy BED OF ROSES. Nora is nothing if not consistent, right?

    pussreboots, Hi! Thanks for stopping by. I'll come by to check out your library loot shortly!

    Hilcia, I'm looking forward to Laurel's story, too! Parker's story is going to be interesting. I'm imagining her romance will be a bit more .... entertaining? She comes across as a bit of a control freak and resistant to letting someone in. What do you think?

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  12. Oops. It actually helps if you include the link in your html. *sigh*

    Savor the Moment, Book 4 in The Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts.

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  13. I have got to read Beautiful Creatures. . . I have had a copy for ages and somehow have not worked up the courage to crack it open.

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  14. I can't wait to read Beautiful Creatures!!

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  15. Janssen & Aths, thanks visiting and checking out my library loot! :)

    I finished BEAUTIFUL CREATURES yesterday and I loved it! And the meaning of the title is revealed... and while Caitlin is right... that it is subtle as in it is mentioned only once... it was an unexpected and also rather poignant revelation. Emotional even.

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  16. I can't believe it!!! BEAUTIFUL CREATURES is still out at my Local Library. This is killing me............ My hands are itching of going straight to Barnes and Noble. Should I just buy it? No? Yes? No? Yes? No? No? Yes?...geeee

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  17. Natalie, LOL! I admire your hesitation. Like I mentioned on your blog the other day, I am trying very hard to take advantage of my library whenever I can.... largely to save money that I can spend on paperbacks that I just know my library will never get. So I kind of want to tell you to hang in there and wait... but at the same time... I don't know. It's a great read. Clearly I'm no help to you whatsoever. LOL.

    If you do decide to borrow from your library, you should definitely have them put a hold on it for you. Sometimes there is a long list of people waiting for a book and if you don't get on it... it'll never be your turn! I waited almost two months for BED OF ROSES!

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  18. I am enjoying reading about your all your reads. And I was relieved to read that you enjoy young adult novels. I do, too!!!!! I am inspired to try and read more this year.

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  19. I'm about 30 pages from the end of Magic Strikes and it's brilliant IMO! I am such a fan girl now! Have written a post for later this week in which I wax lyrical :)

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  20. Hi Shawna,
    I think there are a ton of adults who read YA fiction these days. What's your most recent read? Anything you would recommend?

    orannia, 30 pages from the end of MAGIC STRIKES? What are you doing here? Go finish!!! I look forward to you waxing lyrical over it. :)

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  21. Sorry Shawn... I just realized I misspelled your name in my previous comment. :o)

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