Monday 23 February 2009

Bookporn!

The sad fact is that I should never be allowed out on my own. Because what happens when I am? I come home with a bag full of books, that's what!

Eight of them...



Granted, two are library books. But six aren't and what I *really* need is to have to find space for six more books on my already very crowded book shelves. (Not helped by my eldest daughter returning a boxfull on Saturday either...)

So... two library books and three 'three for two' books from Waterstones:



The two library books are, Climbing the Mango Trees by Madhur Jaffrey, the TV chef who specialises in Indian cuisine. I saw this one on Tara's blog having not previously known about it; was really pleased to find my library had a copy. And Anything Goes, John Barrowman's autobiography which I believe he wrote with his sister. I'm a bit of a fan of this American/Scottish actor, famous in this country for Torchwood, Dr. Who and also as a singer in stage musicals. Cue completely superfluous pic of John Barrowman...



*cough cough* (Throat's a bit dry...)

The Waterstones' haul started with Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong, which I saw blogged about very recently but can't now remember whose blog it was. Sorry. I knew I had to have it though and grabbed it fast when I saw it. On the same shelf was Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker, which has intrigued me for quite a while, so I nabbed that too. So then I was faced with finding another book to take advantage of the three for two offer and I found I am a Cat by Soseki Natsume. I've never read anything by anyone Japanese and this classic 'cat' book looks like an excellent place to start.

So after the library and Waterstones the next stop - obviously - is the Oxfam charity shop... it is, after all, on the way home!



There I found a Persephone - Minnie's Room by Mollie Panter-Downes. I've read it, of course, but don't own it, and as it was undoubtedly one of the best short story anthologies I've ever read, there was no way I was leaving it on the shelf. I never leave Daphne du Maurier anthologies behind either and The Man Who was Thursday came home with me because G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown stories are brilliant and I'm wondering if his novels are as good.

So, there you go. Ample proof that I should never be allowed out on my own.



Ooops. That snuck in there while I wasn't looking too...

15 comments:

Ana S. said...

lol! Have some honeyed tea for your cough ;)

Love the book porn. Who can indeed leave a Du Maurier behind! I enjoyed The Man Who was Thursday, though not quite as much as the Father Brown stories. And I know nothing about I Am a Cat, but I want it for the title alone :P

Anonymous said...

It's just as well I wasn't out with you or I would be adding far too many books to my over crowded shelves! Must look for John Barrowman in my library (well the book anyway)and I really must go to Waterstones soon - I Am A Cat looks great.

Cath said...

Nymeth: my cough is better you'll be pleased to hear. ;-)

I think the Father Brown stories are a bit special and would take some beating, but look forward to trying the novel. I Am a Cat is intriguing and I have the feeling it might be very good. We'll see...

Margaret: I had to laugh. I've been out with other book fiends before and you're right, the tendency is to buy more than you normally would. I hope you find John Barrowman in the library. ;-) And yes, the book I'm most intrigued by from the haul is, I Am a Cat.

Anonymous said...

Cath, I about spit my tea all over the monitor reading your Bookporn! title. :-)

I won't even say it. Oh, I will. I am doing so well on my "not" buying task. It's killing me, but I think it has been good for me. I am living vicariously through your purchases. So, don't feel bad. Think of it as supporting your friend. Ha!

Anonymous said...

Bookporn indeed! I never say no to a Du Maurier and I've not read that one.

Susan said...

Yum I love him too!! In fact, so does my 6 year old, who loves him of course as Captain Jack and was so thrilled when he showed up on the Dr Who finale this year.....then she got mad because all the other ladies on the show were also eying him!! *cough* that last photo *cough cough* I forgot how damn good-looking he is....

book porn is fun! I have to do my library haul post before the books have to go back! I love what you got, I don't have that Du Maurier and I bought my first Persephone book while over there - Miss Pettigrew Lives for A day, which is on my TBR this year pile!

very fun post, Cath!

Cath said...

Kay: your reaction made me laugh too. One of those 'Mutley' type laughs...

Okay then, I'll use you as an excuse when I buy more books. I was trying not to and for the most part have succeeded since Christmas. Monday was a moment (morning!) of weakness.

Nioola: I love DdM's short stories and now have two unread anthologies on the tbr mountain. I also need to get back to her novels and autobiographical writings.

Susan: Another JB fan... two of you in fact! Captain Jack is just such a charmer that he's hard to resist. And I loved Donna's reaction to him in the finale. I wish the new season of Torchwood would hurry up and start, even if it is going to be very short.

Miss Pettigrew is a lovely read.

Danielle said...

Love the pictures of books, and um, the digressions! :) You really do need to support your local Oxfam shop! Lucky you to find a Persephone book!!

Cath said...

Danielle: Digressions are good. ;-) Oh yes, I have no problem with supporting my local Oxfam shop... and Waterstones, and Amazon UK, and...

DesLily said...

that pic snuck in huh? you are a DOB ! (dirty old broad!).. can we be twins and you still be 10 yrs younger than me??

Cath said...

Oh hey, Pat... great to see you here! Yep, DOB probably describes me very nicely. ;-D Yes, we can probably still be twins - knowing my mother she was probably pregnant for ten years...

Kailana said...

Hi Cath,

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I hope you enjoy Men of the Otherworld. :) Good luck finding shelf space for those books!

Cath said...

Pat: heh... just reread what I wrote to you... old age is addling my brain because it's not *my* mother who would have been pregant for ten years! *DUH*

Kailana: I'm sure I'll like Men of the Other World, though I should probably read all the other books first. Hope to get to 'Stolen' this month.

Tara said...

I love seeing all your new books! Have you had a chance to read the Madhur Jaffrey book yet (I haven't) - if so, what do you think?

Cath said...

Hi Tara. No I haven't got to the Madhur Jaffrey yet, it's still on the library pile. I'll probably read that next after Nick Hornby's Complete Polysyllabic Spree and a werewolf yarn by Patricia Briggs. I don't intend the MJ to go back to the library unread.