The Welsh Girl (wonderful cover) I've seen blogged about all over the place and feel sure I will enjoy it; two days after I bought it though, I saw it in the library. *Bangs head on desk repeatedly*
Blood River by Tim Butcher was a *must buy* for me as The Poisonwood Bible has given me a bit of an interest in The Congo.
The Virago Book of Grandmothers I just couldn't resist when I saw in it the Oxfam charity shop in Honiton. :-)
Not so Quiet by Helen Zenna Smith was also from Oxfam and is about a female ambulance driver in WW1, another 'must buy' for me. Being a Virago book it's pretty certain to be excellent.
Tales of Terror from Blackwood's Magazine - again from Oxfam (they did well from me on Monday). I've never heard of Blackwood's magazine but there are some unusual authors in this so I'm hoping to find some spooky short stories I haven't already read.
To Open the Sky by Robert Silverberg is an eBay buy and was recced to me by another blogger.
So, that's it. The sad story of my downfall. But oh! just look at them - aren't they gorgeous?
11 comments:
LOL why do we seem to get so pathetically happy and guilty at the same time when we buy books? lol..
Hi Pat! Ludicrous isn't it? After all, by buying books we're keeping a lot of people in jobs. Plus, we're making ourselves happy and not actually spending obscene amounts of money in doing so!
Ooooh, delicious! There's nothing like coming home with a good bag-full, is there? And the delightful removal (or at least lessening) of guilt when they've come from charity shops, bootsales etc (cost less, money to good cause, etc) only eggs one on! And happiness is not to be sneezed at - and when so much can be gained simply by adding another few hundred pages to the TBR pile, well - why not?!
What a lovely haul, Cath. I'm looking forward to your opinion on the Book of Grandmothers - only a few weeks until I join the gang so I'm really interested.
I followed a link on 60goingon16 to ReadItandSwapIT and joined on Friday. I've already swapped 5 books, so that's 5 new reads just for the price of a stamp! Anything to lessen the guilt.
Juliet: When I think about it, it doesn't cost a lot to keep me smiling. I don't require posh frocks or expensive meals, a clutch of books for a few pounds and I'm on top of the world. So where's the harm? And like you said, the charities need the money.
I'm so excited for you, Monix. A grandmother for the first time! There really is nothing like it. Quite different to being a mum. I was even at my grandson's birth - what an experience that was. I hope you'll share your thoughts when the baby's born.
Am heading over to 60goingon16 now to suss out that link...
Book of Grandmothers - what a good idea! Is it short stories? I have a book about fictional maiden aunts, Congenial Relations by Katharine Moore, which I intend to read soon. I love slightly quirky anthologies (though Moore's book is more of an investigation than an anthology, and includes some non-fictional characters too, like Jane Austen).
I have Not So Quiet somewhere, but I've not read All Quiet on the Western Front yet, and I feel I should read that first...
Simon: The Book of Grandmothers is described as an 'autobiographical anthology'. Real grandmas, in other words. There are personal reminiscences, interviews, observations from people like Queen Victoria, Margaret Atwell, Thomas hardy, as well as journalism, children's fiction etc. A real hotch potch in other words. I opened the book and saw the name of Ivy Compton Burnett and was immediately transported off to Alan Bennett's Uncommon Reader. So that raised a smile. No way could I leave such a little gem in the Oxfam shop.
Yes, it seems the author (real name Evadne Price) wrote Not So Quiet after reading All Quiet on the Western Front. I didn't realise that until you said and I checked the back of it. I haven't read All Quiet either, keep meaning to... Now I can't decide whether to wait or not. I probably ought to.
Of course, Simon, I actually mean Margaret At*wood* not 'well'. Senior moment...
Nice books!! I've been thinking about doing a post of my new acquisitions as well...it's getting embarassing though!
Look forward to seeing your recent acquisitions, Tara. Is it slightly weird that we all enjoy *photos* of books as well as actual books? I think we might be addicts...
Post a Comment