Friday, January 4, 2013

New On the Shelf-Post Christmas Edition


So I didn't really ask for a lot of books this year, and most of them were cookbooks or craft books, which I won't bore you with- basically slow cooking, quilting and papercrafts. I'm sure you'll be seeing the results of those books on the blog sometime soon anyway!

I got three novels- Swimming Home, by Deborah Levy; The Conspiracy, by Paul Nizan; and Tell the Wolves I'm Home, by Carol Rifka Brunt. Swimming Home was shortlisted for the Booker and appealed to me as a quiet literary novel. The Conspiracy is a WW2 thriller and Tell the Wolves was a book that I found browsing and later found out a lot of my friends really loved. A no-brainer!

And since I can't stay out of bookstores, especially used bookstores, I managed to find a few things on my own too.
Between Two Seas is an older Europa Editions title set in southern Italy, about a painter. I couldn't resist!
The Obscene Bird of Night, by José Donoso, is a weird-looking book set in a mental hospital that I just couldn't say no to. We'll see how I do with it. Sometimes I find books by browsing spines for the publisher; this one came from Godine, which often does interesting and unusual fiction.

What's new on your shelf this week?

8 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I hope they're all as good as they look.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I loved Tell the Wolves I'm home, and I bought Swimming Home as an eBook as well. Enjoy them all Marie.

Steph said...

The other day I was lying in bed just having woken up and I picked up Swimming Home from my bedside bookshelf and started it. It's excellent.

I'm sure I've read another Europa by Carmine Abate, something about a Party, or Homecoming, or something. Great writing.

Which reminds me, I've still got to sign up for that Europa Challenge! :)

Harvee said...

Swimming Home is on the list of books I'd like read. Glad to hear it's excellent.

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I'm always happiest when I run across a small treasure of a book that is almost unknown.

Wish that happened more often.

Hope the book you discovered is a rewarding read.

Vasilly said...

Between Two Seas has an amazing cover. Love. Enjoy your books.

Lindsey said...

I received some cookbooks for Christmas too. I think they are kind of fun.

I will definitely have to see what you think about Tell the Wolves I'm Home. I've heard really good things.

Athira said...

I love the cover of The Obscene Bird of Night!! I would buy it just for that. I hope the book is great too - looking forward to your thoughts.