I may not have much time for reading with school taking so much attention, but when Half Price Books has a 20% off everything sale, how can a girl stay away? Besides, since I have decided to pass on most newly published books, I need to be sure to have plenty of “old” books to read, right? So, here is my happy haul:
- No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym
- Less Than Angels also by Barbara Pym. You know for years it seems like I never found any Pyms except Excellent Women on the shelves at HPB. Of late, I seem to find at least one new one every few months. Estate Sales maybe? Or perhaps the bad economy and people are clearing books from their shelves for a few extra dollars? Neither is a happy thought so I will cease to wonder and just send a thanks to the book gods.
- Obabakoak by Bernardo Atxaga. I read an essay a number of years ago in which A.S. Byatt raved about this book. Long ago I ceased to even look for it because I had never heard of it nor seen it anywhere before. Then Friday evening it fairly jumped off the shelf at me. It is one of the few books ever written in Basque. According to its description it is a book filled with parody, riddles, texts within texts, and is a “multifaceted and rousing celebration of the art of storytelling.” Sounds marvelous, doesn’t it?
- Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. I’ve never read it and so many of you seem to have and loved it so I thought if I had a copy around it would remind me to read it sometime.
- The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard. I got this because of Verbivore’s recent review of a different Hazzard book. I didn’t have any plan to ever read Hazzard but she made her sound so interesting that I thought I’d give it a go.
- The Pencil by Henry Petroski. I know this sounds like a weird subject for a book, but the history of the pencil is a long and fascinating one. And who doesn’t love pencils?
- An Open Book by Michael Dirda. This is Dirda’s coming of age memoir and about how he became a reader. I find Dirda to be a rather charming fellow, so this should be good.
How’s that for “stocking up?”
Excellent work! I liked both those Barbara Pym books, and I really enjoyed Shirley Hazzard’s The Great Fire, perhaps as much as her earlier The Transit of Venus. And I’ll have to put that Michael Dirda book on my list…you’ve inspired me, I’m going to go dig out my coupons and gift cards and pay a visit to the bookstore!
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Daphne Du Maurier is one of my wife’s favorite authors. She keeps trying to get me to read The Scapegoat. I can say that Rebecca, the movie (with Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine), is quite good.
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I couldn’t stay away from Half-Price this weekend either. That extra 20% is a huge incentive!
I read Rebecca about a month ago and absolutely loved it. I am thinking I might teach it next year as the 20th Century Brit Lit novel. I will be anxious to read your opinion of the book, when you have the opportunity to review it.
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I read Rebecca in middle school, actually, and adored it. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it. I should read it again.
Barbara Pym keeps being recommended to me, so I’d better skip to it and find one of her books to read!! What a great stack you got!
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Oh, Rebecca is one of my very favorite books. I hope you enjoy it–it’s wonderfully suspenseful! And I just mooched a Shirley Hazzard book (though a different title). You have a great stack there–especially those Pym novels! Enjoy (maybe you can squeeze them in between papers and tests!).
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The Atxaga book sounds fascinating, i can’t wait to read what you think about it. The Basque language has always intrigued me, it isn’t related to any other language group. My husband likes to joke that he went biking through Basque land when he was younger and it the first time he’d ever seen “chocolate” spelled with more z’s than any other letter, and it was completely unrecognizable. For a Swiss, that’s was quite a challenge!
I’ll be reading The Great Fire along with you then, since it’s waiting for me on the shelf.
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What a wonderful selection! I must read Dirda myself, and Hazzard, too.
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“It is one of the few books ever written in Basque.” I’ll admit, that description is enough to get me to want to read the book. I think it’s crucial to read as much varied literature as possible and that includes obscure or rare languages. “Obabakoak” definitely fits the bill and I shall keep an eye out for it.
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Appetising selection!
There are two great film adaptations among them too – Rebecca and Obaba. Both wonderfully odd in their own ways.
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If you don’t have the time to read, there’s nothing like accumulating a pile of books for when you do have the time.
I’m a great admirer of Shirley Hazzard so hope you enjoy The Great Fire. I think it’s my favourite of her novels.
I hadn’t heard of Obabakoak but it does sound intriguing, and of course Byatt’s recommendation is in its favour. I’ll be interested to hear about it when you find the time to try it.
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What a great haul! And, yes, you are right not to question why certain books are available and just to enjoy finding them. We had a copy of that book The Pencil (picked up at some book show) once, but I made the mistake of lending it to a friend before I’d read it, and we never got it back. Will be interested to hear your take on it. Oh, and I’m sure I will read your post on Rebecca when you get around to reading and writing on it and find myself drawn to read it YET AGAIN.
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Gentle Reader, glad to know you have enjoyed both the Pyms and the Hazzard. Even though I suspect they are good, it is nice to have confirmation from someone I trust 🙂
wil, there’s a movie of Rebecca? I will have to watch it after I read the book. Give in to your wife 🙂
Molly, I hope you found lots of good stuff too! And everyone loves Rebecca so much I am almost afraid to read it because what if I don’t like it? But at the same time it is almost like I am guaranteed to like it.
Daphne, I can picture you lost in the book! Pym is good. I’m pretty sure you’d like her.
Danielle, I hope I can squeeze them in! I am so bad that I don’t even know what Rebecca is about so when you call it suspenseful that make me want to read it even more!
Verbivore, that is a funny story about your husband! I don’t think I’d be able to recognize the language as being Basque if I ever saw it. I don’t even know what it sounds like, but it’s history seems so fascinating.
Litlove, Dirda is definite comfort reading and will balance nicely against Hazzard’s challenges.
Bibliobio, I agree, it is important to read variety. I know I tend to get stuck in just a few countries and have to make an effort to branch out.
maggie, yay! Good movies to watch after the books! That’s always something fun to look forward to.
devoted reader, thanks for understanding the need to accumulate! I am glad to know you liked The Great Fire so much. It bodes well for me liking it too.
Emily, it’s entirely possible my copy of The Pencil could have once been yours! But mine looks brand new and never read, so maybe not which is good because then I don’t have to feel guilty for reading “stolen goods.” And you’re a Rebecca fan too? Okay, it’s moving up to the top of the list with Enchanted April and The Moonstone!
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Sounds great! I’d love to know what you will think of those Barbara Pym’s, and there are several books there I need to read too, including Rebecca. The Basque book sounds fascinating!
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What a great haul! And, yes, you are right not to question why certain books are available and just to enjoy finding them. We had a copy of that book The Pencil (picked up at some book show) once, but I made the mistake of lending it to a friend before I’d read it, and we never got it back. Will be interested to hear your take on it. Oh, and I’m sure I will read your post on Rebecca when you get around to reading and writing on it and find myself drawn to read it YET AGAIN.
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Dorothy, I’ve got so many Pyms now I feel like I can go on a little binge sometime instead of hoarding them like I have been doing.
PB, The Pencil must be a good book since you are the second person who commented they lent to book and it was never returned! I will consider it a warning and not allow anyone to borrow it from me! And another lover of Rebecca. I feel as though I am missing out! Must read it soon.
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I live in San Antonio, Texas, but my wife refuses to live here, so we have a “real” home in Los Angeles, and I maintain my pied-a-terre here in Texas.
Of the many reasons I will not move to Los Angeles (San Pedro, near the coast, to be more precise) on a permanent basis, is because my favorite bookstore, Half-Price Books, is located within walking distance of my home in San Antonio!
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