Book Haul – September / October 2018

We are less than three months away from the end of the year, and I still have quite a few books left to read in order to complete my ‘EU still 28’ reading project. Last month, I realised that I needed to buy some more of the books on my predetermined list. I obviously also took the opportunity to order a couple of other ones in preparation for winter, although I’m not normally a seasonal reader. Every excuse is a good one when it comes to justify buying books, though!

Below are the nine newest additions to my shelves:

 

Tula by Jurgis Kuncinas

Written by the Lithuanian author Jurgis Kuncinas, Tula takes place in a poor neighbourhood in Vilnius. The narrator dwells in the fringes of society and meets various other curious inhabitants of the same area. I don’t know much more about this book, which I believe also involves a love story.

 

The Misfit by Oliver Friggieri

I’ve already finished this short novella by the Maltese writer Oliver Friggieri. It tells the story of Baruch, a young man who was struggling to find his own identity, while coming to terms with the death of his dear Professor. I will write a review on it soon.

 

The Physics of Sorrow by Georgi Gospodinov

Even after reading the blurb, I can’t fully understand what this book is about, which leaves me unsure about whether I’m going to like it or not. It seems to use the myth of the Minotaur to explore the mindset of Eastern Europeans. I needed a book to read by a Bulgarian author and this was one of the few I managed to find.

 

Glister by John Burnside

After reading and loving The Dumb House around two years ago, I became extremely curious about the work of the Scottish author John Burnside. Glister is set in Innertown, where children live in terror because of a series of disappearances. The authorities say that the missing are simply runways, but a policeman has a different opinion. I expect it to be beautifully written.

 

Winter by Ali Smith

Despite not having been overly impressed by Autumn, I decided to give Ali Smith another chance and read Winter, the second book in her seasonal quartet, since I’ve heard and read mostly positive assessments on it. It deals with the issues people have to face when living in a post-truth era.

 

Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson

I haven’t read any of Jeanette Winterson’s books yet, although I have been meaning to do so for a while. The only reason I decided to start with this one is because I fell in love with the beautiful cover, in spite of it being a hardback (which I don’t tend to like). As the title suggests, it is a collection of short stories with Christmas as the main topic. It also features some recipes appropriate for the season.

 

The Mine by Antti Tuomainen  

This book has been on my wish list for a while, so I decided to finally read it for the ‘EU still 28’ project. An investigative reporter wants to uncover the truth about a mining company which has been responsible for an environmental disaster in a small town in Finland. It deals with corruption and family relationships.

 

Panorama by Dusan Sarotar

This book by the Slovenian author Dusan Sarotar is a mix of fiction, journalism and travelogue. A group of exiles tells personal stories, while the readers are taken on a journey from northern to southern Europe. I don’t know much more about it, but, having flicked through it, the paragraphs are exceedingly long and it features some photographs.

 

Journey by Moonlight by Antal Szerb

Journey by Moonlight is supposed to be both moving and funny. The main character, Mihaly, misses his bohemian youth. After getting married, he goes on honeymoon with his wife to Italy, where they will have to come to a decision about their future. It also seems to delve into the life of the bourgeois.

 

Have you read any of these books? Tell me in the comments!