Library Loot is a meme hosted by Claire of Captive Reader and Marg of The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader.
As I’m taking the week after Christmas off to be with my family who are staying with me, starting this Friday, I figured I’d stop off at the library and pick up a few reads. We’re a reading family, so I imagine there will be a little time for that. And also after they leave, there will be the New Year weekend where I might also sneak in some reading. So here is what I picked up:
County Chronicle by Angela Thirkell – I actually have no idea what this is about, but Claire of The Captive Reader keeps checking out Thirkell books and I’m curious.
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim – I think Claire has mentioned this author and this book before. I do know a smidgen of what this is about – four women going to stay in the same house on the Mediterranean, I think.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark – After reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt and watching the movie Cracks, I have seen this book referenced several times. It’s short and will also be the first time I’ve read Muriel Spark.
Farthing by Jo Walton – first in an alternate history trilogy, where England made a peace agreement with Hitler. This one has been on my list for a while. Since then I’ve added many of Walton’s books to my to-read list, but this is still the first one I will read by her.
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George – I read another book by this author, Princess of the Midnight Ball that was a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and it was okay, but I read in several reviews that this book by hers is really good. It’s a retelling of the Nordic tale, East of the Sun, West of the Moon.
Mouse Guard Fall 1152 and Mouse Guard Winter 1152 by David Petersen – I read the Fall 1152 graphic novel last year but want to read it again before reading the next one in the series. The mice are very fierce and have important things to do, but they are also darn adorable while they’re about their business.
A Good Stopping Point 
Oh my goodness, Christy, what loot! Obviously, I’m thrilled to see both Thirkell and von Arnim here and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is another of my favourite books. Muriel Spark is fantastic. I’ve just started reading Walton and am enjoying the first few pages of Tooth and Claw and am terribly intrigued by Farthing – I love alternate histories. My only word of advice would be that, if the Thirkell gets a bit convoluted (as can happen with books later in the series where she seems to assume readers are familiar with all her earlier characters), don’t give up on her! Some of the later books work fine out of sequences, others not so much (my actual first encounter with Thirkell was an abandoned reading of Love Among the Ruins – I loved the style but just could not follow what was going on or who all the characters were and how they related) . I haven’t read County Chronicle yet but everything I’ve read by Thirkell so far, I have adored. Enjoy your time with your family and happy reading!
I’m about 80 pages into County Chronicle now and while it’s clear that there is a ton of backstory alluded to, so far it hasn’t been discouraging. I like the writing style especially with the wit and the dialogue.
Oooh, Farthing! I’m really hoping to find Jo Walton’s Small Change books under my tree. Also, I loved The Enchanted April and really enjoyed Mouse Guard. Happy reading!
I really enjoyed The Mouse Guard. The Enchanted April has been on my tbr list for far too long.
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow might be interesting to read. Hope you enjoy all your loot!
Hee like you I’ve been curious about Thirkell thanks to Claire’s Thirkell library loot. And von Arnim is such a treat!