Friday Finds

Hallelujah! I can finally post a Friday Finds that is not a blatant display of my book-loving neuroses. This week I only have four books... can you believe it?!

Craziness...

Anyway, on with the main attraction. Here are the four books I "found" this week:


North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley – I got this YA book recommendation of a girl who struggles with identify/self-esteem issues from the teaser posted on Life in the Thumb. I’d seen this book around, but was wavering up to this point. The reviews on GoodReads.com are more positive than negative, but because I’m still quasi-ambivalent at this point I put it on hold at the library… I can’t see spending money on it (yet).

Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn – I got this book recommendation regarding a recent divorcee who is trying to piece together a life of happiness (and gives off-the-mark advice in the tradition of Emma) from the teaser posted by Beth on Beth Fish Reads. I checked it out on GoodReads.com and the cover alone nearly did me in… definitely on the TBR. I'll check it out from the library (when the library gets it).

Beowulf on the Beach by Jack Murnighan – The subtitle of this book, What to Love and What to Skip in Literature’s 50 Greatest Hits, says what this book is all about. This book is being featured in a reading challenge sponsored by Books on the Nightstand, challenging participants to read at least one of the 50 classics featured in this book during the summer (Memorial Day – Labor Day). To read about my participation in the challenge and/or to join in, read this post here. [Side Note: I went to B&N yesterday to get this book, but they didn't have it... but they ordered it for me, like a good bookstore will do. Just a head's up on availability.]

A Disorder Peculiar to the Country by Ken Kalfus – My Book Lover’s Page-a-Day Calendar highlighted this book and summarized it’s plot as this, “Joyce and Marshall are battling out a nasty divorce right around 9/11—in fact, when Joyce learns of the disaster, she hopes that Marshall, who works in one of the towers, might be out of her hair now. Alas, he survives. Marshall likewise thinks Joyce is dead, and celebrates—too soon. History is brilliantly woven into this tale of escalating domestic hatred to underscore the dark satire.” Dark, sardonic comedy… my cup of tea.