I know I keep promising a review of Proust and the Squid but I just haven’t been able to focus my brain enough to write about it. It is an excellent book chock full of fascinating stuff. I’ll get to it, just not today.
Today I thought I’d reveal that the outing to Half Price Books was moderately successful. It wasn’t a bag is so heavy I can hardly carry it sort of success, but more of a selective and pleased sort of success so we, fortunately or unfortunately, won’t be visiting Magers and Quinn for their sale tomorrow unless the urge to do so is overwhelming.
Brought home from HPB for me and my Bookman:
- The Lives of Animals by J.M. Coetzee. This is a novel about animal rights and vegetarianism. I will be interested to see how well it succeeds as a novel given its intentions to convey a message.
- Landor’s Tower by Iain Sinclair. I’ve heard good things about Sinclair but for some reason he is very hard to find in the U.S. Sure, I could have ordered from the U.K., but where’s the fun in that? More fun to finally find not one, but two of his books.
- Lights Out for the Territory by Iain Sinclair. A book about walking around London. I’ve walked around London a bit before and would so love to do it again even if it means throbbing feet and blisters every night like it did the first time.
- The Stone Raft by Jose Saramago. The Iberian peninsula separates from Europe and floats off into the Atlantic. Doesn’t that alone make you want to read it?
- Flannery: A Life of Flannery O’Connor by Brad Gooch. This is the bio that came out earlier this year. A lovely hardcover for half price. Woo!
- Writing Letters with Pen and Ink by Edward St. Paige. About writing letters. With real pens and real ink on real paper. I got it for $3, brand new. Couldn’t resist. Read it already too. It’s a lovely little book and pretty.
These are the final book purchases for the year. A nice way to bring 2009 to a close.
This evening my Bookman and I will be enjoying popcorn and the 1974 Oscar winning version of Murder on the Orient Express. Maybe I will like it so much I will be finally compelled to give Agatha Christie a go. Tomorrow, reading plans for 2010.
Happy New Year everyone!
I read The Lives of Animals several years back. It was interesting, but it didn’t read like a novel to me to me at all. Doesn’t it include a Peter Singer essay in the back?
At any rate, I made no effort to pick up Elizabeth Costello once it came out–she’s the main character in both books, if I’m not mistaken.
It’s hard to concentrate on writing a proper bookish post after being on vacation. I’m not sure my mind will be able to function that way again very soon. Sometimes a select few books is better than a bagful that you bought just because. Enjoy your goodies–I’ve got a few coming in the mail as a matter of fact….Happy New Year–have a great evening!
You should definitely give Agatha Christie a try. Maybe I’m just stupid, but her books always keep me guessing until the end. And my dad’s not a big reader, but he likes her books too. Try one with Hercule Poirot first, then a Miss Marples one. Those are my favorites. She has some with a younger couple and those aren’t as good.
Happy New Year and congratulations on your HFB purchases…seems like the perfect way to close one year and usher in a new one…by buying books!
I love Saramago, I need to read another… sounds like a wonderful HPB trip! I wish I were watching an Agatha Christie movie… instead, I’m deep into my third AC book, Death on the Nile (which is not a bad thing). So far I’ve read two Poirot and one with Tuppence and… somebody (?). I definitely prefer the Poirots. I hear Miss Marple is fun, too. Murder on the Orient Express was my first one, earlier this year, and I loved it!! So cozy and puzzling, so satisfying. I think you would enjoy it.
Some lovely purchases to see out the old year! I must read Saramango and Coetzee this year, and I do like Iain Sinclair. Hope you had a wonderful new year’s eve and love and hugs for a fantastic 2010, full of all the good things you deserve.
Some great books there – I really need to read that Saramago. I have “All the Names” on my read next list. The Coetzee looks intriguing; I’ll wait to hear whether you think that it has worked as a novel.
And you know that I really want the letter writing book now!
I’m glad you found some good things! I’ve never read Sinclair either, but he does sound interesting. Same for Coetzee. And that O’Connor bio looks great. Enjoy!
Happy new year! I watched the 1974 version of Murder on the Orient Express recently and really enjoyed it. And oh, man, “Lights Out for the Territory” looks so great. I really want to read it, and I also want to read London Orbital, also by Sinclair. I love London and I love walking (here in NYC I go on 20-mile walks with a group of like-minded folks once every few weeks), so books about walking AND London really appeal.
Stefanie, of these I have read The Stone Raft and found it [as all Saramago books] completely intriguing.
Melanie, read All The Names. It is a GEM!
I know you don’t really read mysteries but definitely give Agatha Christie a try. I just discovered her a few years ago and have really enjoy both the Marples and Poirot books.
Can’t wait to hear about more of your HPB finds, especially the Coetzee book. Hadn’t heard of that one and it sounds like it would be good. I still haven’t made it to HPB but will do so this weekend.
Susan, I will likely find it doesn’t work as a novel then too. I’ll still give it go though. And yup, it has an essay by Pete Singer in it. I’ve never read anything he wrote before because from what I have heard about him he seems somewhat dogmatic.
Danielle, vacation offers so much relaxation and so many distractions for the brain, doesn’t it? And there is always tomorrow to do something. But alas, all good things must come to an end.
Lindsey, I tried to read a Miss Marple one when I was a teen and we did not get along at all, so if I give Christie another try it will definitely be with Poirot
Kathleen, thanks! I hope your New Year is off to a great start!
Daphne, the movie was great. Very well done I was guessing until the end.
Litlove, there is so much we’d both like to read this year. It’s a good thing we get a chance to say it every 365 days
Thank you for the good wishes. I hope your New Year is off to a grand beginning!
Melanie, I think you’d like the letter writing book. It’s a sweet art-type book. I like Saramago. I’ve read one Coetzee book years ago but don’t even remember which one anymore.
Dorothy, Sinclair is big on the walking and every time I am reminded of that I think of you!
Heather, and Happy New Year to you too! Your walks sound marvelous! Have you ever read Sebald’s Rings of Saturn? The whole story takes place on a walking tour. You might enjoy it.
Cipriano, you Saramago lover, why am I not surprised you have read The Stone Raft? Glad to know it’s a good one. But then does Saramago write bad books?
Iliana, I will have to give Christie a try since so many of my favorite bloggers keep endorsing her! I hope you had fun on your own HPB trip!
Stefanie, just to answer your [probably rhetorical] question about Saramago. Honestly, i Have read ALL of his books [except his pseudo-nonfiction one about Portugal] and honestly, NONE of them have been bad. He is, I guess, my favorite living author, in all seriousness.
I have heard he is writing one about an ELEPHANT……. and I am on tenterhooks.
As soon as I see it….. I shall nab it.
Cip, I am not surprised Saramago really doesn’t have a bad book in the bunch. As a person he seems so thoughtful and smart. I’d love to see his library. A new book about an elephant? I’m intrigued!
Please give The Murder of Roger Ackroyd a try! It is the best Agatha Christie!
I enjoyed Murder on the Orient Express (never seen the movie but read the book) but I haven’t read any other Christies novels. I don’t think I’m the mystery type so much…
Grad, okay, I’ll put it on the list! Thanks for the suggestion.
Rebecca, the movie was a lot of fun and since I now know who did it, I’m not sure I’d want to read the book. I’m not much of a mystery reader either.
Indeed, your Stone Raft description intrigued me.
I noticed that my other comment today was marked “awaiting moderation”. I knew I hadn’t posted in awhile, but now I feel demoted. (Actually, I’m guessing it is just the result of having changed some general settings, so I won’t take it personally.)
Bikkuri, doesn’t Stone Raft sound interesting? Don’t feel bad about a comment ending up in moderation. I’ve got the spam filter set pretty high and sometimes it catches legit comments for reasons only it knows.
Stefanie, I haven’t read Rings of Saturn (or anything by Sebald, actually) but it sounds like something I’d enjoy. Thanks!