I haven't bought a book for two months (and that one was a slip) as I am a) trying to conserve funds b) trying to get on top of my spiralling-out-of-control TBR piles and shelves and library. So there has been less recent acquisitions and arrivals to post about. However, a few books have made it into Paperback_Reader abode in the meantime, with a few more expected, and I thought I would share some of them with you. Two of these I mentioned in my post yesterday: Say You're One of Them and Manja, which very kindly came from Frances of Nonsuch Book and a LibraryThing member and reader of my blog, respectively.
The other two arrivals are another Persephone (Classic), The World That Was Ours by Hilda Bernstein and Virago Modern Classic, Peyton Place by Grace Metalious. The former book I used an Amazon US giftcard to purchase (the irony of purchasing a Persephone from across the pond does not escape me) and the latter was sent by the lovely Sophie of Virago at my request.
These books could not be more different: one is South African nonfiction that tells of the ordeal the author experienced when her husband was trialed (but acquitted) along with Nelson Mandela and other members of the ANC in the infamous Rivonia trial of 1964; the other is a novel described as "salacious", "sordid" and "wicked" with an opening line that has the potential to make you blush. These two surely are proof of my reading eclecticism; I am at once excited about getting my teeth stuck into apartheid writing and an addictive soap-opera novel.
Have you received anything recently that excites you? Which of my arrivals are you most looking forward to reading about or reading yourself?
The other two arrivals are another Persephone (Classic), The World That Was Ours by Hilda Bernstein and Virago Modern Classic, Peyton Place by Grace Metalious. The former book I used an Amazon US giftcard to purchase (the irony of purchasing a Persephone from across the pond does not escape me) and the latter was sent by the lovely Sophie of Virago at my request.
These books could not be more different: one is South African nonfiction that tells of the ordeal the author experienced when her husband was trialed (but acquitted) along with Nelson Mandela and other members of the ANC in the infamous Rivonia trial of 1964; the other is a novel described as "salacious", "sordid" and "wicked" with an opening line that has the potential to make you blush. These two surely are proof of my reading eclecticism; I am at once excited about getting my teeth stuck into apartheid writing and an addictive soap-opera novel.
Have you received anything recently that excites you? Which of my arrivals are you most looking forward to reading about or reading yourself?
24 comments:
Nice books! I'd love to read Peyton Place. Enjoy :)
Lucky you! There is something very nice about new books.
Hehe - you didn't mention the BSC arrivals ;)
Hi Stephanie, thanks for commenting. I'm really looking forward to reading PP.
Verity, oops! That's because they are on my bedside table as opposed to with the other new books. It was only some of them anyway; a couple of others are already on shelves (the Pym I have already mentioned and photographed and the other is under embargo) and I have some waiting for me at the Royal Mail collections office.
I do love new books :). I don't think I could go completely cold turkey.
I have to blame you completely for getting excited everytime I spot one of those distinctive grey covers from Persephone. I am on the look out all the time.
Colourwise those four all go together nicely - how conveniently lovely! I'm longing to read PP too.
Oooh me and Polly are reading peyton Place roguely over Christmas very very exciting. I have two issues of the book and yours is another differnet one. Also have the sequel which am most excited about!
I also got Say You Are One of them from Read It Swap It again very excited about that. I have so far managed 19 days of no book buying and its not as bad as I thought it might be!
I never fail to be amazed at the rate you and Verity go through books! Kieron Smith, Boy sounds like a perfect book to read while you're home and both Persephone's should be very interesting.
No Name by Wilkie Collins has me wanting more of his books and this is how the tbr pile keeps on growing. But it's all good, right?
Ah ha! I also am featuring "Say You're One of Them", which I also won from Frances, in today's "new books!" post. And you know that I already have a copy of The World That Was Ours, but I haven't read it yet... I think I might wind up doing a mini-apartheid reading challenge of my own (as I read Disgrace this year, and have 3 other books that I've been told by a South African), and so I will likely add this one to that pile.
All in all, definitely some good loot. Especially because all of the books look so pretty! ;)
I haven't read any of those books and I must admit that none of them are on my wishlist. I wonder which ones you'll manage to persuade me to add to my list?!
Great books! I just finished reading Say You're One of Them and loved it! Can't wait to read what you thought of it! Cheers!
What a beautiful collection! I haven't read any so I am eager to read your reviews.
My friend recently got into Grace Metalious and said she was so trashy it was amazing - I know she has Peyton Place so I'm going to ask to borrow it!
Vivienne, there's nothing like that glimpse of grey!
Annabel, they do complement each other exceedingly well and make a lovely little pile.
Simon, I'm looking forward to comparing thoughts on both Peyton Place and Say You're One of Them. The blue copy of PP that you have is very retro - I like it :).
Darlene, I don't read the books as quickly as Verity but I do manage to acquire them at quite a rate!
My problem, of course, is that I want to take them all with me to read! Finding a great writer who you want more of is a wonderful thing.
Steph, weren't we lucky?! A mini-apartheid challenge sounds great. I'm very excited about these two books that we share.
The books are pretty :).
Jackie, I'm not sure if I will influence you if they didn't appeal to begin with but we shall see...
Hi Nadia, thanks for commenting. I'm so glad that you loved Say You're One of Them - I'm looking forward to it!
Rachel, I'm ridiculously excited about the impending trashiness. Have you read Valley of the Dolls? That is so also so trashy it is crazily addictive.
Say You're One of Them, is one that I hope to find in audio --free (library I hope). Congrats on controlling your book buying urges :)
I've just received my copy of Orwell's 'Coming Up For Air' and should hopefully get the 'X-Men - Salvage' graphic novel in today!
Diane, I hope you find a copy. As Simon says, controlling book-buying urges is easier than it seems - the trick is to avoid everywhere that sells books!
Carsten, that's a nice loot! I'll be very interested to hear your thoughts on Coming Up for Air; I'm in the mood for more Orwell after reading the usual suspects of his.
The World THat Was Ours is one of the Persephones I'd really love to read. I also got Say You're One of Them from Frances. :)
Claire, it is a Persephone that has always appealed to me and one of their more "challenging" titles; I'm really looking forward to it. I think a few of us were lucky enough to receive a copy of Say You're One of Them from Frances, which is fantastic.
Haven't read any, or heard of 'em! Guessing some of your reviews will ensure they creep their way into my ever-growing TBR?
anothecookie, it is a rather obscure little pile, isn't it? I'm hoping I love them all so my reviews may indeed tempt you!
I've recently bought/acquiredi The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt, Her Fearless Symmetry by Audrey Neffenger, and the new one by Margaret Atwood which I can't remember. I was a tad disappointed to find Atwood's resembled Oryx and Crake, because I like her "non sci-fi" better, but still, she's such a great writer. I can never get enough books; they always excite me, especially the Persephone collection!
bellezza, new books always excite me too, especially Persephones. The new Audrey Niffenegger and Margaret Atwood were hardbacks that made it into my home this year (both were review copies but I haven't read The Year of the Flood yet) and I borrowed The Children's Book from the library - I hope you enjoy!
At least you'll not be at a loss to choose one for the mood you're in as they are so different! I'm not supposed to be buying books either, but....I think it'd be fun to read Peyton Place--I have it somewhere--nicely melodramatic maybe? Enjoy your new books!
They are nicely varied, Danielle. Peyton Place will be nicely melodramatic, I agree, and I think it will make perfect reading over the Christmas holidays.
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