My Week in Books: January 30-February 5

My Week in Books

Welcome to my weekly Saturday feature here at Erin Reads, where I highlight new books that have entered my life, what I’ve been reading, and what’s happened on Erin Reads over the past week.

New Acquisitions

No vlog today–it just didn’t happen this week. It should be back next week. As for acquisitions, my husband and I did make a trip to Half Price Books, where I pounced on a couple exciting finds:

  • All the Names by Jose Saramago: I’ve been a little bit obsessed with Jose Saramago ever since I read Death with Interruptions last year. I haven’t yet read anything else by him, but I’m pretty sure he’s one of those authors whose entire bibliography I’ll read eventually. Steph of Steph & Tony Investigate! reviewed All the Names before I read her blog, and I discovered her review while perusing their review database. I didn’t find this one in the clearance section, but I think Saramago is worth a little more.
  • Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris: I’ve only read Chocolat by Harris, but it was a dreamy sort of book and I’ve wanted to try something else by her. There’s something intriguing about the title of this one, so when I found a hardcover copy in the clearance section, I picked it up. The woman at the register gushed a bit about it when she saw what I was buying, so my hopes are high.

TBR Additions

I’ve added lots of books to my TBR list this week, and I haven’t even gotten to my reader for the second half of the week!

Read This Week

I haven’t had a lot of time to sit and read this week, it’s seemed. I did finish The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John le Carre, and I’ve gotten about halfway through Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I refuse to rush my reading of Jane Eyre, as I only get to read it for the first time once! I also finally opened The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, one of this month’s Reading Buddies books.

On audio, I’ve been switching between The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent and A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (the second Reading Buddies book for February). They are, as you might guess, quite different from one another, but I am enjoying listening to both.

Erin Reads Recap

Your Turn!

How was your reading week? Do tell!

Join the Conversation

28 Comments

  1. After reading Blindness I’d like to read more Saramago one day, but I’m not sure which one I will read next. As for Tapestry of Love, I really liked it so I hope you do too if you are able to find a copy of it. The prices of some of her books on Amazon are a bit much ($37.95 for Hearts and Mind?!?).

    1. Ohhhh I can’t wait to read Blindness! I need to get to that one soon. Another blogger generously offered me her galley of Tapestry of Love, so it looks like I’ll get to read it! Ack…that’s expensive. I’ll stick to the library, I think!

  2. Glad someone pushed you over the edge on Tapestry of Love! I still like Crossed Wires better, but Tapestry was wonderful. This coming week I get to read my third book by Thornton, hurrah!

    1. I’ve never read Thornton but am looking forward to giving her a try. If I generally like her style and such, I’ll look into Crossed Wires next!

  3. Hey, if you live in the USA, send me an email… I’ve got a copy of Rosy Thornton’s “The Tapestry of Love” that I wasn’t all that into, and I’d love to pass it on to someone who might enjoy it more. πŸ™‚

    ~MizB

  4. Wonderful new acquisitions and TBR additions, Erin! Glad to see ‘Mozart’s Journey to Prague’ on your ‘TBR’ list πŸ™‚ Jose Saramago is a really wonderful writer. ‘Five Quarters of the Orange’ is an intriguing title! ‘Lex Trent versue the Gods’ looks like an interesting and fun book. Hope you enjoy reading ‘The Poisonwood Bible’ and all your new acquisitions!

    Missed your vlog this week πŸ™‚ Looking forward to seeing it next week.

    1. Thanks, Vishy! The vlog should be back this week. Last week was a tough week personally, and a few blog-related things just didn’t get prioritized. I’ve already got some good stuff lined up for this week, though, and am looking forward to sharing it πŸ™‚

  5. I love it that you added a book to the wish list because it was compared to War & Peace. That is just so awesome. Most people run from that book and everything like it, and hear you are totally loving it!

    1. Me too — it really surprised me that War-&-Peace-like is apparently an attractive quality to me, now! I have to say, 200 pages in and I really am loving W&P πŸ™‚

  6. I tried reading Jane Eyre a couple of months ago and just couldn’t get into it. Maybe it was a bit too feminine for me? Not to worry, I’ve got Wuthering Heights beside me which sounds more like my type of story.

    1. Jane Eyre does seem like more of a women’s book, maybe. I think you’re the first man I’ve heard weigh in on it, actually! Lots of people seem to love Jane Eyre and hate Wuthering Heights, so I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter.

  7. Erin…Thank you for the shout-out. I think you will love School of Essential Ingredients.

    I finished The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears, and Crooked Letter,Crooked Letter this week (both excellent, and am working on reviews for Matterhorn (audio) and Crooked Letter Crooked Letter.

    My current reads are The Memory Palace (NF) and The Northern Lights; Donnelly

    Hope this week was as exciting as last week for you.

    1. Thanks, Diane! My library has it on audio, and I plan to get to it once the TBR Dare is over. Sounds like you had a great reading week! I’m hoping to read Northern Lights soon myself, after enjoying Revolution last year.

  8. Mmmm, Chocolat. That’s one of those books I swore I picked up at Half Price Books a few years ago on clearance but can’t seem to find it (unorganized shelves).

    I had hoped to go to Half Price Books today after making up some missed time at work, but we’re still pretty icy here and I have no way to print off my 20% coupon (you’re on their mailing list, right?).

    Enjoy your weekend!

    1. I hate when a book disappears like that! I move a lot and tend to misplace them that way, somehow, even though all the books go into boxes with other books. It’s infuriating! I tried to sign up for the Half Price Books mailing list a few months ago, but I don’t think my store ever processed the info. I re-signed up this past weekend, but too late for the 20% off coupon. Oh well…next time. Lack of coupon has never stopped me from buying things at HPB before πŸ™‚ Hope you’re at least somewhat de-iced by now!

  9. I didn’t find Essential Ingredients cheesy at all.

    I read two books this week…The Black Nile, a non-fiction travelogue which was really good, and The Imperfectionists. Also good. And I haven’t quit on Ulysses, so it was a successful wee.

    1. Good to hear regarding Essential Ingredients, Jill. Not sure why I assumed it would be, but I’m glad you guys are setting me straight!

      I’m impressed you haven’t quit on Ulysses yet. Just watching that cartoon I sent you made me worry for you guys!

  10. I loved the audio of Essential Ingredients, too – probably even more than I would have enjoyed reading the book. Hope you like Excellent Women. I haven’t found any of Pym’s other books locally. That’s helping me stick to the tbr dare!

    1. I’m glad to have another vote for Essential Ingredients on audio! My library has it on audio and I’m excited to listen to it once the TBR Dare is over. Same for Excellent Women. I may be knocking books off my TBR list with this dare, but the list is growing faster than I’m crossing them off!!

  11. This is going to sound awful considering I gave it a positive review, but think over Tapestry Of Love a few more times before getting it. The location descriptions are beautiful, and it’s very good at making you feel lost in another place, but the plot is very simple.

    I’ll have a look at postage rates regarding Lex Trent and get back to you πŸ˜‰

    1. I was offered a free galley of Tapestry of Love, so I think I’ll give it a chance. I’ll keep in mind it’s a simple plot. Sometimes I’m ok with those πŸ™‚

      Ooh, do let me know what you find out regarding Lex Trent! πŸ™‚ Although I just checked The Book Depository, and they do have it. Hmm…

    1. It’s on my shelf! I’m sure I’ll read it before All the Names…I’m just slowly collecting everything Saramago has ever written πŸ™‚

    1. Blindness was the first Saramago I acquired after Death with Interruptions! I even bought it new, which I hardly ever do unless I really want the book. πŸ™‚ I’ve only read one book by Harris, and though I didn’t adore it, there’s something about her writing that draws me in.

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