Recent Arrivals

I am having a devil of a time writing about books these days. As soon as I sit down at the computer to write about a book I’ve finished my mouth goes dry and my mind goes blank. Is there such a thing as blogging anxiety? I can’t seem to find a way around this, so, instead of posting about any of the books I’ve read in March I’m going to share my recent book purchases with you.

Journey by Moonlight by Antal Szerb – EmilyBooks has quickly become one of my favorite blogs. Emily’s enthusiasm, humor and insight really inspire me to try books that I normally wouldn’t think of reading especially lots of translated fiction. She is so good at selling books and everything she writes about appeals to me. That is a gift. She is the reason I started reading The Leopard (which I will finish soon) and the reason I bought Journey by Moonlight, which sounds simply amazing.

The Smiles of Rome edited by Susan Cahill and The Villa Diana by Alan Moorehead – I bought these two books when I was planning my trip to Italy (which is back on, by the way. I know.) They were random purchases from suggestions on Amazon, but I think they’ll both be pretty good books to get me in the mood for Italia.

A World of Love, The Heat of the Day and The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen – I still haven’t finished The House in Paris, but I know that I will want to read more by Elizabeth Bowen when I do. Her writing is special – that’s the only word I can use. She is so good at describing those indescribable feelings and emotions that we all have and her confident prose is invigorating.

Kindred by Octavia Butler – My book group is discussing this in April and I think it will lead to a brilliant discussion. I’ve read one other book by Butler (The Parable of the Sower) and liked it so I am looking forward to reading her most well-known book.

The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey – This is the May choice for my book group. It’s a bit of a different read for us, but one I am excited about.

What have you purchased lately?