It has been a nice last weekend before class starts back up again. Friday night my Bookman and I went to Barnes and Noble. We shared a mocha and browsed. He found a book. I found a book too–Jury of Her Peers by Elaine Showalter–but the cover had a pretty good rip in it and it was the only copy so I left bookless. I made up for it Saturday afternoon at Half Price Books. Not only did we have a coupon for 20% off a single item, but we sold some books to them and in return got a 10% off everything coupon. Happiness!
Here is what has been added to the teetering piles:
- The City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan. It is a pretty, petite book on lovely thick paper. Pizan was a highly regarded medieval Italian poet and a feminist to boot.
- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. I have never read it and figured that if I own a copy I will be more likely to read it. Happily, the edition I picked up is in good condition and appears to be from one of the original paperback printings of the book.
- Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. I have read Crossing to Safety and enjoyed it many years ago. And this book has come up for discussion on a few blogs in the past couple of months which made me notice the book on the shelf and decide to take a copy home.
- Consciousness and the Novel by David Lodge. I was powerless to resist this one. From the back cover: “How does the novel represent consciousness? How does its method compare with that of other creative media such as film? How does the consciousness (and unconscious) of the creative writer do its work? And how can criticism infer the nature of this process through formal analysis?” Doesn’t that sound fascinating?
- Mr. Pip by Lloyd Jones. It may not have won the Booker and it may not have always gotten great reviews, but it still sounds fun to me especially with the Dickens connection.
- A NYRB classic, Manservant and Maidservant by Ivy Compton-Burnett. Even after reading the description I am not sure what it is about, but it is a NYRB and I trust their choices.
- Another NYRB! Novels in Three Lines by Félix Fénéon. It is a novel written in three-line newspaper snippets. Intrigued? So was I.
I have also received in the mail a copy of Cheever: A LIfe by Blake Bailey that I am looking forward to digging into in the next few days.
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I love Angle of Repose–much more sweeping and historical than Crossing to Safety, which is a more personal story, but also a great book. Hope you enjoy it! I also enjoy David Lodge’s work, and that one sounds fascinating. You’ll have to let me know what you think!
I say yes to Angle of Repose and no to Mister Pip. JMO.
Ooh, both Angle of Repose and Mr. Pip are on my to-read lists as well.
I read Novels in Three Lines last year after someone I know mentioned it. I enjoyed it as an exercise in concision; some of it is sad, and some of it is funny, and a whole lot of it’s pretty bleak, but I’m glad I read it, anyhow.
What great books! Too bad about the Showalter. I had a coupon for B&N so ordered a copy online and don’t you know it they packaged the book terribly, so I’ve ended up with a copy with a rip in the cover! I’m not sure it’s worth sending back. And while I did get a good discount on it, it’s still annoying. I want to read Wallace Stegner sometime this year, too! And I’ve seen mention of the Cheever bio in two different magazines this weekend. I’m very curious about it, so please do post on it when you get to it!
I was really looking forward to the Blake Bailey’s bio on Cheever after I finished “Falconer” last year. But the recent reviews were not very positive, I think.
And good luck with Clockwork Orange. Er – it was challenging for me.
The David Lodge does sound fascinating. You must let us know how it turns out.
I’m afraid I am one of the so-so verdicts on Mr. Pip. But I am with you on any NYRB choice!
Christine de Pizan is teetering on my pile too. I don’t know if I am going to get to her before the library asks for her back!
I can’t wait to hear what you think of the Lodge book – sounds wonderful. I’ve also never read A Clockwork Orange and always mean to, I like your method of making that happen (I see a trip to the local second-hand bookshop on the horizon!)
Enjoy your new acquisitions!
I’m looking forward to reading Angle Of Repose and Mr Pip myself, and I’d love to read that David Lodge. Lovely book bargains!
I enjoyed Mister Pip, so I’m glad you ignored the review and bought it. I think if you love Dickens, you’ll enjoy it.
Novels in three lines sounds intriguing, it’s new to me so will have to check it out via NYRB.
There’s nothing like book bargains! I liked looking at picture of your library, too. Law digests do have a certain beauty on the shelves. Have you ever read any of the opinions? Some are beautifully and brilliantly written – especially those from the early 20th century. It is a unique art, and almost never experienced by anyone other than those researching a legal question. I’m interested in what you think of A Clockwork Orange. I read it decades ago and found it quite shocking for the times.
What a fun time! My HPB coupons were only valid in Dallas stores though so I didn’t get to indulge. Oh well maybe coupons for my stores are coming soon.
You got some very cool stuff. I bought Crossing to Safety not too long ago as I have read Angle of Repose and loved it.
I’m curious about the Pizan book so you’ll have to tell us more when you get to it
I loved Clockwork Orange – it was strange how well I found I picked up the alternative slang language within it (I loved how some words are almost baby like, gurgle and what not)…and then even thought in it a little bit afterwards! It’s a classic though, loved it!
I know the feeling with the teetering piles!
I enjoyed both A Clockwork Orange and Mr. Pip! I haven’t read the others…. Happy reading, though!
I agree the Lodge book sounds great — any book that looks at the novel in a theoretical or historical way I’m intrigued by, and Lodge is such an interesting writer. I’ve got the Compton-Burnett book too and am looking forward to it. I’m not sure what it’s about either, but it does come highly recommended, so that’s okay!
I love the short story A Jury of Her Peers and would be interested in Showalter’s take on women writers. Sorry the copy you found wasn’t suitable.
Mr. Pip is on my list, and now there are even more to add. Have always meant to get around to Angle of Repose, maybe I should move it up in priority.
Eager to hear what you think about Lodge’s Conscious and the Novel!
Oh, Mr Pip – I remember that one fondly. I’m pretty sure you’ll like it. And I’ve got that Novel in Three Lines on my wishlist – I’m interested in novels written in unusual forms – so will await your review of it.