It's a new month -- it's a new year!!! Happy 2008. What book/s did you score today?
The Ghost's Child by
Sonya HartnettWonderful magical tale reminiscent of Hans Christian Andersen. Matilda, in her 80's, discovers a boy sitting on her settee, offers him tea and biscuits and tells him the magical tale of her life. Just lovely. YA, Australian Author, published 2007.
At the very end of the old year I decided to catalogue a few more books and push my total past 1500.
Lo and behold! a hidden shelf yielded up
2-Rabbit 7-Wind, a book of Nahuatl poetry in translation which I have owned for awhile, but haven't seen for at least five years!
Having it come back into my hands was just as nice as discovering it for the first time.
#9, alcottacre, don't let
Peter and the Starcatchers be only for your daughter--you should read it, too. It was fun. A nice back story to how Peter got his powers.
Message edited by its author, Jan 2, 2008, 7:11pm.
Pillaging an aunts bookcase today I scored;
Atonement by Ian McEwan, which has been on by my list to read for ages, and
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, which I will wait to read until after I have read
Jane Eyre which happens to be one of the classics I have vowed to read this year.
#11 whymaggiemay - I got that feeling when I was reading the reviews of the book on Amazon today. I am going to read it as soon as Catey is done with it. Maybe I'll steal it . . .
Visited my fave used bookshop for the first time in weeks, and the first time since I started actively hunting for Virago Modern Classics. Happily, there was one: The Semi-Attached Couple & The Semi-Detached House (no touchstone) by
Emily Eden.
And then, exercising remarkable restraint, I only snagged one other book:
Last Orders by Graham Swift.
>9 ...
because having now discovered Trollope, I NEED to read it all!Indeed, alcottacre, that's is exactly what happened to me! I started with
The Warden in early 2007 and it escalated from there! (see you over in the Trollope group :)
I bought a Time Out London travel guide as I am visiting my sister there at the weekend :)
I lived there myself for 3 yrs when studying at uni, but I always feel there's a lot of difference between the city you experience when you live & work somewhere as opposed to being a tourist there.
Two softcover copies of my new book Anarya's Secret: An Earthdawn Novel arrived by courier today. I showed one to my wife - it's dedicated to her - and she promptly spotted a typo in the "About the Author" section. When I did the final proofread of the novel, it was about 2.30am by the time I proofed that page, and I must have been getting a little tired. Still nice to hold the book in my hand, though.
Message edited by its author, Jan 3, 2008, 6:40am.
I just started
Slam by
Nick Hornby and it is really well written with an incredible first person voice.
Message edited by its author, Jan 3, 2008, 6:47am.
I just signed up for LibraryThing and think it's brilliant!
I finally visited the Alias Books, a used bookstore walking distance to my house and I know I'll be returning there regularly.
I picked up
Anthem and
Affinity. I'm currently reading the former and it's great in a creepy, dystopian, this-could-totally-happen kind of way.
Welcome to LT, nakedsushi! It is brilliant and a lot of fun - and you'll get great book ideas here, too.
Welcome, nakedsushi! We love it here and hope you will too!
karogers, Tey's
To love and be wise is probably my favorite of her many fine mystery novels and one of my favorite British mysteries period. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
marietherese, I love all of her books. Wish there were more to read!
alcottacre - I also got Looking for Alaska yesterday but from BookMooch.
teelgee - That is truly abundance. My Goodwill is okay for books, but I've never found anything like you are finding. Congratulations!
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I just finished Looking for Alaska and loved it! Hopefully both of you know that John Green is an LT author!
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I'm listening to An Ordinary Man now and was completely taken by the author's account of the Rwandan genocide.
I'd also like to recommend that you see the film "Hotel Rwanda", starring Don Cheadle, if you've not done so already. In addition, do read the novel A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali by Gil Courtemanche. Coutemanche's book was indeed fiction but, sadly, not too far from the truth.
From Bookins, I just got Alex: Building a Life. Ironically I noticed it was published by Gefen, an LT Early Reviewer publishing house. I finally relented this December and actually put in a bid for some of Gefen's ER books, but was selected for none. And then...along comes this book from Gefen through Bookins! Funny how that happens, isn't it?
I was lucky enough to score $75 worth of BN gift cards for Christmas. I spent the last of it yesterday. I made out very well!
I've just started using librarything, and most of the books I've posted are my Christmas purchases.
The Innocents Abroad by
Mark TwainEmpire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard
The Grass Harp Including a Tree of Night and Other Stories by Truman Capote
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Vanity Fair by William Thackeray
Nicholas Nickelby by Charles Dickens
Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Advisor to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia by Janet Wallach
The Falmboya Tree: Memories of a Mother's Wartime Courage by Clara Olink Kelly
I think I did really well for myself!
Message edited by its author, Jan 4, 2008, 4:52pm.
This is my first post.
Today received from Amazon, The Long Dry, a little known but wonderful novel by Cynan Jones which I have read but wanted to own.
Also Making History, Antiquaries in Britain, which is a catalogue of an exhibition at the Royal Academy in London which I am unable to get to.
Cheers.
Wow, nice to see some new members in the new year! Welcome clianthusalba and bookseller525!!! Have fun! Read well!
The husband returned a coffee table book someone got him for Christmas, and gave me the return credit! With it I bought a new Douglas Coupland, whom I love as well as The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert. I also saw at least ten more that I've added to my list of books to look into/buy. I usually make a big Amazon purchase each January.
I went to Barnes & Noble to prepare for a long car trip home. I got
For Her Own Good by Barbara Ehrenreich &
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. I am dreading 19 hours in the car a lot less now!!!
>41: That's whale calving, as described in Leviathan, right?
welcome clianthusalba and bookseller525- enjoy and have fun!!!
I have three that found their way into my home in early 2008.
Brasyl by Ian McDonald
Fieldword by Mischa Berlinksi
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
Which one should I read first?
Used BooksThe used outlet at the library and the White Elephant next door continue to provide me with an embarrassment of riches. These mint-condition hardcovers were bought yesterday for $0.50 each:
Don't Know Much About The Bible - Kenneth C. Davis
Collapse- Jared Diamond (I read it as a library book; now I have my own copy).
Made In America: An Informal History Of The English Language In The United States - Bill Bryson
The Corrections - Jonathan Franzen
Hopefully both of you know that John Green is an LT author!
He's not a very active LT author, though--we read Looking for Alaska for one of our monthly discussions in the Read YA Lit group last summer and sent him a message asking whether he'd like to participate, but as far as I know there was no response. He didn't even stop by to say hello in the discussion thread, anyway.
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Too bad! I'm sure his presence in that thread would have been greatly appreciated.
Can you point me to that thread? I'd love to read it.
Are you going to read his book _An Abundance of Katherines_ at any time?
Message edited by its author, Jan 7, 2008, 12:12pm.
---> 42 It was late. I was tired. :)
Today arrived:
Journey to the West, vol. 4 by
Cheng'en Wu, so now I have all four parts, yay! (Even though dear LT autocombined with the full thing.
Bad LT!)
The Tale of Genji, also exceedingly exciting and a nice pretty hardback edition.
The Count of Monte Cristo, in a relatively new translation. I loved The Three Musketeers so I'm looking forward to this one :-)
#51 - MarianV: I just finished reading
Grace (eventually). I enjoy all Anne Lamott's books. Hope you like it!
From Goodwill: Vodoo River by Robert Crais - been reading some Elvis Cole accolades on LT so I picked this up when I saw it.
From Bookmooch:
Long Time No See by Susan Isaacs
From B&N for a church bookclub:
The Witch of Portobello by
Paulo CoelhoFrom PBS:
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke - another LT recommendation
and I think it will be the YA Lit group's February read
and I included it as part of my 888 Challenge. Isn't life grand sometimes?
I just picked up
Icefields by Thomas Wharton.
Oooo Fingersmith is wonderful, nancyewhite! I'm about to start another book or two of hers.
Two books I've wanted for a long time followed me home from Powell's Bookstore today:
Hotel du Lac by
Anita BrooknerChocolat by Joanne Harris
Yum.
Message edited by its author, Jan 11, 2008, 3:52pm.
#67 Teelgee - I have had Fingersmith on my wishlist on BookMooch and PBS so I was so excited to find an ex-library copy for $3.50!
#68 I got
poisonwood Bible as a gift for Christmas. I have never read from this author, tell me what you think
B'&N I got
The Guardian by Dee Henderson. The second one in her series. I just finished the first one and really enjoyed it.
#68 I got
poisonwood Bible as a gift for Christmas. I have never read from this author, tell me what you think
B'&N I got
The Guardian by Dee Henderson. The second one in her series. I just finished the first one and really enjoyed it.
#73 You and me both. I have never read Kingsolver but I've read good reviews. LT is so good for finding great books to read!
Oracle Night by Paul Auster appeared from Bookmooch this morning. Really earlier than I would have hoped, too - the postie has started doing his rounds earlier since the new year! Thankfully it was only half an hour before I was scheduled to get up. It's still a bit of a rude awakening, having to dash down the stairs before he vanishes!
Edited for touchstones being stoopid.
Still! Gah. I don't know. They show up in blue and then don't when you post!
Message edited by its author, Jan 12, 2008, 2:11pm.
#73
Poisonwood Bible is one of my favorites. I love Barbara Kingsolver. If you read her books in the order they were published you can watch her grow as an author. She started out very good and works up to excellent, IMHO, of course.
I went for a walk during my daughter's soccer game and found a lovely used bookstore, in which I found two lovely editions that called out for me to take them home . . .
The Robber Bride, by Margaret Atwood, and
Doctor Zhivago, by Boris Pasternak. These are the first books I've bought this year . . . I made it to the 13th before caving into the pressure to Buy A Book. Now I really must chip away at Mount ToBe Read . . .
Oh I gave into temptation and bought via Amazon: Jewel Trader of Pegu and
The Golden Tulip. Can't wait to get them now.
From BookMooch:
Terminal by Andrew Vachss - oh how I love it when I get a wishlisted book. It's like hitting the lottery!
Waaaah! None have come into my home for a year (actually, 3 weeks).
I'm reading my way through my TBR shelves, which have grown to be almost as juicy as a bookstore. Almost. I finally let myself read this thread today ... and lengthened my Amazon wish list.
edited to add: Duh, how soon I forget -- I got an ER copy of Firefly Lane.Message edited by its author, Jan 17, 2008, 10:13am.
Hee, Talbin, I know exactly what you mean. I walked into FIVE bookshops today thinking to myself "I'll only buy a book from here if they've got
that specific one..." and walked out with six books, only one of which was on that list (and that only appeared on the list for that store because I'd bought another book at the previous store....!)
Soooo:
Lanark by Alasdair Gray (I've been eyeing this one up for a while. It was cheap, what can I say?)
The Penelopiad by
Margaret Attwood (hardcover edition! For cheap!)
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight translated by
Simon Armitage (nice hardback, also for cheap. And I'm reading it already and it's great, so it was *obviously a sensible purchase...)
The Odyssey, because I'd been thinking about getting it and obviously have to read it before
The PenelopiadAstonishing Splashes of Colour by Clare Morrall because I don't like my current edition of it (go figure...)
And the last one is very exciting:
Anna Karenina in the new translation FOR ONLY TWO POUNDS! Woo!
OK, I'm done being overexcited about books now...
But LizT - look how wonderfully well you did! Your ratio of books to stores is 6:5, whereas mine is 5:1. Compared to me, you've been almost overly restrained. ;)
Talbin, you're very kind :-) You probably didn't start the year with a resolution to only buy one book for every four you read though, did you...? (Sadly I haven't read 24 books yet ;-) ) Ah well. I'm sure self-control is something you have to develop, right? I'm just practising now!
A complete surprise came into my home today -- I got an early reviewer copy of
Firefly Lane that I was not expecting.
But now I feel like it needs to jump towards the top of my TBR stack, right after the books I've got to read for Book Club at the Center of the Earth... (
Fight Club and
The Jane Austen Book Club)
In today's mail from thriftbooks.com: Book 6 in the Tess Monaghan series by Laura Lippman -
In a Strange City#97: I would check out her book (even if I hadn't already heard about it) just based on her website. It was hilarious! Thanks teelgee.
I got
The Fiery Cross which I've already read, but it's the same paperback edition that all my other
Outlander books are, so they all match now, and I also got
Reflections in the Nile by Suzanne Frank, both from Paperback Swap.
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>95 alcottacre, I'm interested in your impressions of Six Wives. I've been ogling that book for some time now.
I was given some book vouchers, so I HAD to go into Waterstones and spend them on a 3 for 2 offer! Am pleased to have come home with the following:
Mr Pip by
Lloyd Jones:
'You cannot pretend to read a book. Your eyes will give you away. So will your breathing. A person entranced by a book simply forgets to breathe. The house can catch alight and a reader deep in a book will not look up until the wallpaper is in flames.' It is Bougainville in 1991 - a small village on a lush tropical island in the South Pacific. Eighty-six days have passed since Matilda's last day of school as, quietly, war is encroaching from the other end of the island. When the villagers' safe, predictable lives come to a halt, Bougainville's children are surprised to find the island's only white man, a recluse, re-opening the school. Pop Eye, aka Mr Watts, explains he will introduce the children to Mr Dickens. Matilda and the others think a foreigner is coming to the island and prepare a list of much needed items. They are shocked to discover their acquaintance with Mr Dickens will be through Mr Watts' inspiring reading of "Great Expectations". But on an island at war, the power of fiction has dangerous consequences. Imagination and beliefs are challenged by guns.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by
John Boyne:
The story of "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" is very difficult to describe. Usually we give some clues about the book on the cover, but in this case we think that would spoil the reading of the book. We think it is important that you start to read without knowing what it is about. If you do start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy called Bruno. (Though this isn't a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence. We hope you never have to cross such a fence.
Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders by
Gyles Brandreth:
This work is set in London, 1889. Oscar Wilde, celebrated poet, wit, playwright and raconteur is the literary sensation of his age. All Europe lies at his feet. Yet when he chances across the naked corpse of sixteen-year-old Billy Wood, posed by candlelight in a dark stifling attic room, he cannot ignore the brutal murder. With the help of fellow author Arthur Conan Doyle he sets out to solve the crime - but it is Wilde's unparalleled access to all degrees of late Victorian life, from society drawing rooms and the bohemian demi-monde to the underclass, that will prove the decisive factor in their investigation of what turns out to be a series of brutal killings. "The Oscar Wilde Murders" is a gripping detective story of corruption and intrigue, of Wilde's growing success, of the breakdown of his marriage, and of his fatal friendship with Aidan Fraser, Inspector at Scotland Yard!
Set against the exotic background of fin-de-siecle London, Paris, Oxford and Edinburgh, Gyles Brandreth recreates Oscar Wilde's trademark sardonic wit with huge flair, intertwining all the intrigue of the classic English murder mystery with a compelling portrait of one of the greatest characters of the Victorian age.
#103 lindascl: I'll let you know when I actually get to reading it. I have quite a stack before that one, but I am looking forward to reading some nonfiction on Henry VIII after having read
The Other Boleyn Girl and going "but it didn't happen like that!" (I do not really do well with a lot of historical fiction although I enjoy the genre - go figure)
I snagged
The Man in My Basement by
Walter Mosley from a clever librarian's display of "One-night Reads." I'm intrigued by its premise of a white man asking to rent the basement of a house deep in a black neighborhood. Being a slow reader, its 250 pages will take me significantly more than one night.
#107 Carioloa--thanks for your input on
The Death of Vishnu. I was a little hesitant about buying it, but finally said--oh what the heck. Now I am looking forward to reading it.
>111 whymaggiemay -- I think you've been GOOD!!! Isn't that what the gift cards are for?
#56 - alcottacre, I had no idea Touchstones by Laurie King was already out. Thank you! I love Laurie King's novels and have been anticipating this one for a while now.
#117 sandragon: I got lucky - I am the first to cop it from the local library. It is different from her Russell/Holmes novels, of which I am a big fan, so I am hoping I will like it. I just started it, so I have not gotten very far.
Today I couldn't resist the Norton Critical Edition of
Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys. I love all the extras in those Norton editions.
#118 - alcottacre, I've just requested Touchstones from the library. It'll take a while as they've only just ordered it and I'm about 35 in the queue. I hope you enjoy it. If it's anything like her other stand alone novels it'll be wonderful. There's something in her writing (of the San Juan Islands novels) that kept me tense and on edge the whole time, they really gripped me. Her other novels are great but these ones are exceptional.
On my chair this morning when I got into the office was
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier! My boss gave me her copy of the book. Charles Frazier also wrote
Cold Mountain, which I've never read.
I'm going to the library tonight to return some DVDs. When I'm there I always pick up a couple of used books that are sold for $1.00 each (what a bargain)! I will be posting those books as soon as I can.
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trinah, Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day :-)
Onto my doormat today dropped
Foreigner by
C.J. Cherryh, for the Green Dragon group read. I was going to be good and not get it but then people were raving about it, so I'm hoping it lives up to the expectations!
I recieved
Sephardi Entrepreneurs in today's mail which is one of the December books from LT's ER program.
Yesterday
Corelli's Mandolin arrived in the mail. Its been a good week for books. =)
Message edited by its author, Jan 24, 2008, 6:55pm.
#120- I read Last American Man this month and really loved it. Then again, I fell in love with
Eat, Pray, Love.
I recently picked up some good old fashioned teen angst books! And I'm no teen! I got
The Perks of Being a Wallflower and
Thirteen Reasons Why earlier this week and finished them both. Highly recommend them both.
I also recently picked up
The Space Between Us and The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen which I'm hoping to read soon. I also went a little overboard at Half Price Books and picked up a stack of books that I've read but don't own such as
The Girls,
A Long Way Down, and
Microserfs.
Message edited by its author, Jan 24, 2008, 10:03pm.
#132 blissfulwitch - I enjoyed
Eat, Pray, Love as well which is why I was interested in reading
Last American Man. I hope it is as good.
BTW - Cannnot see why you cannot read teen angst books - seems to me you might enjoy them more now that you are NOT a teenager any more. Too hard to read them when you are actually going through it yourself IMHO.
#134 Alcottacre- I actually do read a lot of teen angst books! Guess I didn't get that across! I work with teenagers and feel I get a lot out of the books even as an adult and read them differently than I would have in high school!
Sorry! The deleted one under me is just a double post!
Message edited by its author, Jan 25, 2008, 9:00pm.
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seitherin - I'll be curious what you think of Ya-Yas. I loved
Divine Secrets, but this seemed like a weak re-hash to me. I hope she writes something new and original soon!
Went to the book store to return a book and walked out with:
Seeing by Jose Saramago and
The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte
I had a few others in my hand but I managed to be able to put them down by reminding myself of the large TBR pile waiting for me at home.
Then when I picked up my mail I found
Pamela by
Samuel Richardson and
Agnes Grey by
Anne Bronte waiting for me.
I received
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor (used from Amazon) today. I loved the movie, so I thought I'd give the book a try. It's been added to my TBR pile.
omph - I loved Mrs. Palfrey - The Movie - too. Have the book on hold at the library. Enjoy!
Went to a bookcrossing meetup and left with more books than I went in with :-(. Got a Collector's Library copy of
Moby-Dick (I have real love/hate thing going with Melville), Children's Classic's version of Tales of the Arabian Nights,
Staying Tuned by Daniel Schorr, and
Why Lincoln Matters by Mario Cuomo.
>114 & 141 Mckait & Irisheyz77 - You have to let me know how Seeing turns out. Blindness was one of my favorite reads from 2007. I gave a copy to a friend of mine for her birthday this weekend - I was soooo tempted to buy Seeing, too, since it was right there on the shelf next to it, but ultimately decided to wait till I can find it used. I definitely want to read more Saramago, though.
This just in from the employee breakroom:
Telegraph Days by Larry McMurtry.
@146 philosojerk - will do....once I find blindness and read it. I didn't realize when I picked up Seeing that there was a book that came before it. =( Although I might just read it anyway because it does sound awfully good.
You wouldn't happen to know off hand just how important it is to read Blindness before Seeing now would you?
>150 Irisheyz77 I had had the impression that they were two pretty independent story-lines, but just popping over to Amazon real quick and reading the description of Seeing, I think I may have been wrong. Specifically, it sounds as if one aspect of the storyline from Blindness is going to play a pretty integral role in the investigation that occurs in Seeing -although it doesn't look like that investigation is the primary focus of the novel. All of that is a roundabout way of saying I really don't know rofl.
I would recommend Blindness anyway, just because I thought it was a fantastic (though at times uncomfortable) read. I've already lent my copy to two people, and bought a copy for a friend for her birthday. But I know the feeling of being impatient to read a new book and so can understand not wanting to wait till you find it.
Hi all- I did something I haven't done in a long time- I bought 6 books which are-
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
The Inheritance of Loss- Kiran Desai
Duma Key-Stephen King
Girls in Pants- Ann Brashares
Forever in Blue-Ann Brashares and
Special Topics in Calamity Physics- Marisha Pessl
Irisheyz77 > I read
Seeing first (before knowing about Blindness), and it made sense as a stand-alone story to me. Some events from Blindness are referred to, but you are given enough background to understand what's going on.
I got
Duma Key by Stephen King in the mail today from Quality Paperback Book Club.
I found a nice version of
Omoo by Herman Melville at the university bookshop today. I'm always on the lookout for books set in the tropics to take on vacation when I'm lucky enough to go to the tropics. No holidays planned, but this book will be waiting for me for my next trip.
I'm going to come hang out in your employee lounge, sferrando! We only get fashion magazines in ours.
Message edited by its author, Jan 28, 2008, 5:18pm.
teelgee ~ you're so funny! Someone here at work just came up with the idea of sharing books with the whole company (we're about 900 people). The only problem is that I have been making away with a little more than my share of reading material (at least 10 so far...). What? Is that wrong???
@152 philosojerk - reading the write up for blindness really makes it sound interesting and all the more torn about if I should read seeing first or not. lol
@154 Killeymoon - thanks for your input. Have you read blindness at all? did it add or take anything away from reading seeing first? just wondering.
@157 sferrando - my mom's work used to have a lending library in their break room as well. I used to love visiting her work growing up because there was always a wide selection of books to read and borrow. I always thought that was a great idea. but to date I haven't worked at a place that's wanted to do it. =( Maybe one day.
@161 Irisheyz77 ~ I feel like I snagged all the good books. I've never read anything she's written, but there are at least two whole shelves of Nora Roberts books. I borrowed the rest! OK, not really, but I did borrow a lot!
I brought home Overcriminalization: The Limits of the Criminal Law by
Douglas Husak today, loaned to me by a faculty member who "thinks I'll find it interesting." Probably won't get around to it till after I finish my comps, but we'll see.
hmm... and I'm the only person with a copy, and it's not yet showing up on the author page or in touchstones. But it's
here.
@165 sferrando.....if it helps Nora Roberts is one of my mom's favorite authors. I haven't read much romance....and the ones I have read have been historicals. But my mom can't seem to get enough Nora Roberts. Her and Diana Palmer.
Irisheyz 77 - I haven't gotten around to reading Blindness. I probably will at some stage, but there are a couple of other
Saramago's I want to read first (A History of the Siege of Lisbon and The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis).
Wicked by Gregory Maguire has just been added to my collection. I really need to stop acquiring so many books. Ahhhh...nonsense!
sferrando - if you find a way to slow down the collection process please let me know! I except a revolt from my TBR books at any time because I keep adding to the pile (read: bookcase)
@170 ~ Hey, Irisheyz77! I'm thinking my husband may lock me out of the house the next time I come home with a book (that would be tonight, right?)! Maybe that will scare some sense into me . . . OK, not very likely. I can still sit in my car and read! ;-) I'll let you know if I come up with any amazing ideas. The only thing I can think of is to read faster and donate the read books to the library or friends, thus freeing up space on my bookshelf for more books!
Message edited by its author, Jan 29, 2008, 1:49pm.
Yesterday I received my Early Reviewers copy of
Black Ships by
Jo Graham. Still waiting to hear from Borders about my Pevear-Volokhonsky translation of
War and Peace - hopefully it arrives this week.
Sferrando & Irisheyz77 I have to chuckle--there is no way to stop the book acquiring process I am convinced. I have to sneak mine in now as my new bookcase is completely filled.
i.should.b.reading, I am stopping at Borders tonite also on my way home to pick up
Mistress Of the Art of Death with my Borders coupon. Been hoping that one would be out in paperback soon. I just can't let those coupons go to waste--when I get them I have to use them.
momom248 - I know exactly what you mean about those coupons! They just need to be used....its a crime to let them go to waste!
Today I recieved in the mail:
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and
Candide by
VoltaireBoth are books I snagged on bookmooch....a site almost as addicting and bad for my book as addicition as LT.
@176 momom248 ~ speaking of there being NO way to stop acquiring books...to that list I am adding
London Bridges by James Patterson and
The First Counsel by
Brad Meltzer. I got these gems from the employee lounge. I really have to quit peeking in there!
sferrando - are you leaving any books behind in the enployee lounge? All we hear is about all the new finds you bring home....keep that up and there won't be any books left there!! *lol*
@179 Irisheyz77 ~ Oh! Now I feel guilty...yes, I've left a few. But I think (OK, I hope) I'm done with the borrowing for awhile.
@180 sferrando - says the book addict. haven't we already gone over there is no cure for wanting to bring books home? if you go into work tomorrow and there is another pretty new book that is begging to go home with you, you know you'll be powerless to resist. *w*
@181 Irisheyz77 - all I have to do is NOT visit the employee lounge. I think I can, I think I can... I normally don't frequent the place, anyway. When I heard about the books, though, I became a habitual visitor. I'm so naughty, I know it. Maybe someone should "flag abuse" on me. It would certainly be appropriate! ;-)
You know, sferrando, I too, admit to temporary "pirating" of abandoned books from work. However, I typically return them. Perhaps we should start a support group.
Today, I bought from McKay's:
Anna Karenina
Plum BunTwentieth Century Interpretations of Vanity FairBalzac and the Human Comedy by Philippe Bertault
and
Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Yesterday, I bought
Crabbe's English Synonymesand a truly divine, antique, crumbling copy of Hyperion and Outre Mer.
I'm set for the week, I think.
Message edited by its author, Jan 29, 2008, 9:43pm.
@183 Moira - isn't the main purpose of support groups to help cure a problem? I'm not sure that would work in this case.....we are all too addicted to pretty shiny new (and/or slightly used) books. To bring us all together in a group would kinda be like giving fuel to the fire and we'd probably only exacerbate the probably by adding more suggestions to everyone's TBR lists....we are hopeless & weak when it comes to books - every single one of us. ;-)
@ 184 emaestra
ella minnow pea is an excellent book. Both highly amusing and down right terrifying at the same time. I'll be interesting in reading your thoughts about it. =)
An oldie, but a goodie
Ivanhoe. I found a Heritage Press copy on Ebay. I think I read it about 5 times my freshman year in high school. 35 years later I'm still waiting for my knight to show up.
@183 MoiraStirling ~ Well, I'm glad someone understand my pirating problems!
Anna Karenina was one of my fave reads of 2007. I'd be interested in finding out what you think of it.
I am about to start Next Time She'll Be Dead, by Ann Jones. This is going to be a very difficult and rather unpleasant read for me, but it's one of those books I feel I must read. The worst thing to do about domestic violence is to ignore it.
I am also working my way through Mary Chestnut's Civil War Diary. I bought it recently, thinking I already knew much of what would be in it. I could not have been more wrong! She lived a very different life than I imagined.
I am also working with Juliette Aristides Atelier Drawing.
I am about to start Next Time She'll Be Dead, by Ann Jones. This is going to be a very difficult and rather unpleasant read for me, but it's one of those books I feel I must read. The worst thing to do about domestic violence is to ignore it.
I am also working my way through Mary Chestnut's Civil War Diary. I bought it recently, thinking I already knew much of what would be in it. I could not have been more wrong! She lived a very different life than I imagined.
I am also working with Juliette Aristides Atelier Drawing.
>186: Irisheyz77 wrote, To bring us all together in a group would kinda be like giving fuel to the fire and we'd probably only exacerbate the probably by adding more suggestions to everyone's TBR lists...
Er ... I think you've just described LibraryThing to a T!
Well my addiction took over again last nite--I stopped at Borders with the intent of only buying
Mistress of the Art of Death, but I saw another book I'd been wanting had come out in paperback
Mathematics of Love so I had to buy it--plus it was 20% off and I had a 40% coupon for the other book so I absolutely just had to buy both (Hi my name is momom248 and I am a bookaholic!!).
Good thing there are no book tables in my work lounge or else they would be all gone once I hit them. The Boston office of my company has a Borders in its lobby--good thing I don't work there!
#193 oh no Irisheyz77 you and I are definitely not addicted to buying books--not one little bit!!
#195 momom248 - perhaps we should take up Moira's suggestion and form a support group.
Right before I left my last job a Border's opened up directly across the street. When I saw it being built I told the finance guy that he might as well just make my paycheck out to Borders, Inc instead of to me....and sure enough once it opened I was there pretty much every day. It wasn't pretty. Thankfully I got a new job shortly thereafter. Here I have a library right next door and while that doesn't help my TBR pile it is at least more friendly to my wallet!!
@195 & 193 ~ Irisheyz77 & momom248...Welcome home!
#196 yes Irisheyz77--we do need a support group. At one time there was a thread for that here somewhere--havent' seen it a while.
I told my husband my ideal job would be at a book store and he said yeah right--you'd never see your paycheck leave the store and yep he's right about that. Oh but to have a Borders that close--I would be there every day too!!
#197 Thanks sferrando! It's so nice to know that there are others like me out there. My non-reading friends and family think I"m a nutcase. I just love books and everything about them.
momom - don't look at it as never seeing your paycheck look at it as just supporting your habit. =) I've often thought of getting a part time job in a book store just for that reason. My friend's brother also worked at Borders not too long ago and the store used to let the employees borrow books - as long as they kept them in like new condition. The store wanted the people who worked there to be well read to be able to give recommendations. Now that is my kinda work environment!
as for being thought a nutcase by your non-reading friends....even my those friends of mine who do read think that i'm a hopeless nutcase. they just don't understand! I mean, how can you resist all those pretty books calling and begging you to adopt them and rescue them from neglect in the bookstore.
sferrando - thanks! Its good to be here. ;-)
Hello my name is Terri and I'm a bookaholic. Today I bought:
Half of a Yellow Sun which I've heard about nonstop since joining LT a year ago.
We Need to Talk About Kevin - ditto
Small Island - only for about the last six months.
My life has become unmanageable.
Message edited by its author, Jan 30, 2008, 11:04pm.
More books!
War and Peace by Tolstoy - the new Pevear-Volokhonsky translation (thank god for my 40% off coupon - this thing was expensive!)
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.
I'm feeling exhausted because I haven't bought a book for the whole of January - it doesn't mean I didn't go into bookshops though, and the effort of resistance is just exhausting! I know, why would I want to do that to myself? Well, besides Mt TBR, I noticed that I added 169 books to LibraryThing last year, but only read 89! And we're moving soon (12,000 miles away), so I thought I'd better make an effort to create a dent in the mountain.
Since tomorrow is a new month though, the self-imposed book-buying ban is up! Expect me to be posting on the February thread!
Went to a reading at Harvard Book Store last night and now have a signed copy of
Carol Gilligan's first novel Kyra.
@204 killeymoon - how have you managed to go a whole month without buying a book. What is your secret?!?! Even when I ban myself from the bookstore I still can't go an entire month without buying a book (its a sickness). For I too would enter the bookstore....just to look, breath in the smells....but my powers of resistance are weak. If I am with a friend they'll restrain me (sometimes literally) from buying....but if I am alone then the temptation is great.
#200 Irisheyz77, your line: "I mean, how can you resist all those pretty books calling and begging you to adopt them and rescue them from neglect in the bookstore." are my feelings exactly! They are calling--unfortunately many of them call at the same time and I can't decided which ones to bring home with me!
#204 Killeymoon, a whole month--wow that's willpower. I think my longest was maybe 2 weeks--and it was hell not buying for 2 weeks--that was when we went on vacation and there was no opportunity to go to a bookstore. However, I did make up for it when I got back (he, he).
Just returned from my favorite coffeeshop where they have a lending library of sorts -- of sorts, meaning they don't care if you bring it back or not. I brought home
The Way the Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald and
Straight on till morning : the biography of Beryl Markham by Mary S. Lovell. I will take some of my books in next time to replace the ones I "borrowed."* (sferrando - I don't need no stinking break room!)
And from the
real library - an audio book of
Wickett's Remedy by
Myla Goldberg, a book I tried to read a couple of times - the audio came highly recommended, so I'll give it another try.
*They also have a box where they collect books for prisoners, which I've donated to liberally! Cool program.
In the mailbox waiting for me were used copies of Blindness by Jose Saramago and
As Meat Loves Salt by
Maria McCann, both bought after reading about them on LT.
Off to the TBR pit with them!!!
Still reading
Three Cups of tea however I had a Barnes and Noble 25% card so went there after work and bought The Appeal by
John Grisham tonight and also
Taming Rafe by
Susan May Warren I work at a school so I am counting on a snow day tormorrow as we are to get an ice storm tonight during the night - my fingers are crossed. Reading all day with new books would make a perfect Friday!!!
@208 Irisheyz77 ~ LOVE Capote! Recently I bought his
Music for Chameleons novel. Got it off the library's used book shelf for a buck! Also, with a gift certificate from Christmas time I bought
Daniel Defoe: Five Novels (Library of Essential Writers Series) and
Moll Flanders is included in the collection.
@209 teelgee ~ you'd better be nice to me. If I find out where your fave coffee shop is, I'll stop by and annihilate their lending library by "borrowing" the remaining books! You know I'm only a 1 hour Southwest flight away from you. Be afraid...be very afraid! ;-)
In from the library tonight:
Cross Creek by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings - an LT recommendation
Savage Run by
C.J. Box - I read the first one in the Joe Pickett mystery series and enjoyed it, so I am trying the second
The Master of Rain by
Tom Bradby - I saw this one and picked it up just because of the title - Anyone else do that?
@213 alcottacre ~ I judge a book by its cover AND title all the time!
>212 sferrando, yeah, I'm quaking in my Birkenstocks.
@215 teelgee ~ you should be quaking 'cause I'm stompin' around over here in my Dansko clogs! ;-)
Irisheyz77 & momom248 > It wasn't easy I can tell you! Every time I went into a bookshop, my brain was creating a mental TBP (To Be Purchased) list. Especially when I saw a book I'd been wanting for ages at 1/3 of it's normal price in a bookends store, where you just know they probably only have two copies (and I am literally going to *run* there today!). The best tactic was just simply to avoid my favourite bookshops, and go to the "less-favoured" ones. I also carried around my copy of
War and Peace in my handbag, so I expect that helped!
@213 alcottacre - I judge books by titles and covers all the time. I've discovered lots of new authors that way. I know that there is the old saying not to do so, but there is something to be said about first impressions. And the first impression of a book is usually the cover and title. =)
@217 killeymoon - that is one of the major problems of a book ban. The drooling and wanting of books. Then when the ban is lifted it makes the compulsion to buy all the greater. There have been times where I think I might have bought more books when just coming off a ban then I would have if I'd never been under the ban in the first place!
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! A book-crazed friend at work just brought me the following:
A Million Little Pieces by
James Frey;
Oh the Glory of It All by
Sean Wilsey; and
I am Charlotte Simmons by
Tom Wolfe.
This gal was on her way to the employee lounge to add some of her old books to the shelf and decided to stop by my desk first. Looks like she saved me a trip. But, I'm afraid the gig's up and I've been found out!
Message edited by its author, Feb 1, 2008, 12:32pm.
We told on you, sferrando.
teelgee ~ your favorite coffee shop is next. WaHaHaHa! (That's my evil laugh, BTW.)
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