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
This week I ended up with three books I’m quite excited about. Two are from a going-out-of-business Borders and one is from the Half Price Books clearance section:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1783CGg4wU
From Borders:
- The Trouble with Poetry by Billy Collins: I’m really not much of a poetry reader, but Billy Collins is the exception. I love his poetry and was thrilled to find this collection on clearance.
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell: I’ve wanted to read this novel for a while now but haven’t been able to find it at Half Price Books. Now that I have a copy it’s definitely a Reading Buddies candidate; if you might be interested, let me know!
From Half Price Books:
- The Cave by Jose Saramago: I’ve still only read Death with Interruptions by Saramago, but I’m working on amassing a small collection of his works. This one’s my fourth, even though I’ll most likely be reading Blindness next!
TBR Additions
- The House on Salt Hay Road by Carin Clevidence: Zoe’s review on In the Next Room made this one sound really interesting. Onto the list it goes!
Read This Week
I started two new books this week, both of which I’m liking so far. For my Classics Reclamation Project, I’m reading I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith; on my Sony Reader, I’m working on The Sea and the Silence by Peter Cunningham.
On audio, I’ve been listening to Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts whenever I have time. I’m down to just 6 of 35 discs to go, and I really want to finish it by the end of the month. It’s quite good, but I’m ready for a change!
Erin Reads Recap
- On Tuesday I reviewed The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark, which will be released early next month.
- Wednesday’s Classics Reclamation Project post looked at my initial impression of I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, who also wrote The Hundred and One Dalmatians (who knew??).
- Next up, I shared my thoughts on the second and final part of Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation, which I found both fascinating and a bit repulsive.
- Finally, yesterday, I posted the Reading Buddies wrap-up for The Appointment by Herta Müller.
Your Turn!
How was your reading week? Do tell!
I have Cloud Atlas unread on the shelves, so I’d join you for a Reading Buddies readalong for that one if it was a couple months down the road.
35 discs sounds so awful to me! I’m not an audio person. 🙂
There are several people interested; I’m thinking summer? I’ll be in touch!
I went to a Borders that is going out of business near me last night but they were closing early for inventory. I’m hoping I will be able to find the time to go today, however, and maybe I’ll be able to find some gems like you.
Oh I’m so pleased you added Salt Hay Road to your TBR list, it’s one of my very favourites of 2011 so far and I hope you enjoy its quiet brilliance when you get a chance to read it. My week in books was not that productive unfortunately although I did get some nice YA in my mailbox as you saw. I’m nearing the end of “house rules” on audiobook, it was about 20 hours and I have just over 4 hours left… and I think after this I will be sticking to shorter ones! I also owe you a reading buddies post on the appointment which I haven’t gotten a chance to read yet which is disappointing since I was somebody who had originally contacted you about reading it. anyway I have two books I’d like to read this weekend and then maybe I can get a chance to start on the mueller next week. happy reading!
No worries about The Appointment. Reading Buddies is supposed to be fun, not stressful! 🙂
Cloud Atlas is a crazy but fun read. Hope you enjoy it! I’ve been wanting to reread it so I might have to join with you on the Reading Buddies.
I can keep you updated about when we read it. I’m thinking it’ll be over the summer at some point. I’m looking forward to it!
Billy Collins is my favorite poet. I love how simple reading his poetry feels. I’ve only been to my local Borders store closing and got a couple of books, but I’m not sure if I’ll head back. Seeing it closing made me sad.
Exactly! That’s how I feel about Collins too. It feels like poetry, but it’s also so accessible.
Borders closing makes me sad, too. We have others that will stay open near me, but it’s still too bad some of them are going away.
Cloud Atlas will probably be in my top 5 books if I ever did something as horrible as a top 5 list. I’d love to re-read it as reading buddies! I don’t have a blog though. Well, actually my blog was turned into a book, but you hated that…
Yes, I definitely prefer you in comment form to book form. I’m hoping you don’t like Cloud Atlas so much because it reminds you of your own book…?
No need to have a blog. I’m thinking summer and will keep you posted!
I’m coauthoring a book with Paula Deen, called Saurkraut to a Young Poet. Maybe you’ll like that? I’ll ask my agent to mail you a copy.
Sauerkraut? I’d have expected butter. Must be your heritage overpowering Paula’s. I’ll give it a shot, but keep in mind I can’t guarantee a positive review.
Paula liked my book unlike you. Theupcoming reissue has a blurb from her on the back: “Y’all, I’m tellin’ you, thisbook is goooood… Justadda dollop of butter on it andall y’allwill looove thismothwaterin’ modernistepic!!!”
Sheis so kind. Unlike you.
ACH! I’m typing from my cellulartelephone andit takes out the spaces.
The Cloud Atlas has been on my shelf for a while UNREAD sadly. I should read that one soon, as many have seemed to enjoy it.
‘The Trouble With Poetry’ looks like a really fascinating book, Erin! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it. I have a book called ‘The Ode Less Travelled’ by Stephen Fry, which is also about poetry written for the general reader. It is quite nice. If you get a chance, do check it out.
I feel sad that Borders is closing. What do you think about this – bookstores closing because they are not making profits because of the advent of e-books and maybe also because less and less people are reading these days?
I’ve not heard of Stephen Fry, I’ll have to look into “The Ode Less Travelled.” I love the title!
It’s really too bad that bookstores are closing because of low sales. I think online retailers like Amazon aren’t helping, unfortunately, and of course e-books. Hopefully the stores that are left will be able to stay around.
I’ve heard great things about Cloud Atlas and Jose Saragamo has been on my radar for a while as well. I’m excited to see what you think of those recent acquisitions! I also really hope you enjoy I Capture the Castle- I really liked it when I was younger 🙂