No, really – they will!
As Middle Child is home over Christmas we popped into the Big Town for lunch and a couple of bits and pieces. As we were at a different end of town than usual, I stopped off at a charity shop I don’t usually visit. This of course was A Mistake as I ended up with more weight to add to the TBR mountain:
I was really pleased to come across this as I have all Vera Brittain’s memoirs (and some fiction) but this is new to me (and a lovely Virago to boot).
Still on the theme of war, a Waugh I don’t have – and indeed as it’s a trilogy it counts as three books in one!
This I must confess I know nothing about (until I google it) – but it’s by Stella Gibbons of “Cold Comfort Farm” fame so that’s good enough for me. (And thinking about it, I should have made CCF one of my reads of the year – definitely!)
Isn’t that cover lovely? I would have bought the book for that alone, but as it’s by J.B. Priestley – an author I’ve always fancied reading, and have felt more so recently having read Alex’s posts – it came home with me.
I should say, however, that these four lovelies cost me the grand total of £4.25 – so from a fiscal point of view, it wasn’t too awful. Just from the point of view of space…..
And the Oxfam had a little something that’s missing from my Agatha collection, so there you go – doomed!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 09:32:14
I will be interested to hear how you get on with the Matchmaker! I read a few out of print Stella Gibbons novels in a state of happy anticipation, expecting the quality of CCF, but alas none of them came anywhere close.
Jan 04, 2013 @ 09:48:23
No, I suspect you might be right here – that’s what I’ve heard about other Gibbons books. But I figured for 90p it was worth a try!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 11:34:26
I am so envious of England’s charity shops! Yes we have them but they are not known for used books. Looks like you made out pretty well (fiscally, anyway)!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 11:37:06
I do seem to be lucky with them round here (or unlucky, if you are my TBR mountain!)
Jan 04, 2013 @ 12:35:02
Charity shops really are a scourge when you are trying to cut down the accumulation of books! I have to avert my eyes when walking past the many on my local high street. An interesting haul you have there. “Letters from a Lost Generation”, the correspondence between Vera Brittain and her fiance is a moving collection to look out for if you don’t already have it. Stella Gibbons is a whole different kettle of fish for me..I thought Cold Comfort Farm was possibly the worst book I read last year – I just didn’t get it at all.
Good luck with working your way through the pile!
Sarah
Jan 04, 2013 @ 13:40:55
Thank you – I think I’ll need it! I loved “Cold Comfort Farm” but I’m not sure if any of her other books live up to it – I read her short stories in Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm and they were nice but not stand-out.
Jan 04, 2013 @ 14:06:53
That’s the thing about charity shops, isn’t it? (or yard sales, or thrift shops) Fiscally it’s never a problem. That’s why they’re so dangerous.
I’m planning to read Cold Comfort Farm in March. I do hope I like it!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 14:08:00
I thought it was a great book, very funny and a little surreal. Happy reading!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 14:50:37
My daughter will attend a school across the street from my favourite bookshop in the fall. I can see myself leaving earlier and earlier to gather her every afternoon. Perhaps I should begin a fund now in preparation for the inevitable!
You made some first-rate finds, and all with lovely covers too!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 14:59:57
There’s no resisting a good bookshop, is there? I think it’s a very good thing I only get to go near bookshops once a week!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 17:11:51
Why hurry the Powell Dance novels – savour them – take more time to read them and remember you will hopefully become addicted to them and want to read them again , and again ! The Fontana pb edition offers the Marc cartoon on the front – slightly better than the penguin which only has Osbert Lancaster cartoons for part of the sequence – there was a bust up ‘tween the cartoonist and publisher i believe which upset Powell !
Jan 04, 2013 @ 18:36:50
I certainly will try to savour them – that’s why I’ve decided to space them out one per month, so I can give them the time they’re due. The Fontana edition sounds good – I would prefer to have separate volumes if I can!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 22:16:09
Oh my goodness, what a wonderful haul of treasures! I completely understand why you couldn’t resist them, Vera Brittain is one of my favourite writers – she describes the pain of living through the loss of a generation with such eloquence, yet still looks forward to a better way of being.
Jan 05, 2013 @ 10:12:02
I read “Testament of Youth” many years ago, but I really am looking forward to revisiting her work.
Jan 05, 2013 @ 00:06:52
An excellent haul, and at those prices at least it will be a slow and well read downfall.
My experience with Stella Gibbons books other than Cold Comfort Farm is that they’re quite different, more subtle, but still with a streak of subversion. It’s a definite change of gear.
And I used to love J B Priestley, though I don’t know that book.
Jan 05, 2013 @ 10:10:44
The only other Gibbons I’ve read was Christmas at “Cold Comfort Farm” and I think you’re right about the subtle aspect – I shall just try to approach it with no expectations which is probably safest!
Jan 05, 2013 @ 00:27:23
*grin* I am entirely unrepetent for the Priestley purchase, I’ve not read that one so I’m intrigued to see what you make of it. I like the look of the Waugh too, he’s one of those authors I really forget when I am browsing in the library etc and yet I should know his work better than I do.
Jan 05, 2013 @ 10:09:52
I’m looking forward to the Priestley – I’ll let you know how it is! I’m kind of collecting Waugh after reading “Bright Young People” – I figure picking up a volume for 95p has got to be worth doing!