This lovely stack came into my mailbox this week; perhaps this post would be better suited for a Library Loot post as many of them came from the library.
~The Changeling is Kenzaburo Oe's newest novel
~A Fine Balance and Skeletons At The Feast were a quarter each from the Used Book shelf
~Of Bees and Mist was sent to me from Simon and Schuster for review
~Olive Kitteridge is the Pulitzer Prize book I've been longing to read, which was a prize for the Summer Reading Program, a library program I've been addicted to since I was a child
Are there any on this stack which you would grab first? Recommend I begin today?
A Fine Balance is the best book I've ever read. I don't want to build it up too much, but it is very special. It isn't fast paced, but it is so emotional. I hope that you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteOh, that really excites me because I trust your opinion so completely! Thanks a bunch!
ReplyDeleteYou got a great deal on Skeletons at the Feast! So far, the book is excellent, yet disturbing, if that makes sense. I've gasped several times and had to sit and pause and think about several passages.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to discuss it with you, Kathy! I love books that make you gasp and pause. Yum!
ReplyDeleteA Fine Balance is a truly great book, but very hard-hitting, so be prepared.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in the Kenzaburo Oe which reminds me that I wanted to read one book by him for the JLC4. Any recommendations?
I've read nothing by Oe, yet, but I know that Claire (of kiss a cloud) is hosting a shared read of Oe's A Personal Matter. Perhaps we could read that, share in the read, and knock one off for the JLC4 all at once?
ReplyDeleteAs far as the JLC4 goes, I've been immersed in Haruki Murakami, my all time favorite, and lately Banana Yoshimoto and Natsuo Kirino, but I definitely need to branch out into more authors! (Mishima, Kawabata, etc.)
What great books! I honestly would have a hard time choosing, but if I HAD to, I would choose "A Fine Balance" .. urgh!! they're all so good! Enjoy reading!
ReplyDeleteJulie @ Knitting and Sundries
If I was to judge simply on cover it would be Of Bees and Mist. Such a simple but effective design. Love the colors and the layout. Very cool!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that A Fine Balance is an extra worthy book; everyone's recommending it! How lucky am I to have bought it for .25 cents? :)
ReplyDeleteooh, such good choices! Have a great week and happy reading.
ReplyDeleteCarl, it promises to be a very good book. Simon and Schuster is releasing it in paperback soon...I thought the same thing "such a simple but effective design." I'll let you know about the inside.
ReplyDeleteA FINE BALANCE is a wonderful book. I read it years and years ago and I still think about it. I ought to reread it, but probably not enough time. That book would be my vote. Makes me want to eat Indian food! LOL
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ReplyDeleteAgh! My comments keep missing the person who sent them; Kaye, a happy week of reading to you, too.
ReplyDeleteand the other Kay, I love eating the food from the culture of the book I'm enjoying. But, there's never a time I wouldn't enjoy a samosa, a curry, or a chicken biryani. ;)
I loved Olive Kitteridge and have just added Of Bees and Mist to my TBR list! I have A Fine Balance on my list of book to read over the summer.
ReplyDeleteGavin, I'm so glad to know that you loved Olive Kitteridge (It's my goal to read all of the Pulitzers eventually, so I was planning on reading it, but it's especially good to have one endorsed by a trusted friend; many of them have been disappointing to me.)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're as enthused about Of Bees and Mist as I! We'll talk; I'm planning on reading/reviewing it this July.
How pretty they all look, with the sun streaming in from the window. A Fine Balance is a chunkster but, from what I've heard, a heartbreaker. Very tempting. Olive Kittridge would get my vote!
ReplyDeleteWonderful list, Bellezza! I can't believe that you got 'A Fine Balance' for 25 cents! Am jealous of you :) 'Of Bees and Mist' looks like a very interesting title. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.
ReplyDeleteLiterary Lollipop, thanks for liking the photograph; the early morning sun is indeed beautiful.
ReplyDeleteVishy, it's a stroke of luck to find something on that used book shelf for a quarter. More often than not, it's a bunch of romance novels to be had, and not much of literary value. (Oooh, does that sound snobby? I think so.)
That´s a really great stack! I love the cover of Of Bees and Mist :)
ReplyDeleteI haven´t read any of these book yet, although I´ve wanted to read Olive Kitteridge for some time.
And the used book shelf sounds amazing, I´d like to browse it! Happy reading :)
I'd give the Kenzaburo a go, having read The Silent Cry (took a while to open up, but enjoyed once it did).High praise for your commitment,trying to increase my reading quota, but excuses keep getting in the way
ReplyDeleteI liked Skeletons at the Feast (read & reviewed this past March), but didn't love it. A Fine Balance, on the other hand, is one of my all-time favorites! I read it years ago. Off to find my journal entry...
ReplyDeleteOK, it was November 1997 and I said it was a GREAT novel, although pretty long (603 pages). Wonderfully descriptive. Harsh realities of life during this time period [1975]. I learned a great deal about India and the caste system. I highly recommend this book.
It's one I still would like to read again someday. Maybe I should get it on audio!
I see a Kenzaburo Oe book there! I read one of his books quite a while ago and found it difficult but good. He's definitely a writer I need to go back to now and see what I think.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I also vote for you starting with A Fine Balance. It is truly a moving book. I remember finishing it and it took me a while to be able to find another book to read afterwards.
Bina, I was all sad because I didn't go to the American University of Women's Used Book Sale this June, on purpose, afraid that I'd come back with too grand a stack to sort. So, the library's used book shelf is a condolence of some small measure to me.
ReplyDeleteParrish Lantern, in the interim of posting this list today and getting back to comments I have begun The Changeling. Not because I don't want to dive into A Fine Balance after everyone's praises, but because The Changeling is due on the fourteenth of July, and I don't want a fine. Like a normally get at the library.
Les, I'm so enthused that you loved A Fine Balance as well. The number of pages doesn't offset me as much as mixed reviews would. I can't wait to talk with you when I finish. Have you read City of Joy? Also a novel of formidable pages, but such a heartwrenching story set in Calcutta. Not story, really, I forget it's nonfiction...
Iliana, I know just what you mean when you say that it takes awhile to find a good book after finishing an excellent one.
No, I haven't read City of Joy. I see there's also a movie, starring Patrick Swayze. Have you watched it?
ReplyDeleteNo, I haven't seen the film. So often, after loving a book, the film disappoints me too much to view it. I wish I still had my copy to send you, but it was in the 80's that I read it, and I've moved too much since then...sorry, friend.
ReplyDeleteNo worries. It would probably wind up getting stuck in a stack and make me feel guilty. ;)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Of Bees and Mist. I loved looking at the cover and finding the objects hidden in the vines. It's an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteHey there – just swinging by for Monday to see what you are reading. Have a great week. Stop by The Wormhole to check out what I have gotten and what I have been reading too. Happy reading! Bev.
ReplyDeleteA Fine Balance seems to be getting rave reviews - and I've never heard of it! How fun to have a new book to check out :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Olive Kittredge.
Of this lovely stack, I only know "Olive" but would plunge first into whichever one's design appealed most. Just for a change. I know, we're not to judge by a book's cover, but sometimes, the cover is just. so. appealing.
ReplyDeleteOh, and yes, hope you've started in on one of these today. Why not? We need to celebrate the act of reading whenever there is an unplanned moment, and sometimes, even when there is a plenned moment!
Enjoy!
I realy want to read A Fine Balance and I'm jealous of you finding it that cheap. I have heard great things about "Of Bees and Mist", but I would still read A Fine Balance first.
ReplyDeleteMy book club is going to read Skeletons at the Feast. I am eager to get to it -- along with everything else on our list. We've got great stuff coming up.
ReplyDeleteA Fine Balance is a book that makes my top ten list of favorite books I've read. The book is incredibly moving and brought me to tears.
ReplyDeleteBellezza, please drop everything you have now and read A Fine Balance! ;D
ReplyDeleteI have Of Bees and Mist on my shelf waiting to be read. Feel a bit guilty that I haven't as I also received it for review. It's written by an Indonesian, is why I want to read it (but then I also heard good things about it).
A Fine Balance is one of my all-time favourite books! You must read it. Now!
ReplyDeleteHave Olive Kitteridge on my to-read list, so hope you enjoy it. Am looking forward to it, after hearing some incredible things about it.
Please do read Bees and Mist! I have been eyeing it since I first read a review about it. I would very much love to hear your opinion.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Olive Kittridge and I've heard good things about the Chris Bohjalian.
ReplyDeleteJust read about your switch back to blogger. I have updated you. Reading again myself. So happy for that. Easy reads to begin with and then....