Hosted by Eva at A Stripped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures.
This week's plunder:
Molly Fox's Birthday by Deirdre Madden (UK) 2008Fiction 240 pages, Hardcover
Shortlisted for this year's Orange Prize.
"Exploring family, friendship, and love, Molly Fox's Birthday is above all a novel about identity, calling into question the ideas that we hold about who we are; and showing how the past informs the present in ways we might never have imagined." That's all I know but I usually read this shortlist and am rarely disappointed.
A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz (Australia) 2008Fiction, 530 pages, Hardcover
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award. The Booker shortlist is also one I make a point of reading. I'm 200 pages in and it's very interesting. A man's recollections of his eccentric, over analysing, and paranoid father, a notoriously infamous uncle, and a mysteriously absent mother. Quite the lives these people led. There's everything in this story, including the kitchen sink.
Ben, In the World by Doris Lessing Fiction 178 pages, Hardcover Nobel author Sequel to The Fifth Child, in which we see how an unloved and unlovable child fairs after he leaves home in his teens. A very interesting story, especially if you've read the first book, which I compared to We Need to Talk About Kevin for some of the issues it discusses. My review of Ben, In the World will be posted as soon as you've read my review of The Fifth Child. Go ahead, I'll wait. I'm kidding, it's up.
Last week's loot enjoyed:
The Fifth Child**** by Doris Lessing
Becoming Abigail***** by Chris Abani (Nigeria) 2006
Novella 121 pages, Hardcover
A young Nigerian girl is sent to London and forced into prostitution by relatives. A stunning story. Highly recommended. Reviewed.
Loot in hand:
And Let the Earth tremble at its Centers by Gonzalo Celorio (Mexico) 2009
Fiction 152 pages, Trade paperback
Translated from the Spanish, a sort of "literary portrait of Mexico City."
Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Have you considered reading any of them? What have you heard? Feel free to leave links if you've reviewed any. I'd love to read them.
What treasures have you found at the public library?
I'm always intrigued by your library loot...Molly Fox's Birthday sounds really interesting. I would like to read this one for sure. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLove the cover for A Fraction of the Whole! And I had no idea there was a sequel to The Fifth Child! I probably won't be reading it; Ben was just too creepy.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of those but the Toltz book looks interesting, I have to see if my library has got that one
ReplyDeleteGreat loot! I am a fan of Doris Lessing but haven't read 5th Child yet. Need to add it to my tbr list.
ReplyDeleteI keep on seeing people reading Aussie authors that I know I SHOULD read, but I just haven't managed to get to yet! Enjoy your books.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see your review of Ben, In the World.
ReplyDeleteThey all look good. I might have to look up that A Fraction of the Whole.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to reading your review of Ben in the World. It didn't really appeal to me, so I'm interested to hear if you recommend it or not.
ReplyDeleteGreat loot!
ReplyDeleteAnother fascinating set of books. I have Molly Fox's birthday out on loan too. I haven't loved all of the Orange books, but they almost always seem to have something to commend them.
ReplyDelete