Friday, February 18, 2011

A Quick Friday Finds


Just a few things this week. I haven't been doing much shopping and haven't had a lot in the mail, either. Actually, nothing in the mail this week! But that's okay, because it's not like I'm hurting for things to read.

First up is a pair of books by Italian writer Elena Ferrante, from the always-excellent Europa Editions. I don't think they can publish a book I wouldn't like. The Lost Daughter is about a woman who regrets having children; the book relates her inner monologue as she's on vacation away from her family.
Days of Abandonment is a similarly raw look at a woman who falls apart when her husband leaves her. Apparently Ferrante is quite the literary sensation in Italy and I'm really, really looking forward to these books. In fact, I may have to take an entire month sometime soon and read nothing but my growing stack of Europa Editions!
Last but not least I got The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel this week. The teacher in my creative writing class recommends her as a master of the short story form so I figure if I'm trying to write short stories I might as well feed my head with some good ones!

What are you feeding your head with this week? What's new on your bookshelf? Have a great weekend!

More Friday Finds at ShouldbeReading.wordpress.com.

10 comments:

Mystica said...

These look very nice finds!

ImageNations said...

You have given me an author to look out for. Thanks

bermudaonion said...

The Lost Daughter sounds very intriguing because it's about something people would never talk about.

Anonymous said...

i have read a few of Hempel's works; she is good. i was directed to her for an example of Dangerous Writing, though (another example would be Chuck Palahniuk). I am curious about this collection. Looking forward to your thoughts on it.

~L

Anonymous said...

know you are a film buff.. a film was made of Days of Abandonment (in Italian), but I haven't heard much more than that about it. here is the wiki link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_giorni_dell%27abbandono

I agree with BermudaOnion, The Lost Daughter does sound intriguing for that very reason

~L

Zibilee said...

The Lost Daughter has captured my interest, and I will be eager to hear what you think of it. The others sound great as well. I am always interested in short story collections, and love it when someone can recommend a good one to me, so I hope you enjoy the Hempel too.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I love the Europa Editions as well, and hope to add to that collection --enjoy Marie

Anonymous said...

Nice finds, Marie.

Have a nice weekend.

Pam said...

I have never heard of Ferrante, but those two books sound fascinating. I'll be looking for them at my local library.

Col (Col Reads) said...

Europa Editions is new to me, but I'll be checking it out. Thanks, Marie!