How soon Monday rolls around! I feel like I just wrote this weekly segment and now I'm writing it again. First, my thanks to Sheila at book journey who should be an example to us all. How she gets so much done in a day is beyond me!
So, last week I finally put aside the Man Booker Prize longlist novels. I finished all but one -- The Stars in the Bright Sky, by Alan Warner, which did not arrive in time to complete. After forking out the money for this book once, I didn't want to get another. There will be a seller on Amazon getting a not-so-nice bit of feedback on this one. But that's okay. The last three I read were
In a Strange Room, by Damon Galgut, The Finkler Question, by Howard Jacobson, and The Betrayal, by Helen Dunmore, all reviewed here. As a side note, if anyone wants my copy of The Betrayal, the first person to leave a comment here about it can have it. And I don't care where you live.
Then I finished a book called Frozen Moment by a new (well, new to me) Scandinavian crime fiction author, Camilla Ceder. It's quite good, and I was amazed to find it was her first novel. I haven't done the review yet but it will show up over at the Crime Segments part of my blog this week. I had to laugh -- on the back cover of my book was written "Move Over, Wallander." And speaking of Wallander, he's back on Masterpiece Theater starting this coming Sunday. I've been trying to get Larry to read the Wallander novels, but he's a literary xenophobe, preferring the American crime writers because (and I quote) "they don't have accents." I made him promise to try one Henning Mankell novel if he likes what he sees on Masterpiece on Sunday.
There was a winner in the international Room giveaway last week, and I also wrote a small piece for September's ongoing Agatha Christie Blog Tour, hosted by Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise.
Currently I'm finishing Let the Great World Spin, by Colum McCann. My book group is discussing this tomorrow and I'm not quite done yet.
This week the month ends and we roll over into October, so I'll be switching gears once again. I'm planning to do a month of reading that focuses on independent publishers, featuring mainly books by Unbridled Books (since I seem to have amassed quite a few here recently), starting with one of their most recent books called Panopticon, by David Bajo, and moving on to A Geography of Secrets, by Frederick Reuss over the course of this week. As the month goes on, I'll add other indie press books into the mix as well.
So that's it. Have a lovely reading week!
Congratulations on finishing the Booker longlist (bar one). Well done. Hope you actually liked what you read, on average.
ReplyDeleteSuch I pity I still haven't managed to win Room. I've tried in several giveaways, but no. :-)
Happy reading this week.
Actually, I liked most of them -- probably none of them would go below a 3/5 star rating. But I do have to say that I'm still not over Skippy Dies getting tossed off the shortlist. I just can't let that one go!
ReplyDeleteIf I hear of any more Room giveaways, I'll send you an email.
You've done very well to have gone through the Man Booker Prize list. I hope you enjoy your reads for this week. Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteZee.
If The betrayal is still in the game, i'd love it. You have some great reads this week. All of them are high on my TBR. Have a great week!
ReplyDelete@Zee: thanks!
ReplyDeleteAths: it's yours, for sure! Thanks for taking it. Just send an email with your address. To change the subject, I've heard only really excellent things about Geography of Secrets, so I'm really looking forward to that one.
The Betrayal sounds good...I'm going to add it to my list.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog.
I assume the Betrayal is already spoken for. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteYou will enjoy those two from Unbridled, they are brilliant. I adore Wallander and even enjoy the televised version. Have a great week reading. My Monday: http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/09/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-11.html
I am not familiar with the books you listed, but I'm going to do some research! Thanks for stopping by The Window Seat Reader.
ReplyDelete@Laurel: It's quite good...I'm just picky!
ReplyDelete@Jennifer: Yes, it's gone (you can blame Aths!). I'm so happy you like my Unbridled first selections. I've got quite a few of their books.
@Bailey: It's okay. I read quite off the beaten path, so it's rare that most people are familiar with what I'm reading.
LOL, sorry Jennifer! :)
ReplyDeleteNancy, I actually have both those Unbridled books on my nook, and haven't picked them up. Hmm, maybe I should do them in October.
I'm still impressed that you were able to finish that many Booker contenders -- I might have three of the shortlisted ones done if I'm lucky.
ReplyDeleteHave you contacted Amazon about the seller? They should take responsibility and refund your money if you don't receive the book.
I love that you have a theme each month, I should try that! Have a great week :)
ReplyDeleteYou say I am busy but look at you! :) That's a lot of great reading going on! :D
ReplyDelete