Recent Acquisitions

Posted on | August 8, 2010 | 16 Comments

Strictly speaking this installment of Recent Acquisitions are not that recent but from early last month. I forgot to post them whilst I was away (despite adding one of them to my summer reading pile) but wanted to share them with you before the latest -and Booker longlist heavy- acquisitions.

Kirsty of Oxford University Press generously sent me a couple more Oxford World Classics. Candide and Other Stories was one I wanted to read after Amanda of The Zen Leaf told me how surprisingly funny she was finding it (her subsequent review); Voltaire has always intimidated me but I did not realise that Candide was a satire. Nana by Émile Zola is a novel by another French great that I have been wanting to read since reading this review by Mae of Mad Bibliophile earlier this year.

Looking for Alaska by John Green is the book I have already shared in my summer reads post; after loving Paper Towns I bought both Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines and excited about reading them (both were loved by Nymeth).

Rosamund of Penguin Books kindly sent me a couple of their newest Viking titles. I very rarely read memoirs and never any of this kind but After You: Letters of Love, and Loss, to a Husband and a Father by Natascha McElhone caught my eye; the actress continued to write letters to her husband (working in L.A. whilst he was in London, she regularly wrote to him) after his sudden death whilst she was seven months pregnant with their third child. I’m a fan of McElhone for her role in the TV show Californication and I remember the news of her husband’s death; she has published her letters and diary extracts from a time of unrelenting grief.

Also from Penguin came The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer, which sounds like a beautiful love story; a magazine review of the book brought it to my attention. I have to admit to find the sheer size and weight of it daunting.

Have you read any of these books or looking forward to hearing more about any in particular?

Comments

16 Responses to “Recent Acquisitions”

diane
August 8th, 2010 @ 1:14 pm

I want The Invisible Bridge!!! I did read an abundance of Katherines ane enjoyed the audio version.
Nymeth
August 8th, 2010 @ 1:49 pm

Amanda made me want to read Candide as well. Also, can’t wait to hear what you think of the other John Greens
Simon (Savidge Reads)
August 8th, 2010 @ 2:19 pm

My little sister loved Looking For Alaska. I have The Invisible Bridge but its just too massive, think it might be a book for the plane to Brazil or when I get back.
JoAnn
August 8th, 2010 @ 2:36 pm

Would love to hear your thoughts on Nana! My next Zola will be The Belly of Paris.
Darren @ Bart's Bookshelf
August 8th, 2010 @ 2:57 pm

Can’t wait to see what you think of the two John Green’s!
Stephanie
August 8th, 2010 @ 3:59 pm

I have both John Green books but haven’t read either yet. I definitely want to get to them soon!
Jenny
August 8th, 2010 @ 4:26 pm

Those books are pretty–I’ve never read any of them but the John Green, and I (along with half the blogosphere) really enjoyed them. :p
Amanda
August 8th, 2010 @ 4:59 pm

I’m excited to see both Candide and Nana on your list!
Simon T
August 8th, 2010 @ 11:14 pm

I normally wouldn’t read the sort of book Natasha McElhone has written, but read a great review, and loved her in The Truman Show and Ladies in Lavender, so have been tempted. Still haven’t got around to getting it, but… one day, maybe.
Tony
August 9th, 2010 @ 2:07 am

I read ‘Candide’ last year… for about the millionth time (it was a book I had to read for A-levels and University)! It’s a very amusing little piece, but it’s best read with a smattering of philosophy in the background to get the full flavour
Jennifer Dee
August 9th, 2010 @ 9:15 am

I like the sound of ‘The Invisible Bridge’; I have just ordered it off Amazon. I can’t wait to read this one.
Karenlibrarian
August 9th, 2010 @ 2:28 pm

Candide is HILARIOUS. Who’d have thought a French book from the 18th century could be funny? I read it in high school and I still love it. And after the Classics Circuit’s spotlight on Zola, I want to read all his books too. I almost bought Nana yesterday, looking forward to your review.
Mae
August 10th, 2010 @ 4:46 pm

Ah, what a great pile of new books and ta for the linkage! I can’t believe it was more than half a year ago since I’ve read it – it feels like last week. I do hope you enjoy it. I’m looking forward to you review.
Vasilly
August 14th, 2010 @ 7:44 pm

I always love your ‘Recent Acquisitions’ posts! They make me want to go out and buy everything you show us! It’s a good thing for me that I can’t!
Sakura
August 17th, 2010 @ 10:57 pm

An Invisible Bridge and An Abundance of Katherines look great. I especially love the latter title!
Barbara
August 20th, 2010 @ 4:43 pm

I’m about halfway through The Invisible Bridge. I am really into World War II genre (Suite Francaise, The Book Thief, Jeff Shaara,
etc.) It is very good–not a page turner exactly but lots of great characters! After Pillars of the Earth, the size of Invisible Bridge is nothing (and I frequently read on a treadmill)!