Wednesday 3 February 2010

Library Loot


I really must stop requesting books from the library ... but there are so many that catch my eye and it is better than buying them!

In this week's visit I collected:

Bone Black by bell hooks: a memoir by the famous feminist, I'm interested in hooks' thoughts on her growing up during racial segregation.

Vanessa and Virginia by Susan Sellers: as soon as the Not the TV Book Group reading list was announced, this title caught my eye and I was delighted that my library had it in stock (I was able to pick it up from the stacks as opposed to requesting it, which happens less often than I would like). Published by the Two Ravens Press, this looks like a book that I will love and I'm excited to read it, being a fan of Virginia Woolf.

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi: I enjoyed The Icarus Girl and had Oyeyemi's follow-up novels on my wish-list but when Eva compared the psychological horror of White is for Witching with Shirley Jackson, I knew I had to read it immediately.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett: who hasn't raved about The Help? It's about time that I read this one.

Have you read any of these or intend to?

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Marg encouraging library use and its promotion.

42 comments:

verity said...

Library loot is wonderful, especially as its free :) My eye was caught by the title White is for witching, and I remember enjoying The Icarus girl, so will look forward to hearing about that.

Rachel (Book Snob) said...

I like the look of ALL of these! It's a shame my library stocks so little...though when I move, the library there is tons better so I will be able to borrow a wider range. I'd love to read The Help and Vanessa and Virginia...enjoy your loot!

Anonymous said...

I'm really excited that you picked up Vanessa and Virginia, especially as it was one of my choices for the Not the TV Book Group. Do join us for the discussion when it rolls around!

Astrid (Mrs.B) said...

The only one I've heard of is the Help and I'm about to start reading it tonight. Yes, I've also heard good things about it.

Jackie (Farm Lane Books) said...

I'm really pleased to see that you have a copy of The Help. I hope that you enjoy it!

White is for Witching intrigues me too - I look forward to your review.

JoAnn said...

Hurray for The Help!! Great loot, Claire.

Paperback Reader said...

Verity, and it only takes up space temporarily! Another plus ;).

Rachel, I'm glad that you are moving to an area with a better library. I can request books from any of the libraries in my borough and ILL with any other London library can also be arranged, if needs be.

I'm really looking forward to The Help and Vanessa and Virginia.

Kirsty, I will definitely be joining in the discussion. As soon as I saw the list I checked my library online for Vanessa & Virginia! I have high hopes for it.

Mrs. B. I look forward to hearing your thoughts! It will be a little longer until I have a chance to read it although I quite fancy the thought of fully losing myself in it.

Jackie, I requested The Help after reading your review! I hope I love it.

White is for Witching is garnering some attention across the blogsophere at the moment so I'm curious and eager to read it.

JoAnn, The Help is one of those bookish phenomenons, isn't it? A book that everyone is delighted to see appear in a post; I hope I enjoy it.

Anonymous said...

I've been seeing White is for Witching on quite a few blogs this last week and am quite intrigued. Looking forward to hearing what you think of it!

Am trying to get my hands on a copy of Vanessa and Virigia, but my library, unlike yours, does not have it in the stacks right now. Let's hope I can get it in time for the Not the TV Book Group discussion!

StuckInABook said...

As you might have spotted, I too got White is for Witching out of the library the other day - want to start it now, but really should finish a)my essay b)my bookgroup book... we'll see.

And, of course, I love Vanessa and Virginia - hope you do too!

christina said...

I haven't read that hooks book in particular, but remember being rather impressed with her words in college. Such a powerful woman!

Darlene said...

I haven't read any of your library loot titles but Vanessa and Virginia would tempt me most.

serendipity_viv said...

I have White is For Witching too in my library pile. In fact it has been there since before Christmas. Luckily, my library allows me to keep renewing it. I hope to read it in the next couple of weeks. I absolutely loved The Icarus Girl too.

Anonymous said...

Excellent library loot! I especially love bell hooks though I haven't read bone black and I have a copy of The Help which I can't wait to read and to hear what you think of it.

Buried In Print said...

These all look and sound terrific. I'm hanging my head for not having gotten to The Help yet either. The bell hooks book that stands out in my reading memory is Wounds of Passion (about her writing life). Hope you enjoy these!

Annabel Gaskell said...

I read White is for Witching last autumn, it was I felt overambitious and could have been better - however many others have loved it... (It did have a lovely cover though, and there's a great video on the website for it).

Pam said...

I've read The Help and thought it was wonderful. It came just after reading Small Island. Another book about racial issues but from a completely different aspect. Our library here is fairly small so I have to be very patient when new books are out. Still waiting for Wolf Hall but can't afford to buy them all so must be patient!

verity said...

The minus is when you end up having to buy a copy because you can't bear to part with it.

verity said...

The minus is when you end up having to buy a copy because you can't bear to part with it.

Paperback Reader said...

Claire, I hope that you manage to obtain a copy of Vanessa and Virginia in time! That's frustrating. I hope to share my thoughts on White is for Witching soon as it has been intriguing me too.

Simon, I did notice and look forward to your thoughts! Finish the essay and book group book first though.

I'm trying to keep my expectations in check for V&V but I think I'm going to love it...

Christina, I haven't read any hooks yet! I have Feminism is for Everybody on my TBR and have wanted to read her for so long.

Darlene, Vanessa and Virginia is the type of book that I think you would like but I'll be more sure once I have read it!

Vivienne, aren't renewals a wonderful thing?! I have books from the library from before Christmas too ... :s

Danielle, I'm looking forward to (hopefully) passing on my recommendations of both.

Paperback Reader said...

Buried in Print, thanks for the bell hooks recommendation - I've added that to my wish-list! I want to read Reel to Real and Ain't I a Woman too.

Annabel, thanks for the reservation about White is for Witching as now I'll go in with lower expectations to save disappointment. I'll check out the video too!

Pam, I have Small Island on my TBR too as have heard such great things. I hope your requests come in soon and that you enjoy Wolf Hall! We can't, indeed, buy them all.

Verity, it's a huge minus and I have the feeling that will be the case with Vanessa & Virginia...

stujallen said...

i am always so thankful for derbyshire wonderful library system ,very rarely is there a book i can t get through them ,your looks like an amazing haul

Cat said...

I loved The Help and hope you will too.
The other titles I don't recognise but the White is for Witching sounds interesting.

Enjoy your reading!

Paperback Reader said...

Stu, a great library system is one of life's essential amenities to be grateful for.

Hi Cat, thanks for commenting. I think I'll have to pick up The Help this weekend the way that everyone raves about it!

Anonymous said...

Oooh except for Bell Hooks all of these are on my TBR (or very soon to be if The Converted Ones orders of kind gifts ever turn up). I am excited about all those three. Not sure Bell Hooks would be quie my cup of cocoa!

Jo said...

I 've got The help on my request list at the moment. I think I might be the last person to read it by the time it gets tome though.
I gave up on White is for Witching half way through, but people have said I should have continued because it got better. I might try again one day.

Samantha said...

You may like The Help so much that you go out and get your own copy - which is my own weakness when I get a library book I love. I don't think I have time to get a copy of Vanessa and Virginia before next week so I may make a trip to my library to see if they have a copy too.

Frances said...

Coveting that Vanessa and Virginia!

Lusty Reader said...

although i love getting emails from my friends and family, there is nothing quite like an email from the library saying my holds are ready! great loot and i adore the background of your blog, so pretty!

Marg said...

This is the second mention I have seen in the last couple of Library Loot's for Oyeyemi. She is one Nigerian author I haven't tried yet!

Enjoy your loot

Paperback Reader said...

Simon, I look forward to sharing our thoughts on the three novels. bell hooks probably isn't your cup of cocoa as I don't think you read many essays on social activism, although this is a memoir.

Jo, The Help is one of those books where you do begin to think that everyone else has read it. I'm cautious about White is for Witching; I'll soon let you know whether the second half is any good.

Samantha, I hope your library has a copy of V&V; I was lucky. The Help probably will be a novel that I will love, want to own and give other people - this will be a costly borrow!

Frances, I am really looking forward to reading it!

Hi Lusty Reader, thanks for holding. I don't receive emails from my library but I do feel thrilled when I log onto my library account online and see that there are books waiting collection!
My blog background is pretty and from shabbyblogs.com.

Marg, Oyeyemi seems to be popular at the moment! The power of word-of-mouth (well, blog).

Karen said...

My copy of V&V arrived from TBD yesterday and I am really looking forward to reading this one thanks to my new found love of all things Virginia Woolf.

Barbara C. said...

Help! Yes! Excellent!

Anonymous said...

Definitely do want to read The Help and White Is For Witching.

Looks like a fantastic loot - I really should join a library at some point...

Paperback Reader said...

Karen, glad to hear that V&V arrived in time! I am loving the Virginia Woolf adulation that is occurring at the moment and want to fully immerse myself in all things Woolfian too.

Hi Barbara, thanks for commenting and for being so enthusiastic about The Help! I'm very excited to read it.

anothercookie, you really should! It saves me so much money and opens me up to books that I may not have read otherwise or taken some time to buy.

Jenny said...

Oo, I need to get that bell hooks memoir! I read some stuff by her in a gender theory class, and everybody developed a massive crush on her.

(Last night, when I was watching TV, they had a promo for that week's episode of 30 Rock, which guest-starred a woman called Jan Hooks, and I glanced up and thought the TV had said "bell hooks" and I got madly excited and spent the entire episode waiting and waiting for bell hooks to show up. But she never did.)

Paperback Reader said...

Hee, I think I'm going to develop a bit of a literary crush myself!

Anonymous said...

The Help is wonderful--enjoy!

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Oh, I loved The Help.

Vanessa & Virginia was good...but it took me awhile to get into it.

My Loot:

http://laurelrainsnow.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/library-loot-2/

Jules said...

Some nice looking loot there. I haven't read the Help yet. I must be one of the last to read it (when I do). It's a book I really want to read, but that darn TBR list is too big.

Also, loving the background of your blog. Enjoy your reads.

Paperback Reader said...

Hi Laurel, thanks for commenting. I appreciate the guidance about Vanessa & Virginia and will keep it in mind.

Hi Jules, thanks for commenting. The TBR is indeed too overwhelming but I'm happy to finally be getting around to The Help.

My blog background is from shabbyblogs.com :).

susan said...

I have mixed feelings about Hooks. Very interested in hearing your take on her writing.

Paperback Reader said...

Susan, I look forward to discussing her with you; I think I'll be posting my thoughts next week.