It's been a while since I posted about recent acquisitions but that's because there haven't been any. I have been making a conscious effort not to buy any new books of late and, excluding existing pre-orders, I haven't.
Late last week I received a review copy of Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger and excited to read that this coming week. I'm also attending a reading and signing with the author in a couple of weeks along with Jackie of farmlanebooks, which we are both very excited about.
The remainder of the books arrived yesterday. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy was kindly sent to me by Teresa of Shelf Love after I won a book of my choice during BBAW week. This book has intrigued me since I first read about it on Nymeth's blog (she hasn't read it yet) and I immediately added it to my wishlist.
Both We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson are for Carl's R.I.P. IV challenge. I was excited to learn that Penguin were reissuing these titles (Shirley Jackson was out of print here in the UK) and I preordered them immediately; Amazon dispatched them earlier than expected at the end of this week. These are the only two of my recent acquisitions that I actually bought.
Lastly I was sent a review copy of Time Out's 1000 Things to do in London. I have only lived in London for a year (one year exactly yesterday) and haven't even begun to skim the surface of the many things to see, do, and experience here so this will be a very handy guide. Next week we have house-guests and plan to use this guide for ideas what to to do with them.
These should keep me busy for a while and I also have a few more expected this coming week.
Have you acquired anything exciting this week? What are you most looking forward to me reviewing from the titles above?
Late last week I received a review copy of Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger and excited to read that this coming week. I'm also attending a reading and signing with the author in a couple of weeks along with Jackie of farmlanebooks, which we are both very excited about.
The remainder of the books arrived yesterday. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy was kindly sent to me by Teresa of Shelf Love after I won a book of my choice during BBAW week. This book has intrigued me since I first read about it on Nymeth's blog (she hasn't read it yet) and I immediately added it to my wishlist.
Both We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson are for Carl's R.I.P. IV challenge. I was excited to learn that Penguin were reissuing these titles (Shirley Jackson was out of print here in the UK) and I preordered them immediately; Amazon dispatched them earlier than expected at the end of this week. These are the only two of my recent acquisitions that I actually bought.
Lastly I was sent a review copy of Time Out's 1000 Things to do in London. I have only lived in London for a year (one year exactly yesterday) and haven't even begun to skim the surface of the many things to see, do, and experience here so this will be a very handy guide. Next week we have house-guests and plan to use this guide for ideas what to to do with them.
These should keep me busy for a while and I also have a few more expected this coming week.
Have you acquired anything exciting this week? What are you most looking forward to me reviewing from the titles above?
28 comments:
I really want to read those Shirley Jackson titles!!!
I have acquired Emily Eden's The Semi Attached Couple and The Semi Detached House from a very kind librarything member, and a beautiful 1909 copy of Anne of Green Gables that I bought from oxfam online because I want to get started on L M Montgomery. And yesterday I bought a copy of Singing Waters from a second hand bookshop in Tunbridge Wells, which is by Ann Bridge, the author of Illyrian Spring, one of my favourite books.
I saw Niffenegger at a past Sydney Writer's Festival and she was "unique and intriguing" in a good kind of way! Hope you enjoy the reading and signing.
I too have the Hansel and Gretel book. Ever think about doing an online read-a-long or bookgroup maybe with it???? ;-)
And I also really need to read Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle!
Rachel, I'm very excited about the Shirley Jackson titles; I've been wanting to read both for a year and more so since reading "The Lottery".
Lovely acquisitions yourself! I love Anne of Green Gables. Have you managed to find Peking Picnic yet?
Samantha, "unique and intriguing" sounds interesting!
I have so many read-a-longs and book group reads coming up but perhaps we should arrange something for a few months from now? I wonder if Nymeth will be interested...
I'm going to read We Have Always Lived in the Castle over the next couple of weeks so you can join me for that, if you like!
I've just finished, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, it's a delightfully creepy read.
Quite a restrained heap! Think the Time Out guide should be really interesting - lucky you!
I'm a great fan of Shirley Jackson and I quite enjoyed the Hansel and Gretel when I read it a few years back. And my copy of Her Fearful Symmetry arrived on Friday and I'm looking forward to diving in very soon.
Great haul!
I look forward to ALL of your reviews! It was only recently that I first heard of Shirley Jackson, her books do sound irresistable and ones for me to watch for.
Her Fearful Symmetry arrived the other day and there are eight others on their way over the next couple of weeks, hooray! I too must slow down the buying process and spend the long winter concentrating on my acquisitions.
I'm hoping to get to those Shirley Jackson titles next month, too. Would love to be in London and work my way through the 1000 Things To Do book!!
Great acquisitions!
I actually have both of Jackson's books on hold at the library. I may end up buying the Penguin releases, if I like them as much as I think I will.
I am anxious to read your review of Her Fearful Symmetry --- I think it is a book that I will really enjoy (although I have yet to read The Time Traveler's Wife).
It is a dream of mine to spend a good 6 weeks or more in England some year (probably in the distant future). The book on London sounds fascinating to me.
I plan to post a list of my recent acquisitions later today.
I just bought the Haunting of Hill House too. You ahve some great titles there ; ENJOY
I'm so excited about seeing Niffeneger! HFS is so good! I am loving every page at the moment. I think it might be as good as The Time Traveller's Wife. I hope you love it as much as I do. I was surprised to see that Samanth thought she was "unique and intriguing". I can't wait to find out what that means!
I'm not a huge Niffenegger fan, but I do have We Have Always Lived in the Castle in my towering TBR stack, and I'm hoping to get to it sometime this Fall. I'm currently on a book buying embargo, as we have nowhere to put any more new books, so I'm trying to read my way through at least some of what we have so that I can make room for more! ;)
I'm not tempted with Shirley Jackson. I don't like creepy stories anymore. But although I didn't exactly love Time Traveler's Wife, I'm curious about Her Fearful Symmetry. Eagerly waiting for your thoughts on that..
My latest buys are the Kristin Lavransdatter series.
I was very excited to receive both the new Paul Auster, Invisible, and the new A.S. Byatt as well. And I, of course, can't wait to hear what you think of Her Fearful Symmetry. Happy reading and congrats on the great book haul!
Good pile of books! I hope you enjoy them. :)
I am very keen to read both those novels by Shirley Jackson and will be looking out for your reviews. As for acquisitions, well, the Book People are selling the Booker shortlist for 35 pounds (rather than the 100-odd it would cost if you bought them all full price) and I couldn't resist.....
The True Story of Hansel and Gretel is *such* a great book! I reviewed it last month, if you're curious:
http://booksnbordercollies.blogspot.com/2009/08/true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel.html
Lezlie
I read 'We have always lived in the castle' last year and loved it! I got a King Penguin edition from the US, with a fantastic wraparound cover which added to the claustrophobia it generated.
Now I now they've been reissued, The Haunting of Hill House is going straight onto my wish list. Hope you enjoy them.
I have both Her Fearful Symmetry and We Have Always Lived in the Castle on pre-order from Amazon... and neither of these have arrived yet.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle is certainly a rather unique read, in my opinion. Disturbing rather than scary - an interesting exercise trying to work out what's going on. I managed to get hold of a book of SJ's short stories from the library and am looking forward to comparing those with the novel.
I'm looking forward to your review of The True Story of Hansel and Gretel. It's one of my favorites - hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I say you got some wonderful books. I am kind of green with envy!
:D
Mondays: Musings/Readings/Mailbox
Hi Bart, thanks for commenting. I am looking forward to reading something delightfully creepy.
Verity, I am restrained these days ;). I am only expecting one more purchased book this week and that is a gift for my boyfriend whilst anything else that may arrive will be from publishers.
SFP, great to hear positive reviews of some of them! I hope we both enjoy Her Fearful Symmetry.
Darlene, aw thanks! I can't wait to see your recent acquisitions! You have been busy.
JoAnn, I think a few of us have/will be reading Shirley Jackson through the creepier, winter months! I am looking forward to visiting the places mentioned; it's a great book.
Molly, you are so lucky to be able to find Shirley Jackson in your library! I would have read her books earlier if they had been available here.
I hope to read and review Her Fearful Symmetry over the next week so I hope it helps you some.
Your plan for six weeks in England sounds delightful! There are so many (apparently 1000...) things to do in London alone that you will always be occupied.
I'm looking forward to seeing your acquisitions when I catch up with my google reader today.
Diane, thank you! I hope I will and likewise to you for The Haunting of Hill House.
Jackie, it's very exciting! Samantha's comment has me intrigued. I am desperate to start reading HFS.
Steph, my self-imposed book buying embargo is predominantly to save money but space is definitely a factor too! It looks as if many of us will reading Shirley Jackson in some capacity this season.
Claire, my HFS review should appear before the weekend... providing all goes to plan. I'm not aware of the Kristin Lavransdatter series so must look that up.
Hi Frances, I have a review copy of the Auster and currently reading (or slogging...) my way through the Byatt. Happy reading to you too! Receiving new books is such fun.
Kailana, thanks; I hope I enjoy them too!
Victoria, ah how I wish you hadn't reminded me of the Booker boxset... Only joking; it's a wonderful bargain and I hope you enjoy them. I own two of the shortlisted copies and either sold or borrowed the others; I would love my own copy of The Glass Room. Enjoy!
Lezlie, I was excited to see your review! I am really looking forward to reading it as soon as I can.
Annabel, is that the fabulous cover with the creepy black and white illustration on the cover? I don't like the Penguin covers at all but was so relieved that they had finally been reissued here.
Simon, Her Fearful Symmetry was sent straight from Jonathan Cape and Amazon issued the Jackson novels earlier than anticipated and arrived within a day. I hope yours arrive soon!
Cath, I was so excited when reading your review to know that mine would soon be with me! Penguin also reissued a volume of her stories but I am resisting those until I have read the novels - and probably until I've read your review!
Hi Megan, thanks for commenting. I am so excited to have a copy of Hansel & Gretel and especially now I know it is someone's favourite!
guatami, thank you! I'm rather pleased with my little pile.
What wonderful acquisitions! I read Carl V.'s review of Her Fearful Symmetry and can't wait to read that one. How fun that you'll get to attend a reading too!
Iliana, thank you. I am very excited about the reading. I'm looking forward to reading Carl's other spoiler review once I have read it!
I love the British cover of Her Fearful Symmetry, I got an ARC that doesn't have a very exciting cover at all -- it's tan with these trees on it. I hope you love the book!
Hi Kim, thanks for commenting. I much prefer the UK cover although I find the twin models ... odd. I hope I love it too!
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