Last weekend was a bit of a busy one, as we had to take Youngest Child back to Leicester for her final year at the university there. It’s always a bit of a dash, taking up most of Saturday (and weekends are precious when I’m back at work); but we knew we would see Eldest and Middle Child too, so that would be nice! I didn’t expect to be doing any bookshop haunting as time was so tight, and it was frustrating to know that the lovely Lorus Charity shop is not far away…
However, en route I got a call from Middle Child who was in the very same shop, and who proceeded to fire off a load of Virago titles at me to see if they were ones I wanted – and three of them were!
Left to right, we have a Mary Hocking (Indifferent Heroes), a Victoria Glendinning non-fiction Virago (A Suppressed Cry) and very excitingly, Infinite Riches, a collection of short stories. The latter is very existing and timely, as I was only reading about it on Buried In Print’s lovely blog the other day, and this particular copy is in amazingly good condition. So huge thanks go to Middle Child, Ace Virago-Finder!
It was lovely to see all three offspring together, and we made such good time on the journey home that I had time to pop into town for some errands. And as I was dropped at the far end of town where I don’t normally venture, I decided to visit the Mind charity shop which I don’t often frequent (although they do have good books – I picked up a Slightly Foxed hardback last time!) Surprisingly enough, there were treats to be found here too:
Yes, I *know* there are already two copies of “The Return of the Soldier” in the house; but this is a beautiful, first generation Virago in again amazingly good condition, and well worth 90p of anyone’s money. The Solzhenitsyn sounds fascinating – ’nuff said.
I guess going to the Oxfam was reckless – and when I got inside to find that they were having a 49p sale and that the sale table was plastered with old orange Penguins, green crime Penguins and blue Pelicans (amongst others), I did rather have the vapours. But I exercised strict restraint and only came home with these:
Well, you hardly ever see Aldiss in second hand shops. And I know something about Constant Lambert but I can’t remember what it is – no doubt all will become clear eventually.
So today’s Viragos are rather wonderful:
And the last couple of weeks has brought me 7 lovely Viragos in total:
The question is – what to read next???
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Sep 21, 2015 @ 07:14:42
That’s it – I’m off to Leicester 🙂 Weirdly, my identical copy of The Return of the Soldier is also from Leicester, bought many years ago – clearly a sign I should return there for a book haul!
Sep 21, 2015 @ 09:51:12
🙂 It’s obviously a place for book lovers!
Sep 21, 2015 @ 07:19:41
The Return of the Soldier ❤ ❤ My second thesis chapter is on that book, and I absolutely adore it, and West.
I borrowed a copy of Pepita a few months ago from the library, but did not get time to read it, so took it back =(
What an amazing haul!!! So jealous!
Sep 21, 2015 @ 09:50:57
I confess I dipped into the first few pages and it sounded amazing…
Sep 21, 2015 @ 10:53:10
I promise you, it is glorious. It took me a few reads to realise how deep it is.
Sep 21, 2015 @ 07:41:17
Brilliant haul! It makes me want to gallop down to our charity shops, but I have SUCH a TBR that I really have to be more restrained …
Sep 21, 2015 @ 09:50:11
I should be – but I’m not….
Sep 21, 2015 @ 07:44:16
Great haul! I haven’t been to Leicester for many years but my brother was at university there, and I used to drive him back there, but alas, I did so much getting lost in some kind of demonic one-way system I rarely had time for shopping.
Sep 21, 2015 @ 09:48:47
The one-way system is hideous – we struggled when we moved Eldest Child there. Fortunately, I had a good map on Saturday…. 🙂
Sep 21, 2015 @ 07:46:11
Do your children go off to university concerned that should they come home, even for a visit, that their old rooms will be filled floor to ceiling with books? Or is that part of your cunning plan? Hmm, my two adult children are still living at home… 🙂
Sep 21, 2015 @ 09:48:21
Cunning plan? The fact that my books have already spread into Middle Child’s own room might be a clue to that…… 🙂
Sep 21, 2015 @ 08:12:38
You trained your daughter to be a wonderful scout for you. I can’t imagine my family knowing my reading tastes well enough to make that call to me.
Sep 21, 2015 @ 09:46:31
She’s got a sharp eye for what I like, that’s for sure!
Sep 21, 2015 @ 09:04:01
What great finds! Nothing like discovering gems in charity shops!
Sep 21, 2015 @ 09:46:16
It’s one of my favouorite hobbies…!
Sep 21, 2015 @ 12:48:41
Some wonderful additions to your shelves. Middle Child has done very well, and I have to say that Return of the Soldier is an exceptional piece of writing – it was either the first or second VMC I read, and certainly one of the books that got me hooked,
Sep 21, 2015 @ 13:37:50
She’s definitely a good Virago spotter. I think I shall turn to Return of the Soldier soon – the writing of the first few pages really grabbed me.
Sep 21, 2015 @ 13:00:13
Envy you that Mary Hocking edition my Fairly family books are all Abacus editions. Leicester sounds good for book finding. My sister sometimes rings me from charity shops and reals off Virago titles – seems we have our families well trained.
Sep 21, 2015 @ 13:36:22
🙂 It’s useful to have family members to scout for you! When Middle Child mentioned Mary Hocking I told her to grab it, because I know they don’t come up often. Now I’ll just have to find the rest of the series!
Sep 21, 2015 @ 13:39:56
The age concern bookshop across the road is pretty good for Virago’s too… And there’s an excellent second hand book shop just around the corner as well, though perhaps I should be keeping quiet about those. I live in Leicester and love those particular bookshops. Have had some amazing finds in them.
Sep 21, 2015 @ 14:11:24
Heh, too late, we’ll all be chartering a bus…
Sep 21, 2015 @ 14:20:52
Day-trips to Leicester – the charity stores will wonder what’s hit them! 🙂
Sep 21, 2015 @ 14:20:15
Yes, I’ve been to the Age Concern too, and had some nice finds there. I need to search out the 2nd hand shop – I think I saw it online once….. Don’t tell everyone, though….. ;)))
Sep 21, 2015 @ 14:10:43
Oh God I used to have copies of Infinite Riches and Return of the Soldier and it’s many a long year since I last saw them. Don’t tell me I got rid of them! (But it wouldn’t have been in Leicester.)
Anyway, well done you, an excellent haul there.
Sep 21, 2015 @ 14:20:30
Thanks – and hope you can find your copies!
Sep 21, 2015 @ 15:33:59
I hope your child has a good final year – I remember feeling it had been such a short time since I’d arrived, too short, and of course all those exams.
Sep 21, 2015 @ 15:44:54
Thank you! It does seem to have dashed past, really – all three of mine have gone through university and it all seems a bit of a blur!
Sep 24, 2015 @ 13:25:09
I have read A Suppressed Cry – a sad tale, beautifully written.
Sep 24, 2015 @ 14:04:09
Ah – it did sound quite moving from the write-up on the back.
Sep 26, 2015 @ 02:38:27
A lot of good finds! I envy you your charity shops in England. Beautiful Viragos, and I like the look of that Constant Lambert (not that I have any idea who that is).
Sep 26, 2015 @ 07:58:32
I *do* love the charity shops. Lambert is someone I’ve heard of but can’t recall where – all will become clear, I’m sure!
Sep 26, 2015 @ 11:42:36
Fabulous book haul – good work! When I read the title I thought for a moment you were talking about Leicester City’s triumphant start to their Premier League season. tee hee! 😉
Sep 26, 2015 @ 15:44:30
Ermmmm – no….. But if they beat my local team, I’m happy about that! 🙂
Oct 01, 2015 @ 15:52:06
Both ours are starting their second year at university – so yes, we too have been through that ritual of taking them over: we didn’t get much time for bookshop browsing though!
It’s been a long time since I read The Return of the Soldier. (There was also a wonderful film based on this novel, with Glenda Jackson turning in a customarily superb performance.) I’ve always wondered, though, why Rebecca West chose as her pen-name the name of one of Ibsen’s most tortured protagonists!
Oct 01, 2015 @ 15:56:49
Well, she did have a very wild life really – perhaps she anticipated being a tortured soul! I’m very keen to read this, though I think 1924 has slightly got in the way!