So, I have finally found 5 minutes to take snaps of the lovely finds from last week’s charity shop searches – truly, this is disastrous for the TBR, but still very satisfying. Three of these lovely books come from my favourite place, the Samaritans Charity Book shop. The staff are so lovely and helpful that they now look out for green Viragos for me, and told me last week that when they went to the central storage place to pick up more books they were trying to spot the green spines – isn’t that amazing?
Anyway, this week I came away with three nice volumes from this place – firstly:
“English Journey” by J.B. Priestley is a book I’ve wanted to read for a long time, and this nice hardback was reasonably priced and is quite an early edition – so it made its way into my shopping bag!
Next up was a green Virago by an author I’ve not read before:
in very lovely condition and saved for me by the Samaritan shop people!
I was very chuffed with my third find – a black cover Dial Press Virago!
“Mrs. Palfrey” is a book I already have, of course, but I thought it was about time I had a Dial Press Virago in my collection, and for £1this fitted the bill! Great finds at a great shop!
The other acquisition was from the Oxfam Book Shop:
I confess to being unable to remember whether I’ve actually read a Patricia Wentworth ‘Miss Silver’ but I read so many crime novels in my youth and twenties that I’m sure I must have. However, I can’t recall a single detail, so as these are classic crime stories, I’m picking them up when I come across them, hoping I will like them! So, some nice finds and now I should try to have a slight prune of the books I have but don’t really need to keep – just to free up a little more shelf space!!
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Mar 21, 2013 @ 18:33:08
Another wonderful haul. English Journey is on my must order from the library list since I spotted a lovely and unaffordable edition last summer. I’ve seen Dial Press Viragos, courtesy of th LT group and BookMooch, but never in any sort of bookshop,
Mar 21, 2013 @ 18:34:16
I was surprised and pleased by the Dial Press one – I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in my travels!
Mar 21, 2013 @ 19:49:58
Hi Kaggsy
Aren’t charity shops wonderful? What a lovely selection! I hope you enjoy the Nadine Gordimer – she is one remarkable lady and a great writer. She was at the Bath litfest last year and I was lucky enough to steward for her, running round like a loony with the microphone! She’s in her eighties but still so clear-sighted and thoughtful about the prospects for modern day South Africa. Her Green Room was supplied with whisky and crisps! (Could have been for her interviewer, I suppose…)
Would be interested to hear what you think of The Lying Days as it’s not one I’ve read…
Mar 21, 2013 @ 20:08:18
I’m looking forward to it – and apparently it’s her first novel, too!
Mar 21, 2013 @ 21:23:43
How funny…I (being in North America) always think of the Dial Virago editions as second-rate somehow,as though the greens were the originals and, hence, superior. Completely unfair, I realize, as I would adore Mrs. Palfrey in any sort of dress, but there ya have it. Perhaps I’ll think more fondly of them now, realizing that they are coveted elsewhere!
Mar 21, 2013 @ 21:32:09
Well, I guess if we wanted to be pedantic, the first edition hardbacks are the originals!! But I know what you mean – I think we just like what’s unusual or different or perceived as collectable!
Mar 21, 2013 @ 22:55:27
My wife just found a copy of that Patricia Wentworth, as well as another by her, for $1 each this past weekend at a library book sale!
Mar 22, 2013 @ 08:15:28
Library sales are *good*!
Mar 22, 2013 @ 22:17:00
I adore the Gordimer cover!
Mar 23, 2013 @ 09:28:52
It’s very striking, isn’t it? One of things I always loved about the green Viragos was their choice of cover painting – I came across some lovely works of art I’d never heard of through reading them, and that’s another reason I find the modern, chick-lit style covers so disappointing – they don’t have an identity any more.
Mar 23, 2013 @ 22:30:34
Oh excellent, I’m a bit of a super-fan for English Journey so I’m delighted you’ve found a copy. I have a copy of Dials but that’s a lovely find as I almost never see them these days!
Mar 24, 2013 @ 11:11:43
Yes, you *do* like Priestley don’t you? I’m looking forward to reading this!
Mar 27, 2013 @ 09:50:00
That’s the last Patricia Wentworth Miss Silver book, and I’m afraid it is pretty awful. Sort of unfinished and rambling. Don’t let it put you off Miss Silver though, *please*, as the earlier ones are excellent.
Mar 27, 2013 @ 10:05:32
Oh dear… Oh well, Dame Agatha did tail off a bit to the end – I shall try to start with an earlier one first!