Wednesday 13 February 2013

the joy of belonging to a local library

Having access to free books from the local library is such a blessing! I have borrowed from a local library since my earliest school days and I tend to take it for granted.

Now, in this wonderful age of the internet, I can (and do) borrow audio-books, ebooks and print books. In this way, I get to read books that I would otherwise never knew existed.

This month, I have borrowed the following from the library:
  • the books in print
The QuiltCut the ScrapsKaffe Fassett's V&A QuiltsKaffe Knits Again
Prayer Shawl Companion
  • I have yet to open The Quilt: a history and a celebration of an American art form
  • I really liked Cut the Scraps – in fact, I might even put it on my wish-list (I have a birthday in April)
  • The book about Kaffe Fassett’s V&A Quilts was interesting but I won’t be adding to to my collection
  • I have yet to open Kaffe Knits Again
  • Prayer Shawl Companion has some interesting patterns (including one by Kaffe Fassett) but I won’t be adding it to my collection; readers who consider “prayer shawls” a peculiarly Christian expression may be surprised by the inclusion of all faiths and eastern mysticisms
For entertainment, I have a tendency to gravitate towards mysteries and romance novels, as well as biographies and non-fiction books on subjects that interest me – e.g. history, culture.
I have borrowed this digital media (listed alphabetically by title for convenience):
  • A Lady of Expectations by Stephanie Laurens (e-book) -- finished
    - Jack Lester has to find a bride but where can he find the perfect woman?
  • A Man’s Heart by Lori Copeland (audiobook) -- finished
    - after the death of her father and her best friend, a young woman struggles to salvage the farm, honour a promise and win back the man whose heart she broke
  • Captain Thunderbolt and His Lady by Carol Baxter (e-book) -- slowly reading
    - the story of Australian bushrangers Frederick Ward and Mary Ann Bugg; I’ve only read a couple of chapters and am finding it fairly dry
  • Old Tokyo by Sumiko Enbutso (e-book) -- so far I have only read the introduction
    - a walking tour of Tokyo’s old downtown
  • The Golden Mountain by Irene Kai (audiobook) -- reading
    - the story of four generations of Chinese women and their relationship to USA (the “golden mountain”)
  • Town in a Blueberry Jam by B.B. Haywood -- finished
    the first book in a mystery series featuring amateur sleuth, Candy Holliday
  • Under the Summer Sky by Lori Copeland (e-book) -- finished
    - a romance set in North Dakota in the late 1800s; written by a Christian author, there is a list of discussion questions at the end of the book
What have you been reading lately?

9 comments:

  1. I have a copy of "Cut the Scraps" and I love it, though I've not made anything from it yet. I've read a number of Stephanie Laurens' books, but not that one.

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  2. I'm SUCH a reader. I still have my Bookmobile library card from 6th grade. Since I got my Kindle, I've tended to read a lot of stuff I download for free, so a mix of classics and "romantica" - think romance novels with rather explicit sex. It's a little disconcerting to hop from throbbing body parts to Jane Austen. I've also powered through Julia Spencer-Fleming's books featuring Episcopalian priest Clare Fergusson and police chief Russ Van Alstyne. She's definitely on my favorite authors list, along with Deborah Crombie (Duncan Kincaid/Emma James series) and Joshilyn Jackson.

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  3. I've been reading a series by Laurie King of Sherlock Holmes where Conan Doyle left off....also from my local library in e-book format.

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  4. I am a huge library user. I am on our local library board and have worked at the library a few times over the years. I am a fast reader and I used to devour books. Since I started sewing and blogging my reading has slowed down but I always have a pile of books by my bed waiting for me to get interested. A few years ago I decided if I really don't like a book I'm not obligated to finish it. Surprisingly there have only been one or two books I haven't finished. I started The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry on the weekend. It hasn't grabbed me yet- third chapter in - but I'm going to continue on.

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  5. Great posting. I work part time in a library, so I see all the latest and greatest books. Sometimes there are too many on my wish list. I've just read and enjoyed "Life Sentence" by Judith Cutler. It tells the story of a woman detective who is trying to solve the mystery of a woman who is in a coma.

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  6. cut the scraps looks really good, I'm not a Kaffe fassett fan, have you ever read Weary Dunlop's biography ? or Long walk to Freedom - Nelson Mandela ? I loved both these books. The golden mountain sounds interesting, happy reading !

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  7. I just read "Love Anthony" by Lisa Genova which was excellent. Her depiction of autism from the viewpoint of a child was uncanny. Also "Sunday Morning Quilts" which I didn't really care for on first look but really grew on me and is now on my Amazon wish list. Both were requested from my Library Inter-Loan System (LOVE!!!).

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  8. we use our library a lot. I was disappointed they didn't have many crochet books. we like to rent DVDs from the library.

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  9. Ooh, I love how you can get Kaffe's books from your library! Lately I've been reading teaching books but I need to finish Anna Karenina.

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