Fabulous Finds - Part XII

Once again, with all of the prolific posters here in our little Virago Group, it is time for a new thread.

Sorry I posted on the old one.

First visit to a bookshop in two months and found Collected Poems and Prose by Charlotte Mew - not a VMC but a very early Virago edition (1982).

Found The Wind Changes in my mailbox - thank you Elaine!!

Received Miss Mole and The Skin Chairs -- thanks, Lucy!

Marvelous! Enjoy!

I haven't been looking for a while, but recent excursions have netted a few finds:

The Old Man and Me by Elaine Dundy
Now in November by Josephine Johnson
The Lying Days by Nadine Gordimer
As Once in May by Antonia White
The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather
and
Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym

Happy days

In the mail from PBS in recent days a movie tie-in Virago of The Handmaid's Tale and a beautiful green The Song of the Lark in excellent condition. I was thrilled with the Cather, less so with the Atwood.

My daughter has now joined those who look for VMCs for me and she found 3 yesterday:

Aurora Floyd
Love in Winter
Over the frontier

Only one is a duplicate and I'll post that on the appropriate thread.

From PBS today The Lying Days in original green. It just came to the top of my wish list last week along with a couple of others.

On PBS - a green copy of That Lady for anyone interested. Check with sender to make sure it's a Virago, of course.

From PBS today Yonnondio, pristine, uread, green, complete with apple (uh - that would be incomplete apple) and white stripes. Score!

Indeed, LizzieD. Enjoy.

Well, not so fabulous, but kind of funny.

I ordered The Diaries of Sylvia Townsend Warner from Alibris and received something called Prayer A Fresh Vision! I was immediately given a refund, which I didn't really care about because I wanted the Townsend diaries. I was graciously (really!) told I didn't have to return the incorrect book and to enjoy it...

I have to chuckle to think that if my order was mixed up with someone else's, he/she ordered a devotional book and got the diaries of a noted lesbian writer.

Oh, well. It was really a good price for the diaries, too. The search continues..

A very nice copy of The Land of Green Ginger landed in my mailbox today, courtesy of PBS. My count is now 334, plus the eight 30th anniversary reprints.

Got a very nice copy of Anderby Wold by Winifred Holtby today, complete with perfectly fitting plastic slip cover which went over the green Virago cover...wonder where you can get those?

Liz, that is funny...especially picturing the person on the other end.

There is a copy of Olivia on paperbackswap. It is a weird listing because the author is listed as Olivia Gates, so it doesn't register as the Strachey novel. But the ISBN is a VMC number. Since it is a wish-listed book, I thought maybe someone here was one of the wishers. I'd contact the seller to be sure.

In my mail today I received:

Painted Clay
The Brontes Went to Woolworths
Hester Lilly and other stories
The Ante-Room
Thank Heaven Fasting
A Pin to see the Peepshow
The Little Company
Virago Book of Women and the Great War
Cassandra at the Wedding

Liz - it's gone so I presume someone else got it. However Olivia Gates appears to be a writer of lurid romances so they should definitely check with the sender that it is the right book.

>18 Liz1564:: What a haul! The Virago Book of Women and the Great War sounds really interesting.

You picked up some good ones, Liz!

I was very pleased to receive a fine copy of The Vicar's Daughter is the mail today, which completes my E. H. Young VMC collection.

Went second hand book shopping the other day, and while I am new to the thrill of hunting down those green spines, I did happily snaffle Without my Cloak and Angel by Elizabeth Taylor. (Both of which have been recommended by LTers.)

A copy of The Children by Edith Wharton arrived in yesterday's mail.

I went to a library book sale last week and noticed a familiarly green spine amongst the travel books I was looking through. Surprised to see a Virago in that particular section, I pulled out Naomi Mitchison's Travel Light--which is about as far from a travelogue as could be imagined. Why do these things always happen at library book sales? Why do people with no interest in or knowledge of books volunteer for such things? Ah well, it's always amusing, and I'm looking forward to reading this odd little book.

Virago has just issued Less Than Angels by Barbara Pym as VMC No 550.

Pilgrimage 1 just arrived from a dear friend. Thank you! In lovely condition too. From PBS a green copy of Katherine Anne Porter's The Collected Stories. Her book Ship of Fools is in my top ten all time favorite books.

#23 I've been eyeing The Children on my reread shelf lately, I just really really want to reread it.

And another lovely green VMC arrived today: Roman Fever by Edith Wharton.

I had not been to the P.O. for a week and a half & when I went on Friday what to my wondering eyes should appear but:
The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather,
Lucy Gayheart by Willa Cather,
We Were That Young by Irene Rathbone,
Virginia by Elizabeth Glasgow,
The Sheik by E.M. Hull, (Could it be a distant relative? Hmmmmm),
The Orchid House by Phyllis Shand Allfrey,
Aleta Dey by Francis Marion Beynon,
The Caravaners by Elizabeth von Arnim,
The Wedding Group by Elizabeth Taylor,
One of Ours by Willa Cather,
Heartburn by Nora Ephron, and
The Professor's House by Willa Cather.
I was so excited. I still am. And all of them in lovely Virago green except for The Song of the Lark, Heartburn, Lucy Gayheart & The Professor's House. Can't wait to dig in!~!
hugs,
belva

Belva - Congratulations on your fabulous finds - can I recommend The Orchid House to begin your reading marathon.

What a wonderful collection of finds Belva - enjoy!

WOW!!!! Belva, those are fabulous finds indeed!

I personally like The Song of the Lark, but then, I am partial to Willa Cather!

Well, I'm green, and it's not a pretty sight. Enjoy, Belva!!!

#29,

Fantastic haul, Belva. And you've reminded me you're a Yorkshire woman by blood! It doesn't surprise me. You were saying earlier how you like to be genuine. In Hull, "we call a spade a spade"!

Always has me wondering what else one could call it...

Sd;
You have got me cracking up here. My belly hurts!~!
Never heard that before. (the wondering part)
belva

And yes, mrspenny, I shall begin this group with The Orchid House. Thanx for the rec.
b

Belva - I read The Orchid House as part of our all Virago August. I didn't expect to enjoy it but I really did. A few months later someone else read it and was lukewarm - Elaine in Chicago - and because she was lukewarm she sent me her lovely green copy and I sent my non-Virago copy to someone else. There's no telling what will get you...it's very situational and mood related with me.

5> That saying always reminds me of The Importance of Being Earnest. When Cecily and Gwendolyn are having their oh-so-polite tea in the garden, Cecily says it to Gwendolyn, who replies in a tone of superiority: "I am pleased to say that I have never SEEN a spade!"

(And in my mailbox today, a green Penguin VMC, Women Against Men, so I'll let Belva live.) (Nice of me)

YEA!~! I have that one on my shelf awaiting me. Will be anxious to hear your report.
hugs,
belva

I just picked up Sleepless Nights.

FleurFisher - did you know that Patrick the Book Man in Chapel Street Arcades has just come into about 100 Viragos?? I managed to stop at one, but he has loads - most for £1.50-£2.50 each. I'm sure I'll be back, so you'd better hurry if you want any! :)

Found Sunlight on a Broken Column by Attia Hosain this morning at the library book sale for 50 cents.

I got Barren Ground in pretty good condition today from PBS.

I'm very new to Virago; I just bought my very first three today! They are:

Frost in May
Invitation to the Waltz
The Rising Tide

I found Rose Macaulay's Crewe Train and Pamela Frankau, A Wreath for the Enemy today in an Oxfam bookshop. I had Crewe Train but in an ex library hardback I'm rather sorry I didn't pick up Molly Keane's Full House in better condition than my ex library Virago copy too.

On Friday I found Mary Norton, The Bread and Butter Stories and Olivia Manning, The Doves of Venus in another charity shop.

#44 Two excellent ones to start with - I don't remember reading Invitation to the Waltz but plan to.

There is a Bronte Virago Classics Villette just listed on Paperbackswap. No picture but the number is right. Hope someone here can use it.

47> Got it! There are a number of good ones on PBS at the moment: The Ballad and the Source, The Getting of Wisdom, That Lady, etc.

Not a VMC, but a Virago nonetheless: All the Dogs of My Life by Elizabeth von Arnim and, even better, I got it for free, as I volunteer at the library bookshop!

Good haul Kasthu. Elkie - Wreath for the Enemy has a special place in my heart. I absolutely loved it although I am not sure it was actually a 'great' book.

From across the pond, My Brilliant Career arrived in my mailbox today. Thanks so much, Kerry!

Just received a copy of Family Money from the other side of the pond.

Today I found a surprise in my mailbox: Mansfield Park!!! Thank you so much, Alison!!!!! :-))

And I received South Riding from LyzzyBee (it only took 2 months to get here and I'd forgotten all about it in the meantime!). Thank you very much!

Ah - the wonders of Surface Mail! And the BookCrossing site is down at the moment so if I registered it and you try to catch it, you're going to have trouble!

I found Remember! Remember! Selected Stories by Winifred Holtby for 50p in a charity shop today. And Elizabeth Taylor's selected stories on the library discard shelf for 20p the other day, hardback Virago and not green, but at that price...

The Life and Death of Harriet Frean has just been posted on Paperbackswap if anyone needs it.

56 What wonderful finds! I have been trying to find Remember,Remember for the longest time and haven't seen a copy without an outrageous price.

Well, pooh. I rushed over there since I have *L&D* on my wishlist, but it was gone, gone, gone. They usually send a "book like one on your wishlist" e-mail, but I didn't even get that. Meanwhile, Luci, I'm envious of your good finds which I know you'll enjoy!

A lovely green copy of Villette arrived in today's mail/

Just added A Garden of Earthly Delights by Joyce Carol Oates & The Three Sisters by May Sinclair. Lovely additions to my Vmc's.
belva

Bobbin' Up currently available on PBS.

I just bought I Capture the Castle.

I got the copy of Bobbin' Up and made my way over here to announce it. I don't know that I'll read it anytime soon, but it's green!
I also have a copy of Lady Mary Montague's letters from Persia coming my way, but I can't recall the exact title. I guess I could go find out and edit this. What I'm getting purports to be a Virago but not a Virago Beacon.

Good for you, LizzieD! I enjoyed Bobbin Up -- well worth reading.
Oh, and not to pick nits or split hairs or whatever, but there's no apostrophe in the title. The title refers to bobbins in textile mills where the characters make their living.

Thank you, Laura! I personally liked picked nits and hairs split. My other book came today, and it's The Turkish Embassy Letters, and I see (to pick my own nit) that Lady Mary Wortley Montagu does not have a final "e." How's that?

quelle horreur !

I forgot to post that I received Aurora Floyd two days ago, and I am so happy!!!!!
Thanks again, Kerry!

Who else would understand the euphoria which 5 !!!! new Viragos in one day can produce but you guys! Our local second hand bookshop held its annual 1$ sale this weekend. Today, a pre-brunch browse yielded This Real Night by Rebecca West, On the side of Angels by Betty Miller, Susan Spray by Sheila Kaye-Smith and two Canadian Virago authors Susanna Moodie's Roughing it in the Bush ( a real classic) and Francis Marion Beynon's Aleta Dey ~ now if there were but world enough and time however...........this summer I am going to set aside one day a week in which I do nothing else but read.

What a lucky haul! Congratulations!

>Congratulations on some great finds - the euphoria is very well understood:-)

I'm swooning just thinking about it!

#68 Lapassionata, that's a great haul! I found Aleta Dey last year and read it a few weeks ago. It was a good quick read.

Just got I'm not complaining via Bookmooch - I'm so thrilled! It's green, and in good condition. And I have Dusty Answer from Rosamond Lehmann coming from a moocher in France. Haven't had much luck on BookMooch for ages, so it's lovely to find some VMCs on there.

Company Parade is available on PBS - supposedly in green.

Sorry I haven't been around much lately but so many lovely finds!! Cushla - I have never found a VMC in france - good on you! And Deborah - I loved Villette - I am pea green that you have a green copy!! Congratulations :)

(waving at Julie!)

Great haul, lapassionata...especially the Moodie!

Yippee! My read but loved green copy of Bobbin Up arrived today thanks to a pbs woman in Illinois! (I have also been promised a Penguin copy of Story of an African Farm, so I'm looking forward to that.) (And, lapassionata, I have a copy of the Moodie too. Want to read it with me? Next year?? It's HUGE!)

I received a copy of The Age of Innocence from across the pond today.

PBS has green cover copies up: Company Parade and Mad Puppetstown.

Since I couldn't find The Mental World of Stuart Women in a format that I could afford, I stopped at awesome books and ordered 3 Beacon/Travelers instead. I trust that that makes perfect sense to my VMC sisters. I'll list them when they arrive! And I did just get my ER ARC, Burmese Lessons this morning. It won last year's Orange Prize for New Writers and the Governor General's Award. That makes it a likely Virago candidate even before reading it in my scheme of things.
A correction: Karen Connelly won the Orange New Writers prize sometime in the past for a novel. I misread the cover.

I trust that that makes perfect sense to my VMC sisters.
But of course!

Not exactly a fabulous find, but it made my day - I found a copy of The Infernal World of Branwell Bronte. It isn't a Virago edition (just an old 80s Penguin edition) but it was only $0.50 :)

Woop woop - upgraded my copy of No signposts in the sea to original green, which means I can give my other copy to a friend who has just discovered VSW!

I just picked up a copy of The Enchanted April.

These arrived today much to the chagrin of my husband who was juggling individual packages in the elevator!

Aurora Floyd by Braddon
King of the Rainy Country by Brophy
Nightingale Wood by Gibbons
Stricken Field by Gellhorn
World My Wilderness by Macaulay
Roaring Nineties by Prichard
Remember, Remember by Holtby
Pillion Riders by Taylor
Pirates at Play by Trefusis

And a few non VMC's

Saplings by Streatfeild
Children's Book by Byatt

#84> The Children's Book???? I am envious because you still have to read it. You are in for a BIG treat, I tell you!
Please let us know what you think of it (once you get to read it, that is).

I've not read The Children's Book yet either. This is one I will grab just for the cover art even if I didn't wish to read it.
belva

But, dear Belva, you do wish to read it, don't you? In the mail this morning I received an awesome package from Awesome Books with China to Me, The Yangtze Valley and Beyond by *my* Isabella Bird, and the thrill of thrills, a green copy of At Mrs Lippincote's with the lovely Jenny Cook picture on the front. AND I expect another installment!!!!!

Oh, how lovely!!!!!

#84: Nightingale Wood and Saplings (is that the Persephone edition?) are really good reads, and I'm jealous of the VMC edition of The World My Wilderness - I've recently read Told By an Idiot and two biographies of her, and I found Crewe Train a few weeks ago (I had a tatty ex-library hardback before).

The penultimate of my Awesome Books haul: The Passionate Nomad, a tiny little book but one that I look forward to!

Slowly chugging to the top of my wish list on PBS

A few weeks ago I received The Lying Days, last week I got The Skin Chairs and Love Lessons and today The Life and Death of Harriet Frean and The Devastating Boys. All green except the Wyndham and all in nice condition. Bring on the All Virago All August thing Belva!

Got a lovely copy today of The Lifted Veil from Cariola via Paperbackswap! Thank you!

And yes, Saplings is the Persephone (but not the gray edition).

There's a green copy of Crossriggs posted on PBS.

And my last, alas (for the lastness, not the arrival), from Awesome Books arrived today to my great pleasure: William by E. H. Young.

I have not been able to figure out Awesome's shipping system. Since so many of their books are under $3 how can they ship for free? And in individual packages instead of bulk packages. How can they make a profit???? And can folks in the UK ship for the same price if they get those light envelopes?

Enquiring minds want to know....

We certainly do! I felt tremendously guilty about making 2 separate orders the same day. No worry. Three arrived together, but one was from the second order. Then the other two shipped separately. Maybe each seller sends what he has??? Next time I'll check the mailing address more thoroughly.

I Capture the Castle arrived today... not a green copy, but a Virago nonetheless.

...And then today green copies of The Enchanted April and The Gentlewomen arrived in my mailbox.

I don't think I Capture the Castle was published in a green Virago edition - I don't think it was ever out of print in the green Virago days and assume it must have come out of copyright because I have Virago and Vintage editions published at about the same time - there is a cheap book company here in the UK which offered a box of VMCs (in the more modern style covers) at £10 for 10 a few times.

I quite like the Persephone Classics editions - I have 3 of them, Saplings, Mariana and Good Evening, Mrs Craven in my collection.

I splashed out at Awesome books:
Lantana Lane
The Orchid House
The Salzburg Tales
Cotter's England
The Virago Book of Fairy tales

They are all green spined and my only (mild) disappointment is that Lantana Lane is an ex-library copy that has been rebound as a hardback.

#96, 97 This time all arrived in one big package but past orders have come separately.

What was supposed to arrive today from World of Books (ordered through ABE) was Yangtze Valley and Beyond but what was in the parcel was Where's Wally? The Wonder Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now how in the heck could that have happened!!!

Ironically, I was just mentioning to Elaine that I've had such great luck with ABE sellers. Spoke too soon, I see!

edited to add to CDVicarage - excellent Virago day for you indeed! Unfortunate about the ex-library. I try to avoid them at all costs, but sometimes sellers don't properly note the edition.

Cate,

That's as bad as when I order Diaries of Sylvia Townsend Warner and got Prayer: a Fresh Vision! I eventually got the correct book and was told to keep Prayer which has been languishing on my bookshelf at PBS for months now. I still wonder if the person who got the diaries is enjoying the musings of a lesbian writer!

When I send you Benny and Shrimp you will get the right book.

Elaine

PS; I still need your address....

Warner's diaries could have been a....dare I say....a revelation??!!

Address is on your profile page...and thank you again!

#*@(!@*()^&!! Somebody posted 4 Angela Thirkell titles that I don't have on pbs today, but they were scooped up before I found the offer in my e-mail. I hope that it was one of you! *heavy sigh*

In the last few days I have received The Dud Avocado and The Devastating Boys from fellow Viragoites. Both books had been in transit for several months since I'm nearly on the edge of the world here. Thank you very much both! I will now have to go to the old duplicates thread and check your user names so I can thank you personally.

On the Side of Angels by Betty Miller has just been posted in Paperbackswap if anyone needs a copy.

Elaine

The Land of Spices arrived today in the mail.

I received Travel Light today via Paperbackswap.

Rebecca arrived today from Awesome Books. Read it yonks ago and felt due for a reread.

>109 tiffin:: ooh, a great summer read, too!

I still don't believe it but I found Edith Olivier's Love Child for $0.75 at Goodwill today! And Pat Barker's WWI trilogy.

I've read most of Barker's but my favorite is still Border Crossing which is fiction about the release of the Jamie Bulger murderers. I thought it fascinating - where do their rights end and our rights begin? However I loved the WW1 series and if you haven't already read it Eileen you're in for a treat.

I lucked out at the used bookstore today! I bought Thank Heaven Fasting by E.M. Delafield, Virginia by Ellen Glasgow, The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West, Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant, and The House in Clewe Street by Mary Lavin. I found 3 or 4 others, but had to limit myself, as I've spent more on books in the past month than I probably have all year :( Most were $2 or $3, and the Delafield book was only $0.95! Now I just need to find the time to read them...

Edited to add, I also found a first edition of The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West at the Salvation Army thrift store for $0.50! So not the Virago edition, but a "Virago book" none-the-less. I've been hearing a lot about Rebecca West, but have yet to read any of her books.

In a used bookstore last night my husband found The Oxford Guide to British Women Writers, and came bouncing over to show me. This is a reference book containing short biographies of "over 400 writers from Aphra Benn to Jeanette Winterson." Needless to say, many Virago authors are included in this book. It's a fantastic companion to my collection !

Just found copies of The Edwardians, South Riding, The Year Before Last and The Orchid House. Recently, copies of The Land of Spices, and The Three Sisters also arrived in the mail. It's been a good week for Viragos.

Good to hear about some great hauls and well spotted, Laura's husband! That does sound like a wonderful reference book.

>114 lauralkeet:: and I should also mention that the bookstore where I found the book is one I might never have discovered, if not for this group. Lucy (sibyx) recommended it to me. It's near her (now former) stomping grounds in Philadelphia.

I cleaned out the Oxfam shop in Saffron Walden of all its VMCs - 9 books and none of them duplicates. Also a nice old hardback (with dustwrapper) of The Making of a Marchioness.

ahh ... those of this side of the pond with no Oxfam shops drool and drool....

Yes, I envy those of you with Oxfam shops! When I go to England next spring (tentatively, not totally sure yet), the nearest Oxfam shop is where i'll be headed to search for Viragos. Meanwhile, I have a copy of the Rector's Daughter coming to me in the mail... especially eager to read it considering Susan hill recommends it in Howards End is on the Landing.

Considering i live near Philadelphia, maybe I should check out the bookstore that #117 mentions above...

The Soul of Kindness by Elizabeth Taylor arrived today - this is the re-issued edition of VMC No 113 and has been given an updated number and a new introduction by Philip Hensher- The new edition is VMC 551.

>118 CDVicarage:: I lived very near Saffron Walden several years back. I was not a VMC collector at the time and was clueless at the book-buying possibilities in Oxfam shops. A completely missed opportunity ... nice finds!

>120 Kasthu:: Oh yes, you should. It's Book Trader on 2nd Street in Old City!

120: Do you know where you'll be coming to next spring? Oxfam often has some of the best books but can also be expensive, and has some specialist secondhand bookshops. My nearest Oxfam bookshop is cheaper though sometimes than the nearest general Oxfam branch as most things are £2.50 at the bookshop in Crouch End whereas new/good condition/well known books can be £3/£3.50 in Wood Green. I have been to much more expensive branches though...

And it's worth checking out other charity shops too. My local Marie Curie (cancer hospice) charity has amazing stock, most of it 50p (under a dollar) a book, and it's well organised too.

122: Oh, this is dangerous! The Book Trader is walking distance from my new job!

123: I'm not sure yet where I want to go, but I'm thinking London and York (I know, not the cheapest places to go...)

>124 Kasthu:: You are doomed. But in the best possible way. :)
ETA: in reference to The Book Trader, not your trip to England!

I just found in my local oxfam the second virago book of fairy tales hardback for 3.49 and the three sisters by may sinclair for 50p in a different charity shop. Hadn't found any for ages!

Sometimes I go a little crazy. From Awesome Books I just received the following: The Brimming Cup (a vintage green), Through Connemara in a Governess Cart, and The Orlando Trilogy (both newer Viragos); from amp The Desert and the Sown (vintage Virago/Beacon red); and from pbs with a lot of help from my friend, A Game of Hide and Seek and The Clever Woman of the Family (both real green beauties!). I'm excited; I'm thrilled! I'm reading At Mrs. Lippincote's. Hooray!

...and then today I acquired a green edition of The Orchid House, as well as a non-Virago copy of South Riding.

My ears perked up when I saw you trading Book Trader tallk! Now I am feeling sad that I have left Philly -- BT is a great place and they TAKE books too so you can get a CREDIT and feed your habit.......

I need to get into Burlington (VT)and see what is at Bygone Books which is the store here that I used to haunt......

Peg A Brimming Cup is a fine book!

>128 Kasthu: Kasthu - I hope you enjoy The Orchid House - it is another fine book!

I found The Getting of Wisdom in Virago today and 3 Barbara Pyms in Pan editions.

I'm almost catatonic after reading the latest of your scoops. I have acute Oxfam envy. However, a dear friend sent The Illustrated Virago Book of Women Gardeners so I am not feeling too hard done by.

These arrived from Awesomebooks today. I had ordered them July 9, so that is even faster than usual from the UK to Chicago. All are Viragos and all cost 1.99 GBP each with free shipping. Awesome is still a great site, although I think we have really made use of it!

Wave Me Goodbye and Hearts Undefeated edited by Boston and Hartley
The Beauties and Furies by Stead
Hackenfeller's Ape by Brophy (don't know if I'll really like this one)
Overlanders by Birtles
The White Bird Passes by Kesson
Sunflower by West
Farewell Spain by O'Brien

Great haul, Liz!

Is the O'Brien one of the Virago Travellers? I have to get my hands on one of those. Excellent haul.

>135 tiffin: - yes, Farewell Spain is a Virago Traveller.

Visiting some long-neglected friends yesterday and happened upon another charity shop - came away with

Two Serious Ladies by Jane Bowles
and
Love by Elizabeth von Arnim

I bought F M Mayor, The Rector's Daughter new in Virago. Not a Virago but a copy of an anthology edited by Joan Smith arrived today via Bookmooch - stories from the end of the 19th and the end of the 20th centuries. It includes stories by Ada Leverson, Edith Wharton and Elizabeth Jolley.

Told by an Idiot arrived here today.

Awesome Books! --- and I got another two of them: The Land of Green Ginger and Four Frightened People. I wanted to read *FFP* before Elaine forgets it, but I'm just getting into At Mrs Lippincotes, and it's so good - the writing is so wonderful - ("Through an archway hung with plush, she came to the kitchen. It was like the baser side of someone's nature.") - that I don't know what I'll do. Attract/Attract!!! Joy!!!

Another stroke of luck at an Oxfam shop today - I found

South Riding by Winifred Holtby
and
In a Summer Season by Elizabeth Taylor

Particularly pleased about the Taylor, as they don't often crop up.

What a super couple of days! (And congratulations for the good finds, Sue!) Meanwhile, in southeastern N.C. I found Treasure Hunt and A Little Tea, A Little Chat in my mailbox from a kind woman at PBS. She is a first for me! I routinely say to anyone from whom I get a VMC, "If you find any more of these, please let me know." She's the first one who ever did! If C. Stead doesn't work for me this time, I'll erase the others from my wishlist.

My wonderful mother-in-law has been visiting her local charity shops again and found a copy of I capture the castle for me. I already have it but it's good to have a Virago. Also, not a VMC but Virago published, The Bolter.

Today I found a couple of Molly Keane/MJ Farrell books: Taking Chances and Full House, and Mary and Jane Findlater's Crossriggs.

A slightly creased but beautifully green Cassandra at the Wedding by Dorothy Baker arrived today from Amazon -- and it was a bargain at the price of a penny plus shipping.

Arrived today: The Daylight and the Dust:Selected Stories by Janet Frame published as VMC no 552.

Patricia! I had no idea you were missing a Virago! ;-)

Cara - it has just been released:-))

>148 mrspenny:: and you so dutifully updated the master Virago Collection Tracker as well ... thanks for that!

More lucky charity shop finds:

Maurice Guest by Henry Handel Richardson
A Lost Lady by Willa Cather
and
My Career Goes Bung by Miles Franklin

(Jane, I don't know why I read this thread. I just checked amp and they had another 1¢ copy of Cassandra at the Wedding that I scoffed up + another one for the same price just because I didn't want Cassandra to be lonely (The Getting of Wisdom)).

151 -- probably because you're as daft as the rest of us. I've taken to racing for the mailbox, so my husband won't be able to say -- "not another book!"

Peggy - what/who is 'amp' that they sell Viragos for a buck??? Fess up, dear Virago sister.....

Jane, my mantra to my husband, 'Oh honey, it's one of those free books from Shelf Awareness, you know, one of those 'ARC's! That seems to work....for now.

>153 bleuroses:: amp=Amazon Marketplace, the sellers who use Amazon as their storefront.

>153 bleuroses:: yes, and the price of the book is one penny, but they also charge $3.99 for shipping and handling, so it's a VMC for $4, but that's still good for me away from any hope of finding one otherwise!
>152 janeajones:: I know all about the great mailbox race!

Oh, how silly of me. I just call it amazon in the global sense, so I didn't make the connection.

Ooh, I want that Janet Frame book. I'm envious!

Argh! I received a copy of That Lady in the mail, and someone has gone through the book and highlighted nearly everything in various shades of pink, yellow, green, and God knows what else. Don't you hate it when people destroy books like that?

It's OK when they do that to books they intend to keep forever -- but to sell a book so mutilated is unforgivable.

There is a lot of 9 VMCs available on eBay right now:
9 Virago Modern Classics first Penguin editions:
* M.J. Farrell (Molly Keane), Devoted Ladies, 1985
* M.J. Farrell (Molly Keane), The Rising Tide, 1985
* Kate O'Brien, Mary Lavelle, 1985
* Kate O'Brien, That Lady, 1985.
* Mrs. Humphrey Ward, Marcella, 1985
* Elizabeth Taylor (the British author!), The Devastating Boys, 1985
* Mary Lavine, Mary O'Grady, 1986
* Mollie Panter-Downes, One Fine Day, 1986
* Charlotte M. Yonge, The Clever Woman of the Family, 1986
Bidding starts at $5 and the auction closes August 14, 20:49:58 PDT

I have all but one of these so I won't be bidding, but I bet someone here would enjoy!

I have all but one (Mary Lavine) or I would be all over it.

2 lovely greenies in my mailbox today:
The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West from AMP and
Full House by M.J. Farrell --from bleuroses. Thank-you Cate!

Taking Chances arrived in my mailbox today.

I've already asked this on the Persephone site but I'll ask here as well. I got a brand new copy of They Were Sisters from PBS, yesterday. The woman had three Perspehones - they were her m-in-law's and arrived after her death. Did any of you get the other two. She said they all went to wish list people. I assured her they all went to good homes and that her m-in-law must've been an interesting woman.

I've had so much VMC luck it's almost embarrassing. On my trip to the mountains I came across an arm load.
If anyone cares to take a peek....(!)
http://leaningtowardthesun.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/festivities/

I'm pretty sure at least 1 is a duplicate, I'll post that as soon as I figure out which one.

#165> Excellent!!! If I did not have them, I would be a nice shade of green by now :-))

Wow, Danielle! That is a grand way to celebrate the juxtaposition of birthday and vacation!!!! The correct response here is not embarrassment although I know what you mean!
I am here to celebrate a fine green copy of Lantana Lane (long on my pbs wishlist), offered and delivered by our bleuroses. Oh, thank you, Cate!
I also lately snagged 1¢ copies of The Getting of Wisdom in a black Dial (with different cover art from yours, Danielle) and Cassandra at the Wedding in a modern format. It's O.K., but if I happened on green, I'd snag it. Anyway, I'm especially looking forward to my Australian hoard!

I bought Crossriggs today.

Wow - nice haul! I don't have 4 of them, I think. I say I think because I'm getting a bit senile and have not been keeping up on what I do own. I've been going through my shelves looking for things for the All August and I'm astounded at what I have that I'd forgotten buying.

I was gifted a copy of Sunflower by Rebecca West, (have been wanting that one for a very long time and also a Muriel Spark: Symposium. Neither are Virago greens but as I am not a "purist" I am simply thrilled to have them. Oh lucky dog, lucky dog; I'm a lucky dog.
And a very thankful lucky dog at that.
Thank you to a very special someone.
hugs,
belva

There is a copy of Rhododendron Pie on ebay right now. It's a buy-it now and not exactly cheap, but not nearly as overpriced as some copies I've seen.

A Dial edition of Seven for a Secret by Webb is on paperbackswap now if anyone needs it.

Went to the Book Trader in Philadelphia and in five minutes I fund a Virago copy of Bobbin Up and non-Virago Barbara Pyms; a whole lotta them! A Glass of Blessings, Less Than Angels, The Sweet Dove Died, Quartet in Autumn, Jane and Prudence, and Crampton Hodnet all came home with me... and then I also bought a copy of Elizabeth Bowen's The Death of the Heart. Can't believe i did all that damage in such a short time!

What a wonderful day of book shopping, Kasthu! All of them are well worth your reading time....well, I haven't read Bobbin Up yet, but I mean to.
Meanwhile, I had to come over to be consoled. Yesterday I ordered Vol. 2 of Isabella Bird's Journeys in Persia and Kurdistan from Awesome Books. I also kicked myself because Vol. 1 had been available the last time I bought there, and I didn't think I could afford the pair of them. Today I got an e-mail saying that Vol. 2 wasn't really there either and they refunded my money and offered a 2£ discount as consolation. That's very nice of them, but I really, really wanted that book in the Virago/Beacon Traveler edition. *sob*

Oh LizzieD, that is a woeful tale. And sadly, one that has happened to me rather frequently. It seems to happen to me a lot when I buy used from Amazon's sellers. I guess it is just difficult for them to keep their inventory updated. Sorry it happened to you as well. But take heart. You may find it elsewhere or try putting it on your "wanted" listing and perhaps someone else will find it somewhere. At any rate, you have my sympathy & good luck wishes at the same time.
hugs,

>173 Kasthu:: glad you discovered Book Trader and had such a successful visit!

In the mail today, the wonderful cache of books from eBay that Laura pointed out a few messages ago. 3 are duplicates and will appear of that thread soon, but to add to my collection:

* M.J. Farrell (Molly Keane), Devoted Ladies, 1985
* Mrs. Humphrey Ward, Marcella, 1985
* Elizabeth Taylor (the British author!), The Devastating Boys, 1985
* Mary Lavine,Mary O'Grady, 1986
* Mollie Panter-Downes, One Fine Day, 1986
* Charlotte M. Yonge, The Clever Woman of the Family, 1986

All greenies in excellent condition. Thanks for the tip, Laura!

Oh, hooray! Glad you won the auction, Jane. And how nice of the seller to make sure the books arrived on your birthday :)

In the post this week from Elaine; duplicate copies of:
James Lees Milne; the Life by Michael Bloch. I am so excited about this one. Love the bios.
Losing Battles by Eudora Welty; my very first Welty,
Mary O'Grady by Mary Lavine, and
The Sugar Mother by Elizabeth Jolley.
Like Christmas in August. How perfect for All Virago/All August.
Not all are Virago green but by other publishers but that is just fine with me. It's the same book. I am so happy. :-)

And one more duplicate copy from Paola:
A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains by Isabella L. Bird; again not a Virago Traveler, but by another publisher. However, a Traveler all the same and I am sure even with a white cover instead of the burgundy, it will be just as wonderful.

Thank you so much ladies. Hopefully one day I will again be in the bucks to return the love!~! Hospital bills still rolling in. On the hospital alone, we are up to $97,125.00 and that is just the hospital bill (part of it) and doesn't include the surgery room, the surgeon, the lab bills. Can't wait to see them all but I've got my man and that's all that counts. One day I will be buying books again.
hugs,
belva

178> -- yes -- nice Birthday surprise!

Belva, I am very happy you got all those books. You deserve each and every one of them!
Now, if I were rich, there would be books flying all over the world, continuously, but, since I am not, I must do it a bit at a time.......speaking of which, I went to a library sale today and guess what....I found a few Viragos. As soon as I get them out of the bag(s), off they go to the duplicate thread. So.....STAY TUNED!!!!!!!

Among the Viragos I bought at the library sale (all duplicates), I was lucky enough to find The Turkish Embassy Letters by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, which I did not have. So, I am VERY happy!!

Congrats Paola. I'm so gald to hear that you found something for yourself too. You certainly deserve it!

.

I was very please to receive in the mail Elizabeth and her German Garden from wonderful Kerry! Thank you so much.

The problem, Bernadette, is that I have almost all of them! However, I can never pass one on if I find it, because I know that someone, among us, will be happy to have it. :-))

Those last few must seem so elusive, but I bet it's quite a thrill when you find one that you still need!

I recently received The Three Sisters courtesy of Cate (bleuroses). Thank you very much Cate.

Today I visited the annual bookfair in search of Virago duplicates and it was even worse than last year - I only found two, and neither was a duplicate! For the record I obtained Poor Cow and Some Everyday Folk and Dawn for myself. Better luck next year perhaps....

I got back from holiday at the end of last week. High spots were visiting a few charity shops and clearing out their stocks of Viragos. For myself I got:

The Soul of Kindness by Elizabeth Taylor
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
The Flight of the Falcon by Daphne Du Maurier
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

I have a copy of Enchanted April already but I couldn't resist a Virago. In fact there were two different editions and it's been hard deciding which to keep and which to give away. Have a look at the duplicates thread to see which I chose!

In the mail today - When the Rain Clouds Gather and Maru by Bessie Head, VMC No 544.

Paperbackswap seems to have quite a few VMCs; some are probably Dials. Here they are, in no particular order:

Full House-Keane
Crossriggs-Findlater
Marcella-Ward
Sugar House-White
Seven for a Secret-Webb
Lost Traveller-White
On the Side of Angels-Miller (really liked this one)
Cindie-DeVanney
That Lady-O'Brien
Lacquer Lady-Jesse
Getting of Wisdom-Richardson
Mad Puppetown-Farrell
Ante Room-O'Brien
Company Parade-Jameson
Rising Tide-Farrell

and
George Eliot(Virago Pantheon Pioneers)
Simone de Beauvier(Virago Pantheon Pioneers)
Untrodden Peaks and Unfrequented Valleys: A Midsummer Ramble Through the
Dolomites (Virago/Beacon Travelers)

Ghost Stories (this is my listing...if anyone here wants it let me know and I'll pull it and send it to you)

Thank you Elaine for taking the time and trouble to do this for us. You are a wonder.
hugs,

189: Some of these are wonderful! I especially loved The Lacquer Lady and The Rising Tide. Enjoy!

While waiting for my car to have it's 30,000 mile check up on Thursday, I hit Barnes and Noble's 5.00 table. Came away with:
The Lace Reader,
My Sister, My Love and
The Day the Falls Stood Still.
Off the regular shelf I pulled one rec'd by my therapist, (she is book crazy too):
Old Filth. I don't know a thing about this one, but she hasn't steered me wrong yet.
The best one came in the mail though. From Liz1564, a duplicate copy: The Summerhouse Trilogy. Am so excited about this one. I guess I should remove it from my list of "most wanted"s.
All in all, a very good week.

Thanks to Paola's wonderful generosity I received in the mail today Company Parade, which I'd been looking out for for a while, and a very nice copy of The Year of Reading Proust which it looks very tempting to delve into right away (but I'll restrain myself, as I must).

Thank you so much once again, Paola.

Today I received A Woman from darling Elaine. Thank you so much my friend. I look forward to it.

I hit the thrift store today and got an American edition of Charms for the Easy Life which I am pretty sure is a Virago.

But nothing like as exciting as getting A Woman for which I have looked in vain for quite some time. Thank you!!

In the mail today from various sources: Open the Door (an original green with lines), Sleepless Nights (newer green), The Summerhouse Trilogy (pastel)! I also broke down and bought a new pb copy of The Lacuna this morning! Bad Lizzie!!! (Happy Lizzie!) When do I think I'm going to read all of this?

Very, very soon. ;-)

I also got a pleasant surprise (well, I was actually expecting it) in the mail, a Virago Travellers copy of My Journey to Lhasa by Alexandra David-Neel. I already had it in another edition but finding the Virago version was just fantastic!

Envy! I have the David-Neel in a very nice other edition too, but having the Virago version would be fantastic indeed! Good for you!!!!!
(uh....Belva, I've finally accepted that I'm not going to live long enough to read all that I own and want to read. Well, if I could read 100 books a year for the next 40 years, I could do it; so I guess it's O.K. for me to keep buying, right?)

RIGHT!~! ;-)

Not only is it right to keep buying, but it is also mandatory to live a veeerrryyyy long life!!

Thank you, ma'ams. I'm gonna go for it!

GOOD!!

I saw an Elizabeth Taylor short stories Virago called The Blush and other Stories the other day at The Crow (or Black Crow?) book shop on Church St. in Burlington VT. I don't know when I'll be back there, not soon, I expect, but you could always call if it is something you are looking for.

I can't wait to go to the two big used bookshops in Middlebury, but not anytime soon!

Whilst taking my dear Keith for surgery in Newbury today (a failed implant) I had time to slip into the Oxfam shop and much to my delight I found ...

One Fine Day by Mollie Panter-Downes
Mandoa Mandoa by WInifred Holtby
The Holiday by Stevie Smith

Methinks the last Stevie Smith is a duplicate BUT I need to check.

Last night I once again found myself in the popular Book Trader in Philadelphia. There were a few VMCs, including one I didn't have yet: Love Letters Between a Nobleman and his Sister, by Aphra Behn. And within the first 5 minutes my husband came sauntering over to me saying, "are you interested in this?" In his hands was the Hermione Lee biography of Edith Wharton. It's quite a doorstop, but I've seen excellent reviews and even gave it to someone as a gift. Ooh, yes please ! Into the shopping bag it went.

Forever grateful to Lucy/sibyx for making me aware of The Book Trader!

Sounds excellent - why can't we have Book Trader over here ????

I picked up The Passion of New Eve at Oxfam today - I know I had a copy but it's disappeared and OH Matthew and I want to read it as part of our exploration of 20th Century British Classics (well, I've read it before, but I'm thrilled to have him reading a Virago!)

Don't forget to PM Belva for an indepth discussion of Passion of New Eve. It's her favorite book!

NOW YOU STOP THAT BARBARA!~!

Just wanted to let you know, Liz, Belva, and Deb, that I mailed your books this morning.

>206 juliette07:: why can't we have Book Trader over here ????
Because you have Oxfam shops !!! :)

Well....why can't we have Book Trader over here?....we don't have Oxfam!

Duh; ..........what's Book Trader and Oxfam?

Thank you Paolina.
big hug,

Belva, Oxfam is a chain of charity bookstores in the UK (correct me if I am wrong, dear British Viragoites). I believe Book Trader is something similar to that.
Nothing like either one around here, that is sure!

Book Trader is just a used bookstore in Philadelphia.

Aha - thanks Laura - I know I was being a tincy wincy bit provocative :)
So Book Trader isn't like a nationwide chain then with Viragos spilling out of every doorway?

That just frosts my cake. Everything I love except my family is in Great Britain. I am so happy that my dear man made it through all of this but if he hadn't, I think I would have sold everything and rowed across the pond. I know that one of you dear Brit Virogites would have taken me in.

Oh darling Belva - we will always have space ....

;-)

>216 juliette07:: Ha! No Julie, it's just a local bookshop, but happens to be an especially good one. I learned of it from Lucy/sibyx.

I've just nabbed The Sheik by E.M. Hull (Valentino, anyone?). Sounds like a real bodice ripper...am I going to regret it?

Oh no, Tui! It is highly entertaining.

I got The Curate's Wife from PBS and a green copy of Love Elizabeth Von Arnim is also on its way.

Unbeaten Tracks in Japan arrived yesterday thanks to the lovely Paola - thankyou!

WOW!!!! Already? It is amazing how books reach abroad destinations (apart from Canada) before they arrive where they have to in the US. Even when I sent last batch, Grant, in NZ, got his package way before anybody else. Go figure.....

Around the corner from our house, there is an old house filled with narrowly spaced bookcases, piles of books on the floor, books in every nook and cranny from the front porch to the attic. The house belongs to an ancient gnome-like woman who opens it occasionally and sells the books. Yesterday was one of those times, and for under $20 I came away with first editions of Dorothy Canfield's The Home-Maker and The Deepening Stream, a first edition of Jessamyn West's Cress Delahanty (one of my favorite books), and a 1929 Jonathan Cape edition of Precious Bane.

That'll be me in 20 years, Rob. Was she happy at finding a kindred spirit?

Yes, she said that she especially liked Mary Webb, and had never met anyone else who shared her taste. I may have to go back and buy up her early editions of various books by "Elizabeth" (von Arnim).

OMG! I could spit, Rob. It's everybody's dream isn't it?

Wow, that's a cool story, Rob!

Lucky man you are, Rob!

Rob, how wonderful! The Deepening Stream - one of my favourites as well. I have an 'old' copy myself and I sense the links with the past as I read it. I must look and see which edition it is. Enjoy your fabulous new acquisitions.

Ah, you lucky dog Rob. That is better, by far, than a wet dream. You must watch carefully for those few days that she does this. I know I would. I would probably be in front of her house doing the: "Open, open, open." thingy. And I would definitely be scoring on the von Arnim's. What a score you made.
Oh, to be you for just one of those days.
hugs,
belva

I went back this afternoon (she was open from 1-3) and bought, for a total of $14:

A cheap 1903 American edition (published by A.L. Burt) of Elizabeth and Her German Garden ($1.50)

A first American edition (1921) of Elizabeth von Arnim's Vera ($2.50)

A first American edition, with dust jacket, of Elizabeth von Arnim's Mr. Skeffington ($6)

A first American edition (1925) of Margaret Kennedy's The Constant Nymph ($4)

Be still my heart.

Goodness - how come she has all these wonderful editions?

Rob, that's amazing !!!

Ooooh what a lucky man he was!!!!

Rob, I was just looking at Vera on EBay for about $16 US! That's incredible. You have hit the motherlode here, you lucky guy.

# 238 Hey, isn't that a song????

>240 bleuroses:: yes! I started singing it immediately when I saw that.
ETA: Emerson, Lake and Palmer...does that date me or what.

Hi Tui! Had to say that seeing that we're posting at the same time!

Hi Cate! hahaha

#241> It dates YOU????? What about me?

Me too. Plus I am so envious!~! Enjoy Rob.

NEW THREAD HERE: NUMBER THIRTEEN
http://www.librarything.com/topic/98807&newpost=1#lastmsg

I can't remember how to do those fancy links. Sowwy.