Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted my Marg of The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader and Claire of The Captive Reader. Mister Linky is this week at Claire's blog.
I have tried to be pretty prudent in my borrowing and book buying these first few days after New Year, as I still have quite a few books from my previous loot waiting for their turn. Still, I wanted to get a good start with the challenges I'm participating this year and most of the books above will qualify for one challenge or another. There are 6 library books and 2 new purchases I'm going to introduce here. Let's start with the library books:
Jean Bottéro: Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia
When I was a university student majoring in history, my main interest was 19th century -early 20th century, only later have I become more and more interested in older history, and by older I mean really old, I mean millenniums BC, I mean Egypt and Mesopotamia. This book is an easy to follow account of one of the oldest known religions, the religion of Ancient Mesopotamia. I'm reading this at the moment, alternating between this book and Pinkerton's Sister, and I'm totally enjoying both books, and I have already learned some fascinating stuff about the ancient Mesopotamian culture. I'm reading this book for the One, Two! Theme Challenge, and I have a hunch that Mesopotamia as a theme might get an upgrade in my list, especially as Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia wasn't even on my original list.
John Dickinson: We
My mood for some scifi continues. This is a psychological thriller as well as a science fiction novel about a man sent from Earth to a far away icy moon on the fringes of the solar system on a no-return mission. On the lonely station manned by only four persons he has to confront some truths he has never even suspected. Sounds intriguing, and the layout of the text is very reader friendly.
Carolyn Graves-Brown: Dancing for Hathor. Women in Ancient Egypt
This, too, is nonfiction for the One, Two! Theme Challenge, and judging by the contents the book covers well different spheres of women's life in Ancient Egypt.
Mary Hooper: At the Sign of the Sugared Plum
This is a slim YA historical novel telling the story of young Hannah, who is excited for her first trip to London. She is to go and help her sister, who runs a sweetmeats shop. Only this is AD 1665 and the Plague is threatening London. This might end up being one of the books I'll read for the Historical Fiction Challenge. Yet another book that is not on my original list.
Michael Moorcock: Behold the Man
Some more science fiction and a veritable classic this time. This is the story of Karl Glogauer, time traveller and an unlikely Messiah in Palestine in AD 29! Cannot wait to read this!
Adam Thirlwell: Miss Herbert. An Essay in Five Parts
I noticed this book at work and was intrigued. It says in the spine that this is "[a] book of novels, romances and their translators, containing ten languages, set on four continents and accompanied by maps, portraits, squiggles and illustrations." Who could resist that?? The book also contains Thirlwell's translation of Mademoiselle O by Valdimir Nabokov.
That was the last book of my library loot, but I also have these two new books of my own:
Daisy Goodwin: My Last Duchess
I had a coupon giving me 20% off of one purchase from Stockmann's departmant store, and I actually decided to buy something else than a book, but, well, you know how it goes. :) I ended up buying this historical novel. This is a story of a rich New York heiress, whose mother is determinate to marry her daughter into the English aristocracy. It's set in 1890s, a time period that is always a plus for me. My Last Duchess is Goodwin's first novel.
The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister. Ed. by Helena Whitbread
Anne Lister was an independent, landowning woman, who lived 1791-1840. She loved women and kept an honest diary, written partly in code, where she wrote also about her love life. Lister's diaries are an important part of women's history. It's great that Virago has made them easily available with this new paperback edition. I will read this book for the GLBT Challenge. There is also a nice British drama film made last year based on the diaries.
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Last but not least, earlier today I draw the winner of my signed copy of Purge giveaway. Thank you everyone who showed interest in this amazing novel! The winner is Judith of Leeswammes' Blog from The Netherlands. Congratulations Judith! I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I did. I have already contacted Judith and the book will be on its way hopefully already tomorrow.
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