Friday, July 22, 2011

Friday Finds! Always Something New

So, I visited a local Judaica bookshop that I haven't visited for a while, and before I knew what was happening, their very able and persuasive bookseller got me to walk home with The Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God, a short story collection by Israeli writer Etgar Keret. I've always wanted to read him, so I guess now I will! From Kolbo Fine Judaica, Brookline, Mass.

Heart of Iron is a newish book by Russian urban-fantasy author Ekaterina Sedia, about a university student and things gone awry. I loved her first book, The Secret History of Moscow. I picked it up at the Prime Books table at ReaderCon last week.
Finally, for the Europa Challenge I picked up The Sexual Life of an Islamist in Paris, by Leila Marouane, a novel that, I think, kind of does what it says on the package- about a Muslim woman living in Paris. From the Harvard Book Store.

Have you read any of these? What did you think? What's new on your bookshelf this week? More Friday Finds at ShouldbeReading.blogspot.com.

9 comments:

ImageNations said...

heard of none. Personally, I have purchased two books (both autographed): The Chicken Thief by Fiona Leonard and Ama by Manu Herbstein. i would formally share it with readers over the weekend or next week.

Meytal Radzinski said...

If you've never read Keret, you're in for an, um, interesting experience. His writing is bizarre but also good.

Sandy Nawrot said...

I've not heard of any of these, but they sound good. I'm still in IN visiting parents, but when my husband popped up last weekend, I had him bring me "Iron House" by John Hart, which had arrived in the mail. So far good stuff.

bermudaonion said...

What interesting titles!!

Zibilee said...

It sounds like these are all going to be very good, and I have not heard much about them, so you will be my first exposure! I hope that you enjoy them!

Audra said...

I covet all your finds! I have Secret History of Moscow at home to be read someday soon!

Kathleen said...

These are all new to me but they sound interesting.

Anonymous said...

Great finds.

dmc said...

Keret fits more emotion, humanity, and quirk in a five-page story than most writers do in their entire career. The story 'Kneller's Happy Campers' was made into the overlooked movie Wristcutters: A Love Story. I bought that collection as a promotional copy only. When I saw he was speaking at the 2009 AWP I was going to bring it for him to sign, but thought he wouldn't appreciate signing a bootleg copy.