Despite its inability to stock certain of the more obscure books (ahem!) I want to read, I really do love my local library! A case in point is a couple of titles I recently brought home with me. I *am* trying very hard not to buy any more books just at the moment, but there were a couple I wanted very much to explore:
“The Sandcastle” is of course the result of Liz’s Great Iris Murdoch Readalong. I’ve been wondering if I should join in and I was intrigued by the sound of this one so I decided to borrow a copy rather than doing my usual clickety-click buying thing… I’ve dipped into the first chapter and am interested – so I may actually read my first Murdoch!
As for “Flaneuse”, I’ve loved the sound of this one since I first heard about it; the temptation to buy was there also, but as the library stocked it I reserved it. The first couple of pages are marvellous – but as I’m currently in the middle of Muriel Spark’s “Robinson” both of these will have to wait. Very frustrating…. I shall just have to give up sleep!
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Jan 16, 2018 @ 06:25:04
You have beautiful collection of books.
Resisting the temptation of not buying book is one thing many readers face.
I hope after you finish your current book and gain some rest and sleep to discover these two books
1- Flaneur by Federico Castigaliano
1- walking in berlin by Franz Hessel
Jan 16, 2018 @ 10:44:49
I *could* simply have bought these, but I’m trying to be good! And thank you for the recommendations – more to add to the list…
Jan 16, 2018 @ 07:14:10
Does your library take requests? I’ve been a member of my local library for over 30 years, and I’ve only just discovered that they will do this, and I can even put in a request online – which I have done a dozen times in the last year when someone’s reviewed a book I want to read and the library doesn’t have it. (I even asked them to subscribe to Peirene Press, but alas, that was a bridge too far.)
Jan 16, 2018 @ 10:32:59
They do, although I also discovered this recently! You can recommend titles – I did so with several British Library Crime Classics, and they got them all in! I don’t imagine they’d get everything you requested in – and £800 on an obscure book about iconoclasm would be a bridge too far – but it’s lovely that they’re responsive to readers’ needs! 🙂
Jan 16, 2018 @ 11:54:03
Yes, I do love my library:)
Jan 16, 2018 @ 08:38:40
When book buying is on pause the library is just the best thing. Even though my library only has a few shelves of works in English, I love visiting it to see what’s there that I hadn’t spotted before and for a small section, it has a high calibre of works available. No idea how they source them or decide what to purchase, but I love the surprise of that. I must visit this week, thanks for the reminder!
Jan 16, 2018 @ 10:31:38
Browsing the shelves is definitely fun. I love the fact that you can have such random, serendipitous finds! Happy browsing!
Jan 16, 2018 @ 09:09:47
I would love to love my library, but at the moment we are not on speaking terms due to the fact that they have changed their system to one which proclaims in its marketing that it is ‘Better’. Given that it has failed to provide me with any of the books I have requested for the last two months, (and not because they are with other readers) I beg to differ!
Jan 16, 2018 @ 10:26:07
I can understand your frustration – fortunately, my local library tends to get the books in when I request them, which is nice… 🙂 Of course, if they don’t stock them I’m a bit up a gumtree…
Jan 16, 2018 @ 09:55:29
I seem to remember enjoying The Sandcastle very much, so I hope you do too. You remind me how much I like a library, but with so many books at home, how rarely I go. I should take a leaf out of your book.
Coincidentally, I am also reading Robinson by Muriel Spark, really enjoying it too.
Jan 16, 2018 @ 10:25:09
I tend not to use the library as much as I should for the same reasons as you. But if it stops me buying more books for the time being I think it’s a good move! Robinson is just wonderful, isn’t it? It’s too long since I read any Spark!
Jan 16, 2018 @ 18:27:38
I try to use the opposite reasoning: with so many books available from the library why buy books. I do buy books but it helps me limit my buying significantly.
Jan 17, 2018 @ 09:33:49
It’s a good way of thinking – although for the more obscure titles, I need to resort to buying… 😉
Jan 17, 2018 @ 13:40:22
Most of the books I own are obscure(ish), expensive books, gifts etc. If they’re easy to get or cheap to buy I usually get rid of them. I don’t own a physical Dickens book for example.
Jan 17, 2018 @ 13:49:32
Yes, that’s sensible – so many books are readily available, we should concentrate on the difficult ones! 🙂
Jan 16, 2018 @ 14:38:19
I’ve had my eye on the Flaneuse. I’ll look forward to your review!
Jan 16, 2018 @ 15:43:49
It appeals to me a lot, that one. I may pick it up next… 🙂
Jan 16, 2018 @ 18:24:17
Ive always been a fan of public libraries. Without them I would never have discovered so many writers like Camus, Tolstoy or Dickens since I had an appetite for books far in excess of my parent’s budget. The way the UK is decimating the public library system is appalling and gets me angry.
So yes I do use the library even though it takes time to get new releases of the more literary type of fiction and a request for people like Murdoch involve them going into the basement archive to retrieve a very battered looking edition.
Jan 17, 2018 @ 09:46:49
Couldn’t agree more – I was the same from an early age as we couldn’t afford much in the way of books. I really think the current UK government want a thick population so they can get away with their corruption, and cutting the access to books is one way to do it…
Jan 16, 2018 @ 18:26:23
I hope you enjoy Flâneuse! I loved it! And – let me brag about this just a bit! – I actually met Lauren a few years ago, and she’s lovely. I always find it’s an added bonus to a good book, when you find out the author is something of a kindred spirit…
Jan 17, 2018 @ 09:37:50
It’s looking good so far! And I’m jealous – the author sounds like a fascinating woman! 🙂
Jan 16, 2018 @ 18:59:15
Ooh, Flaneuse looks very interesting I’d love to hear what you think about that one. I, too, love my local library and the broader Lancashire library service which is really good at keeping up to date with books and has a fascinating array of books in stock. So far this year I’ve managed to buy zero books, which I think is a record, and my library is certainly part of the reason for that. Long live the library service!
Jan 17, 2018 @ 09:33:24
It’s very interesting so far – chiming in with my feminist sensibilities, too! I can reserve items from two counties, which is helpful but I need to limit myself to borrowing books I think I’ll read *now*!!
Jan 16, 2018 @ 19:52:40
I don’t know what I’d do without my local library, despite the fact that our province-wide interlibrary system serves fewer than a million people and has limited resources.
Jan 17, 2018 @ 09:32:26
I guess any library system is better than not having one at all – we need to ensure access to books and culture!
Jan 16, 2018 @ 21:09:27
My 2018 book-buying ban means I’m rediscovering the joys of my library. And they definitely are joys! I’ve not read The Sandcastle, it sounds interesting, I’ll look forward to your review 🙂
Jan 17, 2018 @ 09:31:51
They *are* joys – if I really let myself go I would be dragging home piles of books from the library!!
Jan 16, 2018 @ 21:20:06
I am intrigued by Flaneuse. Will look forward to what you think. I, too, have been using my local library. I had so many holds I thought myself ridiculous and deleted almost all of them yesterday but have already put a new one down after reading On Bookes review of an Orwell book I had no knowledge of. The library does help in keeping my shelves lighter but not very good with the TBR challenge. It really is a desperate battle of the books unread vis all those that are still out there waiting to be caught. 🙂
Jan 17, 2018 @ 09:31:24
Flaneuse is doing well so far – very thought-provoking. I try not to reserve too many library books because I end up borrowing them and never reading them – but I aim to try harder with these two!
Jan 16, 2018 @ 21:30:38
I’m trying to use the library less and read more of the books on my shelve, but finds like this make the idea of visiting too tempting. I know my library has most of Iris Murdoch’s books in reserve fiction and if I don’t start reading her before Liz’s readalong ends I probably never will,
Jan 17, 2018 @ 07:45:24
You’ve got till the end of 2019, Jane, so hopefully we’ll tempt you in at some point …
Jan 17, 2018 @ 09:30:42
I *should* read the shelves more, but I guess if library books stop me filling the house with even more books that has to be a good thing. And I *would* like to try to read at least one Murdoch book…. 😉
Jan 25, 2018 @ 23:29:34
I feel as though you might enjoy the art and school-setting aspects of The Sandcastle, but I completely relate to the question of how to fit them all in. Whatever does make it into the proper stack, I hope you enjoy it immensely!
Jan 26, 2018 @ 09:33:08
Yes, I do think that academic arty side will appeal – it’s just a case of time, as always…
Jan 17, 2018 @ 07:46:14
Lovely post and I’m glad they’ve got the relatively new edition of The Sandcastle, too. It is a great one, although Under the Net feels like her most “European” novel to me (influenced by French writers as it was) so might be attractive, too. Happy reading!
Jan 17, 2018 @ 09:29:29
Oddly, I struggled with “Under the Net” – tried it twice and failed. We shall see how I get on with this one!
Jan 18, 2018 @ 08:23:32
That is a bit weird as it feels like the most “you” of Iris’ novels. I’m loving The Sandcastle, bits I hadn’t remembered feeling so fresh, old loved scenes popping back up again.
Jan 18, 2018 @ 09:09:05
It *is* weird – I expected to like it, but I tried it twice and failed both times to engage. Odd….
Jan 17, 2018 @ 18:31:48
I often have trouble finding books I want at my library, too. But on the other hand, my requests for some of these books have encouraged the library to look into them and purchase them. Which makes me very happy. 🙂 It *is* frustrating to have to wait to dive in, isn’t it?
Jan 17, 2018 @ 19:00:05
I like the fact that libraries will be responsive to requests – it’s great if we can bring a wider range of books to general access! And yes – I just want to read everything at once! 🙂
Jan 18, 2018 @ 10:01:12
I can’t wait to hear your views on Flaneuse. I had to write an article about flanerie (along with patterns for a knitted flaneur and flaneuse c1850) for a knitting magazine (probably the weirdest project I’ve ever done) so I did quite a lot of research around flanerie and gender. Alas, this book wasnt published until afterwards but I’m still keen to read it.
Jan 19, 2018 @ 15:29:16
Oooh, I really enjoyed Flaneuse when I read it, I hope you do too! And a Murdoch Readalong? I’ll have to think about that, what with my terrible record with readalongs – but then I do like Murdoch – but then I had a massive binge on her a couple of summers ago so is it too soon?…
Jan 19, 2018 @ 15:48:57
I’m liking it very much so far. As for Murdoch – I shall try really hard, but I’m not much good at sticking to challenges either!!
Jan 20, 2018 @ 01:48:38
Yes, our libraries do have some good books, even if they’re not always the ones we want. The Murdoch books are pretty much weeded at our local library. I’ve heard great things about Flaneuse. I have started The Sandcastle, and it’s very good, as well as reasonably short. So at least I will read one for the Readalon.
Jan 20, 2018 @ 14:26:08
Flaneuse is shaping up very well – I’m finding it very unputdownable. Hopefully I will get to the Murdoch – though not sure when… !