I was going to write something sensible here tonight, but given that I seem to have spent much of the day writing, and breaking my head over academic work at that, I’m only in the mood for something frivolous. Quite a few books have made it into my house lately, through various means, and I thought I’d bring you up to date.
Books I’ve had recommended by other blogging friends:
Family Happiness and Happy All The Time by Laurie Colwin
The Quest for Corvo by A. J. A. Symonds
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Anne Shaffer
The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
Books for the motherhood project:
Misconceptions by Naomi Wolf
In Search of our Mother’s Gardens by Alice Walker
Books I heard about via blogging and had to see what the fuss was all about:
Fierce Attachments by Vivian Gornick
Review copies:
Now You See Him by Eli Gottlieb
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
Literary fiction I picked up cheap:
The Shadow Catcher by Marianne Wiggins
The Orchard by Druscilla Modjeska
More Memoirs/Life-Writing
Toast by Nigel Slater
Almost French by Sarah Turnbull
Surprise presents through the post:
The Spare Room by Helen Garner
Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow (I won it at Stefanie’s site and had forgotten about it)
Tantalising Non-Fiction
Singled Out by Virginia Nicholson (about the post-war glut of women who never married)
Black Diamonds by Catherine Bailey (about a coal mining dynasty)
I give them a little pat and a stroke every time I go past to assure them that I will get around to reading them all soon. Ah, the sight of them piled up is enough to make my heart skip a beat. Sorry technology fans, but a kindle would never lift my spirits the same way.
Tales from the Reading Room 
Read mine! Read mine!
Ah the book pile. You’ve got such interesting titles on here Litlove. You are right, there’s nothing quite like petting the books 🙂
Toby – wow. I am still star-struck if ever a real live author drops by the site. Seeing as you asked so nicely, okay, I will read yours next. It looks amazing – quite unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Iliana – I’m sure it must be the equivalent of stroking a cat or something. I do believe you can build up a positive charge from it, given enough time and engagement!
Ooh! Laurie Colwin! One of my favorite authors! I just reviewed her _Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object_, and I’d love to hear your opinion on some of her others…
What a fun list of books! Sharp Teeth got there really fast. I hope you enjoy it. And I am also looking forward to what you think of Uncommon Reader.
That is an interesting and extenstive book pile. I’m glad to see The Orchid by Drusilla Modjeska in it- it’s a book I’m passionate about and have press-ganged many into reading.
Goodness! I wonder how long it will take you to read them all!
Nice books! I’m glad you got The Quest for Corvo, and I’m VERY curious to see what you think of it!
So true, nothing lifts the spirits like the sight of a book pile patiently waiting to be tackled.
An interesting list! I loved, loved, loved “The Spare Room” and fail to see why it didn’t make the Booker longlist. But I am afraid I hated “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, which was ratehr trite and twee, in my humble opinion.
Aren’t bookstacks wonderful…some day we’ll all have our own cavernous libraries where we can stroll and admire the books, then pick one and settle down into a comfortable chair, stop time if necessary, and read away to our heart’s content. Now wouldn’t that be wonderful? I will be very interested in your thoughts on the Wiggins book, I have never read her but am curious to try.
Damn, I wished I known you’d wanted the Walker, you could have had my copy which has been sitting on my shelf since I first bought and read it twenty odd years ago. This makes me think that I should go through my books more carefully and see what can be passed on to the University Oxfam shop so that people who can make good use of them can have them cheap.
Great list! Please let us know about Wolf’s misconceptions! I heard much about it but had some reservations…
Jenny – I am looking forward to her very much indeed – I sense an Anne Tyler/Alison Lurie-thing going on here, which is good news! Stefanie – thank you so much for sending it! It looks so very unusual and I’m anticipating a really intriguing read. Sarah – I am so glad to hear you say that. It was recommended by a friend who has exquisite taste in books, so I had high hopes for it. Even higher now! Harriet – don’t ask! Depends whether I put my back into it, of course, and how the new term begins. But I would quite like to start them all right now… Dorothy – I just couldn’t resist it after your review. I’m looking forward to it very much indeed. Lisa – I’m glad to find another book fetishist! But seriously, the pile promises so much lovely relaxing, contemplative time. Kimbofo – yes, I saw your review! But I like books with a bit of controversy, so I’m still intrigued. So glad The Spare Room got your vote, though. I’m really looking forward to that one. Verbivore – the library dream sounds absolutely idyllic! And I’m intrigued to read Wiggins – I have several of her novels and must give her a try. Ann – oh what a sweetie you are to think of that. Occasionally I have a cull, but I do find it hard to let books go. Passing them on to new owners who will delight in them is a very good thing to do, though. Smithereens – I’m looking forward to this one, too. I generally like Wolf’s voice and it will be interesting to see what material she brings to the discussion. I will think of you as I read it!
I’ve had this post saved for ages (or at least a week anyway) as I had to see what new books you’ve acquired. What an eclectic list. Many of them are very new to me, though I really liked Singled Out. And I keep hearing about the Garner book, so I really need to check that one out!
Danielle – you know how it is with new books. I want to start them all, right now! It is a rather eclectic list, I agree, and I know you and I both mean, isn’t that lovely? 😉 I’m so looking forward to the Garner. I’d love to know what you think of it too, if you find a copy.
Is there any chance I could interest you in a PDF of the latest issue of GUD Magazine for review? GUD (pronounced “good”) is Greatest Uncommon Denominator, a print/pdf magazine with two hundred pages of literary and genre fiction, poetry, art, and articles. If you’re tempted but print’s much more strongly your thing, that could be arranged as well. 🙂