Big haul from the library

 I look at my present pile of To-Be-Read (TBR) books and I didn’t feel compel to read them. I knew there were something wrong. Something must be wrong with me or with my TBR pile, it doesn’t take me long to decide that it is my book pile.

So on top of the anxiety of a looming job interview, last weekend I began to build up my TBR pile again. 

1.  Airmail by Terry Ravencroft – I saw this in Waterstone, book is filled with author’s correspondence to many of the famous airline companies. Thought it should be funny.
2. Between Assasination – I love the White Tiger read earlier this year and would like to read this short stories rendition. I haven’t read many good short stories for a long time.
3. Middle East, Lonely Planet – I am planning a Middle East backpacking trip in my head. Don’t know when, but the next BIG vacation I am going to take (as soon as my cashflow is positive again) is to cover Turkey, Syria, Jerusalem, Jordan and Egypt.
4. Misadventures in the Middle East – A litmus test for courage, to make sure after reading this, whether my confidence to backpack in Middle East wavers or will it make me more determine?
5. Peony in Love by Lisa See – A Sinophile that I am I like to give this a go.
6. Red Dust by Ma Jian – See reason above. Also aspires to visit Tibet in my lifetime.
7. The Girl on the Landing – Love Salmon Fishing in Yemen River, nothing warms the hearts like Torday’s writing.
8. We are made of glue by Marina Lewycka – For a no-brainer and chill-out read.
9. The Lost Symbol – Dan Brown. Found this book sitting on one week loan. One of my ex-colleague is reading it, would be fun to read alongside. Moreover I could go back to the library and renew my loan every week, I don’t mind. Short circuit my queue from 44 to 0!!!

It’s strange and exhilarating. I went to the Reading central library on a Monday morning and I came out with 9 books! It just seems a lot more interesting books available for pick up on a workday morning, you know, when competition is low, and readers return their books the previous week. My coveted read seems to be sitting pretty on the shelf waiting to be picked up! 

 What’s sitting on my library reservation read? (Broke the covenant of not reserving any new books until I finish my TBR pile!)

1. The Girl who kicked the Hornets’ nest by Stieg Larsson – I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I am at queue number 10.
2. Her Fearful Symmetry – Queue number 5. Love TIme Traveller’s wife, wanted to find out if this is just as good for the million dollar advance paid to Niffenegger.
3. I wanted to try out my first Nick Hornby, read his interview about the book in Metro, week ago. Should be good.

1. Empress and Disappointment with God – I found these two books in the Charity shop. 50p each. Read Yancey’s book a decade ago. It was good. I wanted to read it again to see if I feel the same. well, if it could alleviate my deepest disappointments now, that would serve the purpose.
2. American Wife – loan from a colleague at work, sitting pretty at number 13 Waterstone chart. Worth giving it a go.

Looking at them now, I think this is not a bad immediate TBR pile. Easy and provocative read. Not surprising to find more travel books slipping into my pile (it is my most preferred genre). With the anxiety of job interviews out of the way, I am going to read these all the way to Christmas. 8)