Just a quick one tonight. I’ve been managing to buy a few old books on the internet. So in the past couple of weeks I’ve taken delivery of:
The Grand Babylon Hotel by Arnold Bennett
Ice Palace by Edna Ferber
Show Boat by Edna Ferber
Miss Bunting by Angela Thirkell
Half Term by Angela Thirkell
Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple
Susanne recommended The Grand Babylon Hotel and Anbolyn at Cousins Read came up with Edna Ferber as a possible neglected author from the past. I must admit that I hadn’t even heard of her before, so I’m really keen to read some of her work as she was so famous in her heyday. Most of the books are quite old but clean, but the copy of Show Boat is a beauty. It’s a facsimile of the 1926 edition and is pristine and I got it for peanuts.
Well I like it anyway. I had been doing so well at not buying books until the new year really. Then somehow I just started buying them again and it has snowballed.
I think it’s a bit like when people go on a diet and do very well at it, until they relax a bit and before they know it, they’re even heavier than they were before they started on the diet.
I’ve had book buying binges recently and I just know that I’ll end up having bought more than 52 books by the end of 2011. So by the time I’ve got through my 2011 reading list from my TBR pile – my book pile will be even bigger.
Why isn’t there a Bookaholics Anonymous? And what would reaching rock bottom be for a book buyer?
Wow, I envy you that copy of Show Boat!
I used to feel bad about buying so many books, but I realized that supporting authors, publishers, and booksellers is nothing to feel guilty about!
Anbolyn,
Yes it all helps towards keeping the economy going I suppose. It’s what to do with all the books which is giving me a problem.I give any that I don’t want to keep to charity shops after I’ve read them but I’ve still got books piled everywhere.
I’m really interested in Edna Ferber, since several of her books are set in Texas. I’m trying to get my classics book group to read Giant (apparently a lot of Texans really hated it when it was published — I wonder if they will react the same way sixty years later!)
And you have my sympathies about the TBR pile — I’ve been on a book-buying ban since January and though I haven’t been completely successful, I’ve really cut back significantly, and it’s killing me. My progress on reducing my owned and unread books seems glacially slow.
Karen,
Until Anbolyn mentioned her I knew nothing about Edna Ferber which is weird when you consider how successful she was. I almost bought Giant, if I enjoy these two I will get it.
I’m finding it difficult to get decent bookcases (don’t mention IKEA) so even though we now have more book space as my sons have their own places now, I still have books just in piles. And I’m worried about moving them all when we down-size as we’ve been here for 23 years and the last move was bad enough.
Nice haul, especially the Thirkells! My library had a sale last week, and I scoured the shelves unsuccessfully for a Thirkell. I did pick up a Helen MacInnes thriller though. I’ve read a couple of her books in the past, but I don’t remember them at all. I suspect they might not have dated very well though.
Niranjana,
I hope you find some Thirkells soon. Do you want to do a review of the Thirkell which you have read on ‘Pining’?
I think I read a few by Helen MacInnes years ago, there aren’t many women thriller writers about. I remember loving Evelyn Anthony’s spy thrillers in the 1970s, I was thinking about giving her a go to see what I think of them now. She might be a CPR possibility.
I’m a bit swamped right now, but yes, I’ll gladly do a review later. If not the Thirkell, another CPR-worthy candidate. Do people still read Alistair Maclean btw?
I seem to have read a LOT of Scottish writers, now that I think about it đŸ™‚
Niranjana,
Thanks. Just whenever you can manage it will be great. My Dad was a big Alistair MacLean fan years ago but I haven’t heard of anyone reading him recently. He could be one for the CPR list I suppose.
I’m glad that you said that about you reading Scottish authors because I was thinking that I might be getting a bit too parochial. But it’s difficult because there seem to be so many of them, or people of Scottish descent, and even people who are brought up in England but move to Scotland and regard themselves as Scottish!
I think bookaholics anonymous would be a very quiet place – we would all be reading!
I am trying not to buy any books but it is very difficult! As soon as there is a gap on my shelves from having read so many – there are more I want to get to fill it up!
Jo,
It would be lovely and quiet. All the book programmes which have been on recently haven’t helped either. So many books which I haven’t read have been recommended. I’m not religious but I should really give up book buying for Lent!