The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrrows
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
In order to stretch out my reading into extra posts, and to build super exciting suspense, I am not going to tell you what I thought of each of these books. Instead, I am going to tell you how I came by Brooklyn, and how wonderful people can be.
Several weeks ago, I was at my friend Melissa's house, and I noticed Brooklyn lying on her countertop. "OH!" I said, shouting maybe a little too loudly, "I really want to read that! I heard about it on The Diane Rehm Show. It sounded really great." After noting my own behavior, I did not even pick up that book to look at the inside flap. I was trying hard to conceal my jealousy and didn't want Melissa to think I was a book poacher.
This was kind of a long time ago, so as I recall, Melissa kind of shrugged and said, "I dunno, It was on the new release shelf, so I picked it up."
Needless to say, I was very envious, having sat in my car in a parking lot for a several minutes to listen to the author and Diane Rehm talk about the dreadful voyage from Ireland to America and all about Eilis' and Father Flood's relationship. I really was interested in this book and had checked my library's new release shelf for this exact book.
A few weeks later I remembered how urgent it was that I find and read this book, so I hopped on the Library website and placed a hold. I was number 45. NUMBER 45! Good Lord. Even with many circulating copies, it would be a while before I got Brooklyn. I settled in to wait. But before that I shot off this sad e-mail to Melissa:
"OMG! I am number 45 in the holds queue for Brooklyn. How did you get it?"
A few days later, I got a call. It was lovely Melissa saying, "I saw Brooklyn on the express shelf again, so I checked it out for you. " Wha? How did she get that very popular book twice? Anyway, beautiful Melissa offered to drop it off at my house later that night. Can you believe it? What a gal! What a peach!
So I read it. I'll compose a wrap up post soon. Aren't you dying to know how I feel about it? I warned you, suspense...
