Look, yes, I’ve been buying books

It’s time for another haul post. But this teetering pile isn’t all from one trip – it’s from various different bookshops I’ve been to over the past month or two. That makes it ok, right??

Let’s go from the top, including a tour of the bookshops I’ve been to.

1. Regents Bookshop in Wantage, Oxfordshire

This is my nearest secondhand bookshop, about half an hour from my house, and I love it deeply. It is rammed full of stock, very affordably priced and with pretty good turnover. I’ve never come away empty-handed. Lockdown gave them a chance to neaten it out a bit, and I have my fingers crossed that it bucks the trend and manages to stay open for many years to come. And in it I bought…

The Rising Tide by Margaret Deland
I didn’t know anything about this book, but apparently it’s about New Women at the turn of the century, first published in 1916.

Women’s Weird ed. Melissa Edmundson
A collection of ‘weird’ stories by women, whatever weird means – I guess I’ll find out! I think there’s an E. Nesbit story in there, which intrigued me.

Up and Down by E.F. Benson
This was shelved in the letters section, but it is a novel in letter-form – and who doesn’t love that? Particularly from a favourite like EFB. I hadn’t heard of this one before, but always glad to add a Benson to the shelf.

The Girl from the Candle-Lit Bath by Dodie Smith
We all remember the scene of Cassandra hiding in her bath in I Capture the Castle – this is Smith’s last novel, and I wonder if it is tonally at all the same? Finding it did remind me that I have a few of her novels yet to read, and really must get onto them.

2. The Last Bookshop in Oxford

This bookshop began as The £2 Bookshop, then The £3 Bookshop, and is now The Last Bookshop – where most of the books are £3.99, but you can get 3 for a tenner. And there’s a secondhand department downstairs. As remainder bookshops go, it has really good quality stock.

The Heavenly Ladder by Compton Mackenzie
I got this from their secondhand stock. I’ve said a few times that I won’t buy more Mackenzie novels until I’ve cleared the decks a bit, but I’m a liar.

An Impossible Marriage by Pamela Hansford Johnson
Apparently this was reprinted four or five years ago – which surprised me, as I’m usually pretty up to speed with mid-century women writers getting reprinted. I’ve read three PHJ novels to varying success, but presumably whoever chose this one for reprinting was picking from her best?

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
The reason I went to the bookshop – because my book group is reading this next year. I guess it’s a glaring omission to have read no Faulkner. But I’m not terribly excited about rectifying it.

Hidden Symptoms by Deirdre Madden
Time Present and Time Past by Deirdre Madden

I was very pleased they had these in stock. Madden has been one of my favourite discoveries in the past couple of years, and certainly keen to read more.

3. The R&R Bookshop in Stroud

I had a day trip to Stroud to meet up with some friends, and obviously did some research first to see if there were any secondhand bookshops. There were TWO. This one is very cheaply priced with some interesting stuff, and I came away with so many books that I had to pop straight back to the car and leave them there.

The Bookshop that Floated Away by Sarah Henshaw
Everyone was talking about this non-fic about a bookshop on a barge when it came out, but I (wait for it) missed the boat then.

Jenny Villiers by J.B. Priestley
One day I’ll read some of the Priestley novels I’ve been stockpiling. There’s just something so pleasing about these editions.

Stars of the Screen 1932
I really love popular culture books from this period – this is basically a series of photos of actors and short bios of them. It’s all info I could find on Wikipedia, I’m sure, but I love having a snapshot of how these people were considered in 1932.

The Cat Jumps by Elizabeth Bowen
My previous attempt at Bowen’s short stories was a bit mixed, but I’m keen to try more AND this one has ‘cat’ in the title.

A Pound of Paper by John Baxter
A book about books? Yes please.

A Smell of Burning by Margaret Lane
I think Lane is best remembered for her biography of Beatrix Potter, but she’s one of those once-popular novelists I’ve been meaning to try for a while.

4. Fireside Bookshop in Stroud

Stroud has TWO bookshops! This one is rather more expensive and had less stock that appealed to me, but looked like it would have a lot for specialists and antiquarian hunters. I came away with one book.

Beyond The Lighthouse by Margaret Crosland
The subtitle is ‘English women novelists of the 20th century’. I spent some time flicking through the book, trying to work out how academic it is. I really don’t need to read any more Eng Lit academia anymore, and this book would be much more fun as a reader’s journey – I’m not sure it’s quite that, but hopefully won’t be too dry.

5. Dean Street Press

These aren’t actually from a bookshop, but they’re in the pile and I wanted to mention that they’ve sent me review copies of Green Money and Five Windows by D.E. Stevenson.

6. Oxfam, Witney

It’s always tempting to pop into the Oxfam bookshop in Witney, the town where I work. And it’s pretty seldom I come out without at least one book in my hand.

Family Lexicon by Natalia Ginzburg
Hmm. I don’t remember why I bought this one, except that NYRB Classics are beautiful.

The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino
I heard about this one somewhere recently – a blog? a podcast? a book? – and wanted to try it. It’s about a baron who decides to move into a tree. The surreal nature of that story really appeals to me.

7. The Madhatter Bookshop, Wantage

This is cheating a little, as I didn’t buy these in this little independent bookshop in Wantage (a ‘new books’ bookshop), but did order it via them over email. These are some books that were on my birthday list – and so, when I got different books, I was entitled to buy a few for myself, yes? Yes?

Iphigenia in Forest Hills by Janet Malcolm
Nobody’s Looking at You by Janet Malcolm

My unread Malcolm pile was getting dangerously – yes, dangerously – low, so I had to top it up a bit.

Keeper’s of the Flame by Ian Hamilton
And I think this one was mentioned in a Janet Malcolm book. She certainly has a devastating eye for the idiosyncrasies of literary estates, and I’m hoping this non-fic book about them will be as gossipy and scandalous as some of the things Malcolm writes about in her books.

 

Ok, that’s it! As usual, would love to know your thoughts about any of these…

 

 

 

26 thoughts on “Look, yes, I’ve been buying books

  • December 13, 2021 at 7:33 pm
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    Well that’s a satisfying pile! I find it very difficult not to buy books when I’m oot and aboot looking for books as gifts for Christmas. So far I’ve managed to keep it down to 2 (for me), 1 for the giftee, which is a very respectable ratio given the temptations.

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    • December 14, 2021 at 10:51 am
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      Oh that is a very restrained ratio, yes!

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  • December 13, 2021 at 7:54 pm
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    I do so love a photo of a book haul! Thank you, too, for the names of the bookshops.

    Charity shops seem to me to have very few non paperback/hardback recently published books, so it was good to see you’d bagged a few old ones.

    Enjoy!

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    • December 14, 2021 at 10:50 am
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      Yes, the one in Witney is pretty good for that, thankfully!

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  • December 13, 2021 at 8:27 pm
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    Very nice finds, Simon – well done for keeping up with the book-buying! The Calvino is brilliant – but then I think all of his books are brilliant! I’ve read A Pound of Paper and whilst I enjoyed it, I did find his occasional viewpoint of books simply as a commodity slightly at odds with my love of them. But it’s entertaining! As for Bowen’s short stories, I’ve read her wartime collection and thought it was stunning!

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    • December 14, 2021 at 10:49 am
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      Thanks Karen! I was a bit worried about that with A Pound of Paper, as have felt similarly put-off by books by book collectors.

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  • December 13, 2021 at 10:25 pm
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    I haven’t read that Calvino but everything I have read by him has been fantastic so that’s the only one I (might) would have bought. Why on earth you should feel it is a “glaring omission” not to have read anything by Faulkner is beyond me, but I am but a simple physicist. You will grow out of such feelings as you age :-)

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    • December 14, 2021 at 10:49 am
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      Ha, I’ll put it in terms you’ll understand – imagine you’d read two of Newton’s laws and ignored the third.

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  • December 13, 2021 at 11:35 pm
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    The Calvino was a subject of an episode of Backlisted.
    I haven’t read this one either.

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    • December 14, 2021 at 10:48 am
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      Ah, that’s where it was, thanks Jane!

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  • December 13, 2021 at 11:38 pm
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    Now that you mention it, I’ve never read any Faulkner, either. Maybe I should.

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    • December 14, 2021 at 10:47 am
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      I don’t know many fans, but some people must love him!

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  • December 14, 2021 at 1:13 am
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    What a wonderful pile! I’m so envious of all those bookstores, which are sorely lacking in my new home (I have found a couple of small indy stores, but, alas, it’s all new stock, so there’s no treasure hunt feeling). I read the Faulkner a good many years ago & will be interested to see how it goes over with you (it didn’t, with me particularly, although I do like some of his other novels). I, too, haven’t read Calvino, although I have my very own copy of the Baron In The Trees, waiting patiently on the shelf . . .

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    • December 14, 2021 at 10:47 am
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      Oh yes, new bookshops don’t have quite he same thrill, do they? And I’ve not yet read any Calvino, though do have a few.

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  • December 14, 2021 at 1:56 am
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    No surprise that I’m most excited about the two DES books from Dean Street Press, especially as they are two of my favourites! Can I resubmit my suggestion for a Tea or Books episode with Five Windows vs Four Gardens now that both are readily available?

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    • December 14, 2021 at 10:44 am
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      Oh I am up for it – will see what Rachel thinks!

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  • December 14, 2021 at 2:27 am
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    I am so envious of your proximity to used bookshops. There are only a few in Rhode Island. The only novel on your list that I have read is the Faulkner. I think Faulkner is brilliant but definitely hard going. By the way, I just loved your last podcast with Rachel. I feel I know you both a little better and like you even more than I did before, which is very much! Happy Christmas, Simon.

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    • December 14, 2021 at 10:42 am
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      They are a dying breed, but it is lovely to have a few around. And thanks so much for kind comments on previous pod!

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  • December 14, 2021 at 10:47 am
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    “Women’s Weird” is brilliant, though I was a bit disappointed with the Nesbit. Even better, there’s a “Women’s Weird 2” to look out for!

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  • December 14, 2021 at 3:14 pm
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    Dean Street Press sent me The Fair Miss Fortune and Five Windows by Stevenson as well! (eBooks)

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    • December 20, 2021 at 12:01 pm
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      Lovely!

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  • December 14, 2021 at 4:35 pm
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    Very nice, and also I feel MUCH better about my post today seeing that pile (although mine were acquired over a shorter space of time …). I’m surprised you didn’t have A Pound of Paper already as I’ve had it for ages. It is good, from what I remember. I posted a rather “mixed” review of The Bookshop that Floated Away in Jan 2020 https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2020/01/29/book-reviews-harold-nicolson-journey-to-java-and-sarah-henshaw-the-bookshop-that-floated-away/ but at least now I know when my last cold was before the Great Terrible Cold of November 2021 … I’ll look forward to hearing what you think of those in particular. And what you make of my own Pile!

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    • December 20, 2021 at 12:02 pm
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      Always here to make people feel better about themselves :D

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  • December 15, 2021 at 1:51 am
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    I stupidly began posting books I’ve bought in monthly posts. I’m only one post in (November) and already regretting it. I spend so much! And only read a few. But I love books. And who knows when I’ll be in the mood to read The Eiger Sanction, or Beau Geste?!

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    • December 20, 2021 at 12:03 pm
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      Haha! Once you start, you realise how bad the problem is…

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  • December 26, 2021 at 8:41 pm
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    Oh, yes, the correct way to calculate this, is to figure the average number of books per venue. Never to base on the total accumulation: there lies madness.

    Will it be the same girl in the bath? Dying to know.

    Reply

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