Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Library Loot XII

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. This week's link up is at Eva's.


I have an interesting mix of library loot this week. Not just fiction! I always browse the new release section at the library and it recently dawned on me that the entire section always featured fiction titles. I knew the library had to be getting some new non fiction, too, so I walked around the corner and lo and behold! There was a whole other shelf of new nonfiction. I saw several books there that interested me, one of which was a very big and very heavy book, so I only had room in my arms for a few of them. I'll save the others for another day. So without further ado, I present this week's library loot.



Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris
Shakespeare's Trollop by Charlaine Harris
Shakespeare's Counselor by Charlaine Harris

These are the last three books in the Lily Bard Mystery series by Charlaine Harris. After reading and absolutely loving the first two books in the series earlier in the month, I couldn't wait to get the rest of the books. I'm just going to be so disappointed when my Lily Bard reading experience is over. I will miss Lily terribly, I think.

Ironically, I will have picked up and read the entire Lily Bard Mystery series from my local library, all the while I have the first SEVEN Sookie Stackhouse books untouched on my personal bookshelves. I most definitely plan on reading the Sookie books, and hope that I like Sookie as much as I like Lily. For those of you who have read both the Sookie and Lily books, how do they compare in writing style and tone?

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

This is young adult novel by author Catherine Fisher, recently released for the first time in the US. I only learned of this book recently and was actually under the misimpression that it is a brand new book, but it is actually only a new release in the US, having been published in the UK in 2007. Incarceron is a fantasy novel about haunting and fascinating prison. There's a boy on the inside of the prison and there's a girl on the outside who are able to communicate via a key that the boy has found.

Here is the book trailer for the novel that I first saw on Carolyn Crane's blog, The Thrillionth Page, a while ago.



It doesn't quite tell you a whole lot about the book and it's premise, but the graphics and sound effects are definitely riveting enough to make you want to find out more, don't you think?


The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech
Children's fiction, Gr. 4-6

I was actually all checked out and heading out the door when this little book caught my attention on the "What's New In Children's Books" shelf by the entrance. I've read two young reader books by Sharon Creech in the past-- Walk Two Moons which was awarded the Newberry Medal in 1995 and Bloomability, both really great books. Plus she has written several other books that have received various awards and honors. So I picked up Unfinished Angel and read the inside flap and knew I had to read this seemingly charming tale. The story takes place in a village in the Swiss Alps, in which a young angel with no mission meets American girl and together they save a group of homeless orphans. Sounds sweet with a great message for kids. My fifth grader is reading this one, too.

Now for my nonfiction loot!

The Steamy Kitchen by Jaden Hair

So I'm browsing the new nonfiction shelves, and this title pops out at me. Turns out Jaden Hair had just started following me on Twitter last week. I swear, she followed me first! Well, I mean, she follows about 10,000 other people, too, but hey, a girl can feel flattered that a cool, professional, published recipe developer, food columnist and food photographer decided to follow her, right? Right. Of course, I didn't hesitate to grab the cookbook and check it out. Well, I brought it home and have been checking out and man oh man are there some really yummy recipes in this book that look easy to prepare, too. The desserts? Really creative and really... I want to try each and every one. I just may have to purchase this cookbook for my own library.

You can visit Jaden Hair at her website and blog at Steamy Kitchen. .



Sew Darn Cute by Jenny Ryan

How could I not pull this book off the shelf with a title like that? I have a sewing machine and do plug it in and sew something very easy now and then. Err... definitely more then than now, but I gotta say this little book is inspiring me to send my machine in for a tune up. It's chock full of projects that are, well... sew darn cute! You can take a look at what's inside at amazon.com and it's even on at a bargain sale price of $7.97 right now. Sew awesome!




Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts by The Martha Stewart Living Magazine.

While I am not a huge fan of the woman herself, I do love some of her publications. I try to think of all the people she has on staff who are smart, creative, hard working and hopefully law abiding people who are trying to make a living doing something that they love and that's why I support them by buying some of the Martha Stewart Organization media. Okay then. So I saw this clunker of a book on the new release shelf and did a quick flip through and had to borrow it straight away. It is what it says it is. An encyclopedia of many, if not most, of the really awesome crafts from A-Z that have graced the pages of the Martha Stewart Living Magazine over the years. I recognize many of them from magazines I have browsed at the library and bookstores over the years, as well as those issues I've bought just for the instructions of the said crafts that have caught my eye. I haven't gone through every page yet, but I plan to. As usual, there are plenty of gorgeous glossy photos of the supplies, the tools, the step by step instructions and the beautiful finished products. Hopefully I'll get inspired to try some of the crafts, if not, I'm going to at least make a little list of the ones I want to try someday and then at least I'll know where to find the instructions when I'm ready.

And that's my sort of eclectic mix of library loot for this week.

Is there anything in this week's loot that you want to hear more about?

Let me know and I'll try to do a future post on it.



20 comments:

  1. I, too, picked up some library books yesterday. Most of mine are YA. The cute sewing book looks adorable.
    I've heard of Incarceron, but wasn't sure about it. Let me know, please.
    Hope you have a great day and enjoy all your books.

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  2. I've got to read the Lily Bard series if you are enjoying them this much! I've read the Harper Connelly series by Harris and have really enjoyed it. Enjoy your finds!

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  3. I do love Jaden's recipes! I hope you enjoy her cookbook.

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  4. You read and loved the first to Lily books!?! YAY! I'm so happy. And I know what you mean. I seriously mourned the end of that series. Though it is, of course, nice when it doesn't drag on indefinitely.

    The Lily and Sookie books are quite different in tone. The Shakespeare books are darker, I think, and also less flamboyant what with no paranormal characters, etc. The Sookies are lighter and funnier, though they grow more serious as the series goes on. I'll be interested to see what you think of the end of the Lily series and the Sookies as well when you get to them.

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  5. K so I go to the library like once every few weeks. Maybe I should post when I go...

    Then again I barely read the ones I have on the TBR pile so reading library ons are just as hard LOL

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  6. Brandy: I checked out your library loot. Looks like a great selection that ought to keep you busy for a few days. ;)

    I'll definitely let you know about Incarceron when I get to it. Hopefully by the end of the month. I'm very intrigued.

    Samantha: Definitely check out the Lily Bard series. As Angie said in her comment, the series is a little dark. Or maybe somber is a better word. Hmm. That's not quite right either. It's serious and sometimes very sad, but it's also hopeful and empowering to follow Lily.

    Linda: I think I will definitely enjoy Jaden's cookbook. If only I can decide what to make first! Do you have a favorite recipe of hers?

    Angie: Yes, I truly LOVED the first to Lily books. I posted about them in my last Library Loot post earlier in the month when I blamed... errr... named you for recommending the series a while ago on your blog. ;)

    Thanks for the insiders scoop on Lily books vs. Sookie books. That's good to know.

    Sarai: I'm actually more timely about reading library books because there's a deadline. Especially the new releases that are only 14 day books... because if there's someone on the list waiting for the book... you can't renew it! The pressure!!! LOL

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  7. Looks like fun! I love browsing my library's new nonfiction releases. :)

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  8. Oh, I love Lily Bard! Did you know she makes a cameo in one of the Sookie books? (#4 or so) I also love her Aurora Teagarden and Harper Connelly books, as well.

    I actually saw the book trailer for Incarceron at the movie theater when I went to see Wolfman!

    Enjoy your loot! :-)

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  9. Thanks, Eva! :)

    Renee, I should have known you'd be another reader and lover of Lily Bard! You have great taste like me! LOL! ;) That is VERY cool that Lily has a cameo in one of the Sookie books. I'll look forward to that.

    I have the feeling I'll end up getting to ALL of Ms. Harris' series at some point. I'm going to put you on the spot and ask you to rank the series by tone.. from the more serious to the more lighthearted. Can you do that for me?

    And also, a book trailer in the movie theater? Wow. I love that idea!

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  10. Christine I am curious about incarceron, looks like a good thrill. Seems the topic is not widely used by many novelists which makes it refreshing. I look forward on your review on this book.

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  11. Oh, let me know what you think of Incarceron. It looks interesting :D

    You're lucky, your library seems to carry out a lot of books of different genres :D

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  12. Hmm...In tone:
    1. Harper Connelly series is the darkest. Both the heroine and the subject matter.

    2. Lily Bard series is next. She's always struck me as sort of a melancholy heroine.

    3. Sookie/Southern Vampire. Still has dark elements (how can you not with vampires and shifters?) but also the most overtly funny. I love the sense of humor in this series!

    4. Aurora Teagarden series. The lightest, imo. Murder, yes, but more in the style of a cosy mystery.


    Yes, finally a good use for book trailers! Believe me, it was much better than some of the trailers they showed.

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  13. I have read all the Sookie books, and all the Harper Connelly books but haven't read any of the Lily Bard books or the other series!

    Enjoy your loot.

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  14. Natalie: I'm very curious about Incarceron, too. I'm going to try to get to it very soon. I have so much that I want to be reading right this instant, it's almost dizzying.

    *cue the blonde jokes. Go on. I know y'all want to. ;p*


    nath: Another vote for knowing more about Incarceron. I'll move it up the "Read This Instant" pile. ;)

    My library is actually very good. I suppose I can't complain about the romance.. they do get in a fair amount of hardcover new romance.

    Renee: Thank you!!! That's exactly the kind of information I was looking for on Harris' different series!! Yay! :)

    Marg: I recommend you try the Lily Bard books. Let me know if you do! Enjoy your loot, as well!

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  15. I'm interested in reading both the Lily Bard series and the Harper Connelly series -- didn't get to either yet. Nath's right, you have a great library and I'm jealous. :)

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  16. robbie: Why, thank you! I appreciate your comment. :)

    Hilcia: I think you'd like the Lily Bard series, Hils. As for the Harper Connelly series, maybe we can read it at the same time so we can discuss it! .... I feel another challenge coming on.... LOL kidding. Well, maybe for 2011 if we don't get to it this year. ;)

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  17. Oh! If you liked the Lily Bard series you will really like the Sookie books. Yes, they are different in ways, but you can't beat Harris' writing it's just great!

    I can't wait to read Incarceron as well, it just looks so intriguing!

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  18. The1stdaughter : Hello! :)
    I have to start out by saying that you have such a beautiful avatar. How sweet is that? Did you photograph that yourself?

    Thanks for the encouragement with Harris' series. I keep picking up the next Lily Bard book in my pile of loot, but I'm not ready to start it yet. I've got at least three other books I want to finish first.

    I hope to get to Incarceron soon, too! Ack! I need more hours in the day!

    Thanks for stopping by! :)

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  19. Oh, very interesting and ecletic range this week - I like :)

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  20. Thanks, orannia!

    By the way, everyone, the Jaden Hair cookbook, The Steamy Kitchen is fantastic. yum yum.

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