It’s time for Saturday Shout-Outs!
Here are some of the books I’ve discovered this week through my fellow book bloggers:
![EnglishStories[1]](http://www.alifeinbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/EnglishStories1.jpg "EnglishStories[1]")
SFP at pages turned listed her last books of 2009 and among them was a book that caught my eye: The English Stories by Cynthia Flood. At first I thought that I could count the book towards the Typically British Challenge, but further investigation revealed that the author is actually Canadian. So that means it can go towards the Canadian Book Challenge instead!
Once again Jenny is adding to my TBR pile by writing about yet another British-themed book, Watching the English by Kate Fox. I already have requested a copy from a local library.
There appears to be a bit of theme going on with this week’s shout-outs. This book shows up compliments of Molly at My Cozy Book Nook, who reviewed Ian Sansom’s The Case of the Missing Books, and thus reminded me that I actually own a (as yet unread) copy of this book already. Since she enjoyed it so much, I’m thinking about moving it up in the TBR queue (that was a nod to Jenny right there!). And even better, it will count towards a couple challenges, including my own Bibliophilic Books Challenge. (You have joined already, right?)
OK, this one breaks with the theme, but when I saw the cover of The Far Traveler on Eva’s Library Loot post earlier this week, my eyes and ears pricked up, particularly since my home province is the site of an early Viking settlement, L’Anse aux Meadows. Luckily, a local library has a copy, so I’ve got this one on the list to read at some point.
And that’s it for this week!
I loved The Case of the Missing Books (and how can you not love, love, love that cover?) and have had Watching the English on my wish list for a long time now. I’ll be curious to see what you think of it since you’ll be getting to it long before I do.
Well, I wouldn’t bet money on that, Kristen! Unfortunately, I have a habit of getting books from the library and then having to return them unread, even after renewing them the maximum number of times. But hopefully Watching the English will be one of those that grabs me from the get-go.
Hello. It is good to see Katie Fox getting some attention. May I correct one minor error? Katie writes about Englishness. Britishness is a whole other concept. As for Englishness, there are many, many contemporary writers that have tried to sum up what defines the English. “Watching the English” is occasionally painful but Katie is the only writer to get it 90% right. I hope you enjoy the book.
Thanks for the clarification, Anthony.
I suppose any commentary on a culture is not going to get it perfect but I’m glad to hear Watching the English is about as good as it gets.
Glad to have recommended another book for your pile! I hope your library gets you Watching the English soon.
Yes, I don’t know whether to thank or curse you!
I read The Far Traveler a few years ago and loved it! I wouldn’t mind owning it (as I bet it’s out in paper now)–I originally borrowed it from the library. Hope you enjoy it as well.
Depending on how much I enjoy it, I may end up buying a copy as well. I have a little collection of Newfoundland-related books so this might be one I’ll add to it. Glad to hear the book left such a postive impression on you!