These are some books that I have recently borrowed from the library, including Relics, which is Book Crossing book. I finished reading Death’s Jest-Book a few days ago and have today finished Jenny Diski’s On Trying to Keep Still, which I could hardly put down – I found it a compulsive read.
More in my next post on these two books.
I have yet to start the other books. I find it impossible not to borrow books even though I have plenty of my own that are unread.
I may read John Brewer’s Sentimental Murder next. I fancied reading something different and thought this sounded interesting when I read about on Of Books and Bicycles’ blog. The preface states that it is the investigation of an 18th century killing and attempted suicide. It explores “the relations between history and fiction, storytelling and fact, past and present.” So, Brewer examines the facts relating to the murder of Martha Ray, the mistress of the Earl of Sandwich, by James Hackman, a young clergyman. He also looks at how this killing has been retold by journalists, novelists, poets, doctors, biographers and historians over the last two centuries.
I’ve not got on too well with some of Anne Tyler’s books in the past,but maybe I’ll like The Amateur Marriage. The blurb says that it is an “achingly poignant and unforgettable novel”. I hope so.
The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West looks like a complete contrast to the Tyler book, being set in fashionable Edwardian England.
Jane Austen’s Persuasion is a re-read, always satisfying. However, Joseph Roth is an unknown author to me. I think Susan Hill was recommending his books a while ago so I hope this one The Emperor’s Tomb about the last days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire will live up to its promise.
BooksPlease 
This pile should keep you going for a while:) I’ll be interested to hear what you think of them. I actually read very little fiction, almost all my books these days are to do with my various interests. I don’t know quite when that happened as I used to read huge amounts of fiction though nothing very demanding mentally. My taste runs to very low brow stuff like Agatha Christie and Margery Allingham – nothing violent or unpleasant, just an escape into a fantasy world really.
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I am so glad I’m not the only compulsive borrower. The trouble in my case is that I can order books from the library on-line – and do – in vast numbers and then of course they all turn up at the same time and I don’t have enough space on my ticket to take them all. There could be worse dilemmas I suppose!
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Rowan, I like a wide range of reading and do like to escape into a fantasy world as well.Ann, oh yes I can and do order library books on line and I use my husband’s ticket as well! Then I have to make sure that I renew them before the overdue fines kick in!!
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I have heard good things about the Brewer books and hope to get my hands on a copy. I love Persuasion–I read it for the first time last year. And the Edwardians sounds good, too!
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