Library Loot - 5.15.09

Yesterday the Booking Through Thursday prompt asked if we consider ourselves "book gluttons" - that is, constantly adding more and more books to our TBR shelves when we can't possibly read what we own already. I personally think that should be a requirement of a book blogger: you must be willing to bring more books into the house than you can possibly read in a lifetime, and still seem unfilled if you can't buy more on a regular basis.

Here is a case in point: Last night I visited my local library to pick up 5 books that were available from my list of requested books. I still have 9 books on hold. In the month of May (and we are only half way through the month) I have purchased 8 books. I need to read approximately 12 books between and June 15 for my Master's program. I will be attending the Book Expo of America (BEA) May 28-31 in NYC -- and I know I am sure to find new releases that I MUST have now. Can you understand why I titled yesterday's post: Is there a 12 step program for Bibliophiles?!

Now perhaps if I were a speed reader like some of you, this would be no problem. But alas, I am not. I savor every word of the books that I read (at a relatively slow pace) and for those books that I need to study this summer - I will also take notes. I am hoping to balance my reading time between today (my official last day of school for the 2008/2009 year!!) and June 15. I WILL accomplish all required reading, but I also hope to read my first 3 ARCs and post reviews.

In the meantime, the 5 books that I picked up from the library this week fit none of the above requirements. They are strictly for my own personal enjoyment:

Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson. I discovered this new-to-me series while "buying indie" a couple of weeks ago. The setting is NYC at the turn of the century, and the titles are all places that I recognize from having lived there from 1984-1988. This is the first in the series.

Feint of Art by Hailey Lind. This is another series that I discovered on the same indie-shopping day. This series focuses on the art world - something of which I have little knowledge, but great desire to learn.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. This book has been on my TBR list since January when I first read your reviews. However, once it won the Pulitzer for 2009, I bumped it to the top of the list. Surprisingly enough, I only had to wait about 2 weeks to obtain a library copy.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. This book comes highly recommended by Farm Lane Books and since I so enjoy her blog, I figured her recommendations must be good.

Among the Impostors by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I just completed Among the Hidden this past week (review will hopefully happen next week after all final grades have been calculated) and enjoyed it enough to want to read the next book in the series.

Will I will all of these in the allotted time of 3 weeks - along with all my other reading requirements? Probably not. But it will sure be fun trying.