Dear Group, September the 1st. is the official start of spring in Australia. The rest of the sensible world uses "solstices's" give or take a few more S'ss. We Aussies are sometimes dumb!

Well anyway, after 4+ attempts, I finally got the encyclopedia of science fiction 3 providers debited my card, and then returned the monies when they "suddently" decided they could NOT send it to that "stange CONTINENT" called Australia.

That book was really my most difficult puchase. Now if you want to know about DVD's... 2 years before I got one. But that is another story...

Message edited by its author, Sep 3, 2009, 2:44am.

I don't think I've posted a message on this group all year, but I've been buying books. Well, here is my purchase for today:

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
In The Woods by Tana French
The Likeness by Tana French
I'm So Happy For You by Lucinda Rosenfeld

I saw I'm So Happy... on the Campaign for the American Reader blog just a couple of days ago and put it on my to read list. I was at Target today passing the book section and saw it on a shelf. I turned into the aisle and ended up getting the other books, too. It was like the store was fishing and that book was its bait.

(The touchstone for In The Woods is not working right. It brings up Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods)

Message edited by its author, Sep 9, 2009, 8:26pm.

Arrghh, I keep screwing up the threads by not noticing when the month changes and clicking a thread I've posted to on my homepage. Sorry 'bout that.

Made a purchase today and spent way too much. Bought a DVD of a foreign dance film, a writing magazine, and the booklover's page-a-day calendar for 2010. Also several actual books:

* Firethorn by Sarah Micklem (fantasy novel that got good reviews and has a great cover, sequel just came out in hardcover and it also has a beautiful cover)

* Never Marry a Stranger by Gayle Callen (historical romance, interesting if not original premise of man who comes home from war after being given up for lost to find a wife there -- 'cept he's not married)

* To Wed a Wicked Earl by Olivia Parker (historical romance, both presume unrequited love)

* After the Black Death by George Huppert (we were going to send it back to the publisher, but it's supposed to be so good that I kept it back and bought it)

Today I purchased:

The Cry of the Sloth by Sam Savage
and
An Incomplete Education by Judy Jones and William Wilson

#1: Jeez, guido, that sucks! (the getting charged 3 X's part, not the book, I mean ;) And I totally forget about your guys' (Australians) change in seasons. Happy Spring! :) It's cooling off here (US), so it feels a little like spring too.

#2 & 4: Doncha just love wonky touchstones? Nice purchases, btw. I'm trying to collect all the Harry Potter books before starting them, just so I can read them in order (I have a bad habit of reading books out of sequence). And I love the cover for I'm So Happy for You. So true of some women's friendships with each other. (could think of 1 or 2 :)

#3: Not to worry, Renee. I have a hard time remembering days, let alone months. ;) And speaking of which, I had to talk myself out of buying a 2010 calendar when I bought the below books, because I usually end up getting one for the holidays or something. Still, I wanted that Happy Bunny calendar . . . .

---

My Half Price Book splurge:

Juvenile/YA

* Thirsty by M. T. Anderson
* Junie B. Jones Is a Beauty Shop Guy & Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder by Barbara Park (love Junie B.; wish her books had been around when I was a kid)
* Including Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
* The Princess and the Pauper by Kate Brian
* Good Ghouls Do by Julie Kenner
* The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman
* Three Girls in the City #1: Self-Portrait by Jeanne Betancourt

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Comics/Manga

* Tomie 1: The Junji Ito Horror Comic Collection by Junji Ito
* Orlando Bloom Has Ruined Everything, Encyclopedias Brown and White, Your Momma Thinks Square Roots Are Vegetables, Who's Up for Some Bonding? all by Bill Amend (the Orlando Bloom title always cracks me up)
* Model, volumes 4 & 5 by Lee So-Young (hopefully I'll find volumes 1-3 before starting this series)
* Until the Full Moon: Volume 1 by Sanami Matoh

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Other Fiction

* Vampire Hunter D: Volume 1 by Hideyuki Kikuchi
* Horrorween by Al Sarrantonio
* Revenant by Melanie Tem
* The Mammoth Book of Lesbian Erotica edited by Rose Collis (I blame the book below for my purchasing this one; I'm not even a lesbian--lol!)
* Heidi's Bedtime Stories: Erotic Quickies for Men and Women by Heidi Cortez

Message edited by its author, Sep 14, 2009, 6:08pm.

Ooooh, a group about book shopping! Why haven't I found you guys earlier?!?

So far this week I have purchased:

Bizarre World by Bill Bryson
Coffee with Isaac Newton by Michael White
Secret Lives of Great Composers by Elizabeth Lunday
The Host by Stephanie Meyer
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Official Book Club Selection by Kathy Griffin
Milwaukee At Last! CD & DVD combo by Rufus Wainwright (I was at the concert and have been waiting not-so-patiently for 2 years for this to be released!)
Anonymous 2 CD set (classical music written by "Anonymous")

That's it so far! Actually, it had better be it for a while, I can't afford to keep this up, no matter how much I wish I could. Oh, and I also spent over $100 on essential oils a couple of hours ago. Ugh! At least I can write those off! If only I had a job where I could write all of my book purchases off - sigh! Maybe in my next lifetime....

Edited, Touchstone not working. Grrrrr.

Message edited by its author, Sep 16, 2009, 10:11pm.

Okay. Still September? Check. Made my weekly purchase yesterday. Got the latest _Songlines_ magazine issue, a brand new Doctor Who DVD of a recent Christmas special, and the following books:

* The Constant Art of Being a Writer by N.M. Kelby (exactly what it sounds, a book on authorship)

* Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle (an autobuy historical romance author; I really like her voice)

* Surrender of a Siren by Tessa Dare (haven't read her yet, but her books are coming out back to back, so I'll probably own all 3 before even knowing whether I like her....)

>5 That's quite a haul! Sanami Matoh is one of my favorite manga-kas and Until the Full Moon is a really good one by her. I hope you enjoy it!

Ordered last week and delivered to me today was A strong and Sudden Thaw by R.W. Day. I really shouldn't be ordering anything but it showed up on Amazon Marketplace for under half the cover cost with shipping and I just couldn't resist. It is one that I've really wanted for a while now.

Zonder, the poetry debut of young poet Sylvie Marie. I bought it at a reading in a bookstore, only 5 or 6 people were in the audience; she's a very good debutante, so I'm hoping that my signed copy will once fetch hundreds of euros!

#6: Ooooh, a group about book shopping!

I know, fun, huh? :) I think there's another shopping thread out there, but I can't remember where. Anyone?

Sometimes wrong touchstones are a great way to find new books, imho, like your Bizarre World book by Bill Bryson links to Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer (where's the connection??), which looks just as good as the book you listed.

The Host is on my wishlist. I'm still working on her Twilight series.

If only I had a job where I could write all of my book purchases off - sigh!

Same here. I should start bugging my supervisor about that. I think library staff should be allowed Amazon accounts. It's totally work related. ;)

#7: (haven't read her yet, but her books are coming out back to back, so I'll probably own all 3 before even knowing whether I like her....)

Ha ha! That sounds like me. I've bought entire series that way, thinking I'll like them, but once I get into book 1 or 2, I'm hitting myself over the head with them. Good luck with her books. I haven't heard of her either.

#8: Thanks! :) Yeah, I was just in shopping mode that day. Plus everything was on clearance, so I was super ecstatic! And I'm sure I'll like Until the Full Moon. The synopsis on the back--front?--cover just cracked me up. Oh, and I love your review of it. I've thumbed you (eeps!) on the book's page.

#9: I've never heard of Sylvie Marie, but best of luck. I think my entire collection--which is 2,500+ right now--is worth less than a few euros. :D

Spent more than I wanted to yesterday, but only 1/3 was on me. The others were 39 Clues & Boxcar Children books for my nieces. Shh, don't tell. I want it to be a surprise.

For me:
* _Bright Star: Love Letters and Poems of John Keats to Fanny Brawne_ introduction by Jane Campion (goes along with her movie releasing any day now if not already)

* Seduced by His Touch by Tracy Anne Warren (think this is a first buy for this historical romance author; I've never read anything by her, at least)

* Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas (more historical romance; some of hers I've really enjoyed)

* The Glass of Time by Michael Cox (I know I already own his other historical novel The Meaning of Night, but I'll have to check to see if I've already got this one; too often I repeat myself when it comes to book purchases )

>10 I'm glad you enjoyed the review!

I've been very weak when it comes to book buying the last couple weeks. I picked up a copy of Smoke and Ashes by Tanya Huff hardcover for $4.99 with shipping off of Amazon and Artemis Fowl The Lost Colony from Betterworld books for $4.00 for my son.

#12: That's not bad for Amazon. I have Smoke and Ashes too, but I'm waiting to find the previous two books before I start that series. Ditto on the Artemis Fowl series--I have a few, but I'm waiting to read it in order. Be strong, Jenson! :D Hide your cards if you have to.

So after promising myself and my AmEx that I would behave myself, I somehow accidentally ended up with a giant bag of things when I was at B&N today.

I went in to purchase
Seven Daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes (as a replacement - the copy I originally purchased at a used place is filled with purple highlighter. Not sure how I missed that earlier.)
and a Georgette Heyer book for a contest I found online. I ended up with The Nonesuch.

And of course when I was walking around,
March by Geraldine Brooks
The Anglo Files by Sarah Lyall
More Letters from Pemberley by Jane Dawkins
Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie
a lined notebook, and four magazines (Nat Geographic, bookmarks, Living (UK), and Easy Living (UK) ) just popped into my arms.

I really have to stay away from bookstores in future!!!

Message edited by its author, Sep 28, 2009, 6:54pm.

>13 I took all the Smoke books out from the library over the last few weeks and loved them all. I'm going to collect the first two in hardcover as well. Funny thing is Smoke and Ashes was my least favorite (but still excellent IMHO) and that's the one I wound up getting first.

I've already taken my credit cards off of Amazon because it was too tempting. Now I have to actually make sure I have money in my bank account if I want to buy something.

Message edited by its author, Sep 29, 2009, 4:51pm.

Went to an American Civil War reenactment on Sunday, ended up spending a bit of money (planned).

Bought some lye soap, some stockings I can wear when I'm in period dress at the museum, a CD of ACW-era music by one of my favorite groups (97th Regimental String Band, "Chantey Irish"), one issue of _Civil War Historian_ magazine, and nine issues of _The Citizens' Companion_ (a magazine for people who reenact ACW as civilians).

And I bought a book that's a reprint of an 1853 title: The Ladies' Self Instructor in Millinery & Mantua Making, Embroidery & Applique. Not sure if that'll touchstone.

Message edited by its author, Oct 1, 2009, 6:55pm.

LauraBrook,

I do the same thing. Go into the bookstore, promising myself that I will not go nuts. Then as I'm headed to the checkout counter with a too-heavy pile of books, I find myself feeling guilty and embarrased about it. Yet, I can't help myself.

Picked up two yesterday that I'm really excited about: Flawed Dogs: the Novel by the great cartoonist Berkeley Breathed, and one of the recently re-released Betsy-Tacy twofers, Betsy and the Great World and Betsy's Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace. I somehow missed Betsy-Tacy as a girl, and am so looking forward to reading this!

#14: four magazines...just popped into my arms.

LOL! I hate it when that happens. :) And I wouldn't avoid bookstores entirely. Life's already filled with too many no-no's, but maybe you could pace yourself? I have to do that all the time, like one self-rule: I can only shop @ library book sales/secondhand bookstores. It saves me a bundle.

#15: I haven't shopped @ Amazon in ages. Their One-Click method was waaay too tempting (do they still do that?), and I could see myself going into debt shopping like that. :D Ooh, I like that! (click) And that! (click) And that and that and that--!! (mouse breaks) Nice self-control, btw! I try to only shop with cash; no credit cards for fun things, only emergencies (pet ER visits, etc).

#16: I've never been to one of those reenactments or Renaissance fairs (not really my thing), but I'm sure your buys would make an awesome Halloween costume (if you do that). And yay, your touchstone worked. :) They're so tempermental sometimes.

#17: (raises hand) Me three. That's why I try to stick with just a basket. Some bookstores I've been to even have shopping carts(!), which I try to avoid. That would be toooo tempting. Oddly, I never feel guilty about my purchases (unless I'm shopping with my mom, who gives me that do-you-really-need-more-books look all mothers seem to perfect). I figure, if I can carry my purchase out the door, I'm doing good. :D

#18: Flawed Dogs looks wonderful. I read his children's book The Last Basselope two years ago and just loved it. Is Flawed Dogs similar to it or more for adults? Either way, I'll have to keep my eyes out for it. Love Opus. :)

---

I went Half Price Book shopping. Again. Twice in one month is surprising for me, but it was kind of my therapy. Forget spas--I could spend all day in there! :D On to the buys:

Juvenile/YA

* A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket (books 1-13, minus #8; unfortunately, I couldn't find that one there) -- I've already started The Bad Beginning and just love it.
* Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
* California Diaries #7: Dawn by Ann M. Martin
* Fearless FBI #2: Live Bait by Francine Pascal
* The Girl's Guide to Loving Yourself by Diane Mastromarino
* Lady Lollipop & Three Terrible Trins by Dick King-Smith
* The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
* Boy Girl Boy by Ron Koertge
* The Whispering Mountain by Joan Aiken
* Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket by Barbara Park

Horror

* Lost Futures by Lisa Tuttle
* The Haunting by Ruby Jean Jensen
* Bride of Satan by William Schoell
* Dead to the World & Affinity by J. N. Williamson
* Deathwalker by R. Patrick Gates
* Blood Kin by Ronald Kelly
* Obsessed & Penance by Rick R. Reed

Erotica

* Wild Kingdom by Deanna Ashford
* Disciplining Jane by Jane Eyre

Other Fiction

* Broken Flower by V. C. Andrews

Although Flawed Dogs is juvenile literature (for the intermediate, 9-13 age range), he has such a sly sense of humor that it works just as well for adults. And the illustrations--amazing. It's an expansion of a picture book of the same name he did 6 or 7 years ago.

Awesome! I'll have to add that one to my wishlist. Thanks, Becky. :)

19> I'm sure your buys would make an awesome Halloween costume (if you do that).

Nope. Not since -- high school, I think. I used to reenact ACW, but it can be very political and cliquey. I mostly have clothing signed out from the site to wear in the different time period buildings of the museum, but did buy an 1860s dress at a reenactment.

I've gone straight to grocery shopping & night classes when I was still in college, & even went bowling once after work. You haven't lived until you've bowled in a bustle. :-) Some interpreters don't want to go out in public in period clothing -- you get stared at & asked if you belong to cults & things like that, but I don't mind. I don't really care what people are thinking.

unless I'm shopping with my mom, who gives me that do-you-really-need-more-books look all mothers seem to perfect

Not my mom. When she was more mobile, we'd take a trip an hour away to one of the two best bookstore cities in the country, and hit four or five retail & used bookstores before stopping somewhere for a meal and to gloat over our purchases, then head home. My technique was always to stay in a bookstore for a looonng time, carrying the books in my arms. After an hour or so, anything left was something I clearly wanted to own. Other titles I often talked myself out of.

Unfortunately, I haven't dressed up in costume (for Halloween anyway) since elementary school. I've always wanted to, but it just seems like a waste of money and some of my past jobs wouldn't allow it. I just like to window-shop instead--or wait for the after-holiday sales. :)

Btw, are the dresses/outfits actually made from that time period or just replicas of the originals? If so, are they pricey? I'd never really thought about it until now, because I read somewhere Queen Victoria's underwear went up for private auction! :O I would not want to meet the person who bought those. LOL! I've heard of too many fetishes.

And bowling in a bustle?? Are you mad? :D I can barely bowl in jeans!

I can totally understand how some people wouldn't feel comfortable wearing what they want in certain places. I live in Washington State, so it's a little more laidback and liberal (it's not too surprising to see guys in kilts/utili-skirts, goths in black latex, or religious people--Muslims, Mormon missionaries, Catholic nuns, etc--just milling about downtown anywhere), but I think some people aren't entirely open-minded and would be offended if someone wore anything Southern. Believe me, there are times when I would love to dress wildly and dye my hair, so I think it's awesome that you're so self-confident like that. :)

we'd take a trip an hour away to one of the two best bookstore cities in the country, and hit four or five retail & used bookstores

(mouth drops open) You should've taken me! :D But to be honest to my mom, she does go out of her way and drive me aaalllll the way down to Portland, Oregon, every now and then so I can shop at Powell's (one of the biggest bookstores I've ever been to!). I get lost there every time. :D If you ever go, make sure you have a compass and/or cell phone. It's several stories tall and covers a few city blocks.

I belong to Freecycle and got lots of free books today! I've been trying to add to the "Classics" in my library, so these were perfect. They include:

The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The War of the Worlds by H G Wells
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Slaugher House-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Frida by Hayden Herrera

and many more!

23> Btw, are the dresses/outfits actually made from that time period or just replicas of the originals? If so, are they pricey?

The dresses are made from patterns that are often drafted from original garments. Although there are some commercial costume-type patterns you can get at fabric stores and the like, usually the ones we use are from costume historians where the goal is to be historically accurate.

If you work at the museum four or five days a week, they will likely make a dress to fit your specific measurements. However, it's a part-time job for me, so it's sometimes catch as catch can. "My" 1880s modified bustle dress is too short in the sleeves and skirt for me, and I need to put new hooks and eyes on the skirt because it's way too loose at the waist & I spent yesterday pinned into it (actually, my corset kept coming unhooked, too, so I probably need to tighten the laces -- bad clothes day yesterday).

I have patterns at home so I could conceivably make myself stays, drawers, chemises, petticoats, etc. I do have a couple of dress patterns, but I don't think I'd ever make, say, a bustle dress. I'd probably hire one to make it for me (and that would probably be $300+, so yes, they can be very pricey; I think my 1860s dress was ~$100-200).

(mouth drops open) You should've taken me!

Washington state to Wisconsin is a bit of a hike, don't you think? :o) I've heard of Powell's Books on the west coast, of course. And I'd really like, someday, to get to the Tattered Cover if it's still there -- Denver, I think?

Tattered Cover IS in Denver - and I was just there in June! It's a fantastic bookstore, cute mini-cafe, lots of international magazines, great staff recs, wonderful atmosphere. And I spoke to the owner who was nothing but welcoming and charming. Would like to go back some time on my own time table (there for a wedding), preferably driving, and really spend some time in there. Denver is a great city!

#25: Yeah, that's a tad too much for me. :D But it still sounds like fun.

Washington state to Wisconsin is a bit of a hike, don't you think?

Ooh, maybe a few extra miles out of my way. ;)

#26: I've never heard of Tattered Cover, but that would be amazing. Just bring along a U-Haul or something. :)