Thanks to Eleanor, Laura, Marcie, and Sarah for posting about their recent library reading!
I mentioned that my library has recently started running author events again, for the first time since Covid. Apart from that, the main thing that’s new is a sculpture of local author Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear, in the lobby. I have to say, it’s a little bit creepy because when you’re working behind the circulation desk you feel like there’s a person sat there the whole time. (And, as one staff member noted, he looks more than a little like Vladimir Putin.) It makes for a popular photo op, though not as much as the larger Paddington on a bench in the town centre. There’s nearly always a queue to get your photo taken with him.
My library will be a major source of books for Novellas in November for me.
My library use over the last month:
READ
- The Lone-Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie
- I’m the King of the Castle by Susan Hill
- What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
- Isabella & Blodwen by Rachael Smith
CURRENTLY READING
- Without Ever Reaching the Summit: A Himalayan Journey by Paolo Cognetti
- James by Percival Everett
- Small Rain by Garth Greenwell
- A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand
- What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
- Heartstopper: Volume 5 by Alice Oseman (a reread)
- Playground by Richard Powers
- Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
- Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World by Pádraig Ó Tuama
CHECKED OUT, TO BE READ
- Interlunar and Life Before Man by Margaret Atwood (for #MARM) [university library]
- Bellies by Nicola Dinan
- Orbital by Samantha Harvey
- Dispersals: On Plants, Borders and Belonging by Jessica J. Lee
- Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit [university library]
+ various novellas I’m gradually bringing home
RETURNED UNREAD
- It’s Not Just You: How to Navigate Eco-Anxiety and the Climate Crisis by Tori Tsui – I feared it would be depressing (though of course that’s exactly why I should read it) and from a glance it also appeared formulaic.
RETURNED UNFINISHED
- The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier – Way too much technical info about glassmaking in the early pages. I may try it another time as I’ve read everything else she’s written.
- The Painter’s Daughters by Emily Howes – I read 24 pages. It seemed fine but undistinguished as historical fiction goes.
- Held by Anne Michaels – The first few pages of pretentious fragments were unbearable.
- Autumn Moods – Yeah … a local publication … wow, it was bad.
What have you been reading or reviewing from the library recently?
Share a link to your own post in the comments. Feel free to use the above image. The hashtag is #LoveYourLibrary.
Bookish Beck = Rebecca Foster. American transplant to England. Freelance proofreader and book reviewer.
Bookish Beck 
I’m relieved that you too didn’t get on with Held. Not just me then.
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Ah, that’s too bad. Susan rates it highly and I did hope to like it, but it just wasn’t working for me. We shall see what the Booker judges think!
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I’ve done a proper roundup now! It’s here: https://ellethinks.wordpress.com/2024/10/28/loveyourlibrary-october-2024/
Keen to hear what you think of the Rooney. I’ve entirely stopped considering her essential reading for myself, but am still intrigued by the thoughts of others!
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Added in — thank you!
Her best work yet, I think. It feels a lot more mature in content and style.
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Your colleague’s comment made me laugh! I remember being startled by a large Mr Bean cut out when locking up the shop, Caught me out every time but at least it was temporary.
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I didn’t see the Putin resemblance until she said that, and now I can’t un-see it! I assume this is a temporary exhibit, perhaps moving across to the West Berkshire Museum after a set amount of time. I don’t know about the Paddington bench on the high street, either. It’s been very popular.
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That sculpture would definitely creep me out – and I can see the Putin resemblance too!
I’ve just finished A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater. I do love the way he writes, just the right side of overly pretentious and flowery. Just!
Particularly enjoyed the passage where he’s on the train from London to York and thoroughly enjoying his ‘packed lunch’ (which he himself has prepared). We get a lovely description of him eating his cold roast veg, slab of gingerbread etc, mopping up all crumbs.
He then ends by saying ‘we have yet to leave the station’!
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So it’s not a cookbook but more of a memoir? I have read Toast and Eating for England, and skimmed some of his cookbooks, of course. We own a couple but I particularly admired the Christmas one I borrowed from the library.
I edited an article about the history of railway dining not long ago. It was rather fascinating!
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No, not a recipe book – it’s a selection of notes, memories etc written in his usual way.
Mainly about food but a lot about his garden, and also his travels especially in Japan. Just snippets really, quick to read and enjoyable.
A history of railway dining sounds wonderful. Reminds me of the Victorian railway entrepreneur based in York who served the soup in the station canteen so hot that people couldn’t finish it in the small time frame they had before getting off and back on the train. He then used to tip the remaining soup from their bowls back into the tureen for the next train.
Made a fortune apparently!
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The Slater sounds very appealing in that case.
Yes, a similar story was recounted in the article! It contrasted station restaurants with the later dining cars on trains. Often, people didn’t have time to eat their full meals and gave themselves indigestion trying to finish before they had to reboard.
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From the tiny little picture in your write-up, I’ve just requested the Theriault; how could I resist that title!!
So glad to hear your trusted opinion agrees with mine on Held; I finished it but it only got worse as it went on, for me.
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Yes, I agree it’s hard to resist the story of a lonely postman. (Our postman is very kind and dutiful and his twin brother is also a postie!) And it’s a very short book I’ll hope to read in one sitting.
I enjoyed Fugitive Pieces, but couldn’t find my way into the new one.
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I didn’t know about this meme, neat, I should join, as I use my library a lot. I have the best library ever!
I plan on reading Playground.
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You would be most welcome! You can post at any time and I will link to your site. I am glad to hear you are so enthusiastic about your library 🙂
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Libraries in Illinois are absolutely amazing, and I live about 10 minutes away, on foot. It’s like my second residence, I go there several times a week
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That’s great to hear! Are you in the Chicago area? I only visit weekly and pick up all my reservations at the same time as I do my volunteering. I love having the flagship branch just a 15-minute walk away.
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Western suburbs. Where are you, in England, right?
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Yes, I live in Newbury, which is in West Berkshire.
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Nice! I had the feeling public libraries were not too hot in the UK, I’m glad you have a great one
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Public libraries here often suffer budget cuts and have to operate on shoestring budgets. Some, when threatened with closure, become volunteer-run. For all that, there are still many great ones.
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Good to hear!
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So funny, I saw the picture of the statue of Bond before I read your opening paragraph and I was like, Why is there a statue of Putin on that bench??
I have a soft spot for Paddington because my son and I read so many of the books together.
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How sweet — I wish you could come get photos on the bench!
To be honest, I don’t think it’s a very good sculpture. But I think the artist is based nearby, too, and it’s always good to recognize local talent.
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Goodness, it’s rare we have no overlap on these posts, but I have read none of them! We have a Paddington somewhere in Birmingham, and I’ve seen lots of jolly photos of people and their children with him!
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Oh, that’s fun! Did Bond have a connection with Birmingham too?
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I don’t think so, I think it’s maybe travelling around …
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Ohhh, my gawsh, I was giggling so hard at everything about your first paragraph. I can totally imagine all of that.
I’m sorry to say that I completely lost track of this month’s LYL. I have really reduced my loans overall (we’ve had the first snow and the hour-long walk can stretch to triple that when the sidewalk/pavement doesn’t get plowed clear) so it had fallen out of my thoughts, but I am still borrowing a few things so I’ll resume the habit now! (And I’ve had both Orbital and Western Lane, so they would have been terrific choices for multiple reasons!)
30 Plants a Week! Now you have me wondering if I could count to 30. I’m going to try! (The book’s not readily available over here, but I recall seeing him listed on 5×15!) I’m also reading Intermezzo just now, but haven’t gotten very far.
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The Bond bench/statue has gone now — moved on to a new temporary location, I imagine. Whew!
No worries; you needn’t feel compelled to participate every month, just when it suits you. I’ll be finishing Orbital for a review tomorrow.
That’s interesting that you know Hugh F-W’s name. I’m not surprised he hasn’t really made it outside the UK, though. Few chefs, even celebrity chefs, are known outside their home country. He’s a frequent presence on TV here.
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It was you who introduced me to the 5×15 events and I have enjoyed several of them! It does always surprise me when I hear about how prominent some of the people are overseas and here I have not heard a peep, but I’m just as oblivious to some similar figures in Canada, too, so it doesn’t make sense I’m surprised really.
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Omg, that statue! LOL
I have been reading library books, of course, but am very behind on writing about them. Some are also novellas which will show up in a NovNov post sometime this month. Hopefully!
I also laughed at your comment about Held. I did end up reading it and thought a lot of it was quite beautiful. But can also see that it could tip into pretentiousness, depending on your mood. Can pretentiousness depend on a mood? I think it can. *shrug*
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Hurrah for novellas!
I’m sure you’re right that my mood and what I’d read previously or had coming up next may have affected my response to Held. Who knows, I might even try it again another time.
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