Sunday 21 June 2009

Wandering through the library shelves...

...I didn't take anything out because I coulnd't, but I found some pretty interesting looking books, and not just because of their cover!
I wonder if anybody has read any of these or anything by these authors:

An Invisible Sign of My Own by Aimee Benders.

An Invisible Sign of My Own tells the story of Mona Gray, a math wiz and a high school track star, whose ordinary childhood comes to pieces when her father is stricken with a mysterious illness.

You can't see it from the picture but the copy the library has is an old hardback, battered, with yellowed pages and worn edges. I loved the feeling of it, it looked like a proper library book.
I thought it was a little-known, forgotten and forlorn book, but it turns out it's being made into a movie starring Jessica Alba! A real holy shit! moment.


The Visitor by Maeve Brennan

Recently found in a university archive, The Visitor was written in the mid 1940s but was never published. This miraculous literary discovery deepens the ouevre of Maeve Brennan and confirms her status as one of the best Irish writers of stories since Joyce.

I never read anything by this author, but it looks like I might have missed out on something huge!






The Man with the Dancing Eyes by Sophie Dahl and Anne Morris

I don't know what it is about but an illustrated story for adults will always catch my eye. This looks like a poetic fairytale. Also it's by Roald Dahl's grand-daughter. Something might have rubbed in through the generations?






My Side of the Story by Will Davis

'A coming-of-age tale that combines the coolness of Queer as Folk with the tenderness of Adrian Mole' Elle

This is the second time this book catches my eyes in the library. I'm sure I'll end up reading it soon.






The Kingdom Beyond the Waves by Stephen Hunt

...a hugely engaging, Victorian-style adventure, filled with perilous quests, dastardly deeds and deadly intrigue - perfect for all fans of Philip Pullman and Susanna Clarke .
Professor Amelia Harsh is obsessed with finding the lost civilisation of Camlantis, a legendary city from pre-history that is said to have conquered hunger, war and disease -- tempering the race of man's baser instincts by the creation of the perfect pacifist society.


Why haven't I heard about this book more? It just looks and sounds like it's the epitome of awesomeness!




Just like Tomorrow by Faiza Guene

"a fizzing first-person account of a black teenager's life on a Parisian sink estate" The Glasgow Herald

I think the back says it's the Bridget Jones of the Paris Banlieues. Sold!

7 comments:

Memory said...

I'm not familiar with most of those authors, but I've read some really good things about Stephen Hunt. I recently added his first book, THE COURT OF THE AIR, to my TBR list.

Amanda said...

Thanks for deciding to join the GLBT challenge. Would you like to link just to your general blog or are you going to be putting up a specific post? I'm not too picky...

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Just LIke Tomorrow looks like something I might like if they compare it to Bridge Jones. And My Side of the Story...I think I might have seen it around (saw the first season of Queer as Folk so I'm very interested now. I like GLBT lit though).


Oh, and for YA books...come by the blog and take part in the carnival. You can enter contests or even host your own, though you don't have too. Spread the word. :)

-Lauren

chrisa511 said...

Dammit, Valentina...do you know how much you just added to my wishlist??? ;)

celine said...

I'm on a Jules Verne kick so I would definitely pick up The Kingdom Beyond the Waves

Ana S. said...

I've actually heard great things about Sophie Dahl's writing! I'll definitely give her a try sometime.

valentina said...

Memory,I haven't heard much about this author or his books, but they sound VERY interesting!

Amanda, oops I forgot to do that,I'll do it now!

Lauren, I'm so bad at these things, sorry I missed it!

Chris, sorry:P

Celine, I will too, I have to!


Nymeth, really? her books look all great, so I know I will have to read them one day.