Illustration by: Oronska-Katarzyna
I was reading through this older post about library holds (What’s on hold at your library?) and discovered I’ve read quite a few, if not all of these books on my list! I thought an update would be nice, and upon reflection, I’m so happy to be able to access these books from the library – over purchasing and draining my bank account. Sadly, too many of these books didn’t really work out for me, so how great is it that they were only borrowed from the library? What a wonderful money saver you are beloved library!
Crying for the Moon, by Mary Walsh: A hotly anticipated first novel, I assumed it would hold some of Walsh’s signature humour. Hmmm. NO. This was a strong DNF (did not finish) I made it to page 32. If you are a reader requiring Trigger Warnings, Mary Walsh’s debut is not for you. I don’t normally have trouble with this, and can read just about any subject matter, yes, be disturbed and uncomfortable, but me thinks Ms. Walsh laid it on rather thickly. Page after page after page of violent physical abuse, sexual assault, rape, predatory pedophiles, drugs, abuse, and on and on it went. I couldn’t do it any longer beyond those 32 pages. Where is the light? It was too much, almost as though Walsh was working too hard to try to destroy and upset her readers. Honestly, I had bad dreams involving my daughter at night after reaching page 32- the kind where I actually had to wake myself up and shake out the dream from my head.
So, I woke up that morning knowing that I would be returning this one to the library. I doubt I will pick it up at a later time to see if it has any kind of the “funny” (as it is blurbed) or light in the tunnel.
Hum if You Don’t Know the Words, by Bianca Marais: I actually received this one as a Netgalley ebook, and also a finished hardcopy from Penguin Random House Canada. It was funny because I had just picked up the book from the library, when the mail arrived with my very own copy. You already know how much I loved this one, it made my Best Read So Far in 2017 and I gave it 5-stars.
Heretics, by Leonardo Padura: This is a door-stopper of a novel, and one where I only had 7-days to read because of other library patrons placing holds on it. It was incredibly dense and descriptive writing and became too inaccessible to accomplish reading in a short time frame. So I returned it and haven’t considered returning to it at this time.
The Vanishing Futurist, by Charlotte Hobson: This was on the shortlist for the Walter Scott Prize (Historical Fiction). But meh, I gave it a 2.5 star rating. I didn’t see this one capturing the Walter Scott Prize that June at all. It was okay, pretty dull read and nothing terribly exciting in it. It just didn’t pull me in and I would look at it reluctantly before picking it up – a sign that the book wasn’t really working out for me.
Ferocity by Nicola Lagioia: This one I was able to get as an e-galley. I don’t think it’s out until the Fall 2017 and I wasn’t able to get through too much of this one. If I remember correctly, there was a confusing array of characters and a very flat-telling tone to the story. I cancelled my hold at the library and moved on.
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy: I actually won this from a Goodreads Giveaway! It’s an ARC sitting on my shelf that should be read in the very near future! So I was able to give up my place in the long line of holds for this one and have my own paper copy.
See What I have Done, by Sarah Schmidt. I was able to find an ebook for this one as well. I started to read it one day, but it was kind of flat for me? I have it on my e-reader, so I can return to it whenever the mood may strike. I think it might be one of those where you have to be in the right kind of mood to read it. I wasn’t finding the writing sensational or compelling, so it could be a mood type of thing.
All We Shall Know, by Donal Ryan: I gave this one 3.5 stars. Donal Ryan creates incredibly wounded and broken characters that are fantastic to read. At only 180 pages it felt like you were reading a much longer book – and that wasn’t a bad thing at all! Melody Shee is a 33-year-0ld woman that is now pregnant by her 17-year-old Traveller student, Martin. Her marriage, already volatile and broken, ends and she contemplates suicide on a daily basis. While Melody is lamenting at her life and where she is at right now, she also remembers how she destroyed her best friendship with another broken and sad girl in school. To read of these characters and their stories was really great, however as it nears the end, the predictability of it, and knowing how it was going to end took away some of its power over me. My favourite of Donal Ryan’s remains The Thing About December.
The Valentine House, by Emma Henderson: So I specifically requested the library order this one in. I picked it up, read three or four pages of it, and had to return it. I’m certain it was because another book came in that I needed to be read? Yes, I’m pretty sure it was because I was reading Are You Sleeping for a review deadline – which I can show next in line:
Are you Sleeping, by Kathleen Barber: I did receive an ARC paperback of this one by Simon & Schuster Canada in advance of its release date, and reviewed it here. I really enjoyed the format this book used to tell the story. That format was a real winner for me.
The Tidal Zone, by Sarah Moss. This one is still showing as On Order and isn’t available yet. So it waits for me – her arresting stare continues to haunt me as I wait patiently for this one to come in.
And finally, we have Let Go My Hand, by Edward Docx. The library does have this one in, and I cancelled my hold on it because I now have it available in ebook format. I just haven’t been able to get to it yet.
So pretty good right? I have touched just about every single book I listed as being On Hold at my library! I have to give myself a little pat on the back for sticking to a list of books I mapped out for myself to read! :-)
How are you all doing with your library hauls and holds?
You might also like
