When I was on holiday recently I took a trip to Treasure Chest Books in Felixstowe, Suffolk – one of my all-time favourite bookshops, though I’ve only been there three times, each time about ten years apart. It initially looks like one little room, and then it just goes on and on in a warren of increasingly exciting rooms. There’s a great range of stock, very reasonably priced – and even two shelves of Persephone Books! I had almost all of them already, of course, but came away with a couple. The first photo is the pile I bought there – the second photo is a smaller pile that came from various places.
Defy the Wilderness by Lynne Reid Banks
I do have a couple of unread books by Lynne Reid Banks on my shelves, but my abiding love for The L-Shaped Room trilogy means I will always pick up more by her. The books she set abroad haven’t dated brilliantly, but I’m happy to keep trying.
A Bookshop in Algiers by Kaouther Adimi
I should have mentioned this one during the recent Tea or Books? discussion of novels set in bookshops – because I bought this one entirely on the strength of the word ‘bookshop’ in the title.
The Fell by Sarah Moss
Summerwater by Sarah Moss
So many podcasters and bloggers and others have mentioned Sarah Moss as someone I should be reading. It was great to find these two cheaply, and maybe I can finally start disentangling the various literary Sarahs in my head.
Dance and Skylark by John Moore
I’ve read one or two of Moore’s autobiographies set around Bredon Hill (where I grew up), but haven’t read any of his fiction yet. I did mostly buy this one because of its beautiful dustjacket, but I’m also intrigued by the contents.
Paper Lives by Compton Mackenzie
I keep telling myself that I have to read more of the unread Mackenzies on my shelves before I buy more, and thus I keep lying to myself.
Moonraker by F. Tennyson Jesse
Unrelated to the Bond movie, this is a little story of pirates? I’m not sure if it’s for children or not, but always happy to stumble across more by the brilliant FTJ. I believe it was a Virago Modern Classic at some point, but not one I’ve ever seen in the wild.
A Lady and Her Husband by Amber Reeves
Emmeline by Judith Rossner
The two Persephones I didn’t have are both quite recently published ones, I think, though published initially about a hundred years apart. They’re also not Persephones that I’ve seen many people mention… anybody read these?
Next To Nature, Art by Penelope Lively
I probably don’t need more Livelys since I have several unread, but I couldn’t leave this one behind because it is signed by the author. When I got home, I also spotted that it is from the library of Jill Paton-Walsh, so maybe given to her by Lively?
And these books came online, from a charity shop, and from a remainder shop.
The Castle on the Hill by Elizabeth Goudge
After loving The Bird in the Tree, I’m keen to read more Goudge. She turns up in charity shops a lot, and that’s where I found this delightful edition. I’m told it’s a bit more grim than some of her other works…
Humiliation by Wayne Koestenbaum
Found and Lost by Alison Leslie Gold
A remainder shop in Bristol had quite a few Notting Hill Editions, and these were the two that really drew me in.
Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott
I’m very excited by this reprint – the first McNally Editions book that I’ve bought from their eclectic list. Ursula Parrott is someone I’ve wanted to try for a long time but she’s not been easy to find – so thank goodness this one is now available. I’ll let their description tell you more.
When in French by Lauren Collins
As soon as I read Beth’s Instagram post about When in French, I had to have a copy – it sounds so very up my street. Click the link and you’ll see why!
I haven’t started any of these books yet, though would happily dive into any of them. Have you read any, and where would you start?
I am such a fan of Banks’ My Darling Villain that I too pick up her books from time to time, and having recently seen the movie Emily I think I am most likely to read her book about the Brontes next, if I can remember where it is. She came to the US when her children’s books were made into a movie and visited her publisher – of course, I was the only one who had read her books and she laughed when I told her my favorite and that her work was the most far-ranging of any author on our list. I think she enjoys being unpredictable. Still, from publishing sales perspective, sadly, that does not help an author sell a lot of copies. A movie did, however!
Simon, have you done a post that just describes your favorite bookstores? I wish I had asked you before my last trip to London. While I still managed to leave with about 30 books, I didn’t find anything I considered miraculous.
Oh really good to know this is such a good one of LRB’s. And how wonderful to meet her! If you’re talking about the movie of The Indian in the Cupboard (a book I assume has been renamed now?) then I remember loving that one as a child.
I don’t think I ever have done my favourite bookshops, actually, and that’s a great idea. I’ll have a think. (In London, the one I always go to is Notting Hill Book and Comic Exchange, though it’s not got quite the variety it had at its previous shop down the round.)
I love these posts and read them with a pen in hand and my reading journal nearby. Thanks!
I’ve read Emmeline and found it shocking and heartbreaking, mostly because it is based on a true story from 19th century Maine. It is haunting.
Thanks Susan! And I will prepare myself…
Got the Persephone Emmeline on the shelf but haven’t got around to reading it yet (along with several hundred others!!!)
A familiar story I can identify with!
Ooh, interesting pile of finds
I’m currently reading Emmeline – it’s a historical novel first published in 1980, set in the 19th century US – a long section of the book is set in 1834 when a 13 year old goes to work at a Lowell mill to help out with the family finances. It’s quite a sad novel three quarters of the way through and the foreshadowing suggestions all is not going to end happily.
A Lady and Her Husband is only 66 years older (published 1914) and is also a good read – Ali has reviewed it on her Heaven Ali blog.
I have the VMC edition of Moonraker but haven’t read it, I don’t think (believe I’ve only actually read Peepshow, probably 30+ years ago).
The books by Penelope Lively and Lynne Reid Banks are ones that I would probably think I have somewhere, but if I do, I’ve not catalogued them so they’re not among the books in front of my desk that I shelved in alphabetical author order before I ran out of space (more than 20 years ago!)
Ah I didn’t realise Emmeline was a historical novel – interesting. And for some reason I thought A Lady and Her Husband was 1880s – thanks for the correction.
Those are lovely finds Simon – I know Treasure Chest well, and I almost daren’t go in there – I never leave empty handed! And what a find the Lively is – wonderful stuff!!
It’s all so reasonably priced that it’s easy to think “oh, I might as well buy this too”
I love this shop and frequently visit. Glad you are reading Goudge. My favourite is the Dean,s Watch
Annoyingly that’s a book I owned for a few years and then culled. I daresay I’ll buy it again!
Ali and I have both read A Lady and Her Husband and enjoyed it – my review has a link to hers https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2017/08/22/book-review-amber-reeves-a-lady-and-her-husband/ Otherwise the Lynne Reid Banks is exciting!
I’m sure I read the reviews at the time, thanks for the reminder!
I was surprised by how much I loved Emmeline. It is easily one of my favourite Persephones, and universally popular as a gift. It is a moving, powerful story – plus a fascinating education in the history of textile manufacturing!
Oo that’s very good to know, thank you!
I don’t actually know what A Lady and Her Husband is all about, but Amber Reeves had an affair with HG Wells when she was an undergraduate at Cambridge (and subsequently had his child, I think, on purpose? She was definitely into him. Twas a bit of a scandal at the time)—so, on the basis that some of Wells’s other amours were Rebecca West, Dorothy Richardson, and Elizabeth von Arnim, it’s probably pretty good!
Ha, I like that – a high calibre for his lovers!
The bookstore sounds like a book lovers paradise. The Castle On the Hill is on my to read list. I believe it’s set during the Second World War.
Yes, I think you’re right – no wonder it’s a bit more sombre than her others.
Lovely finds, Simon, and those Persephones look to be in excellent condition, too. I love those old editions of the Moore, Goudge and Mackenzie – no wonder you snapped them up!
Yes, all the Persephones were in beautiful condition – except for nameplates in them, but I don’t mind that.
Just stopping by to let you know that, thanks to your post, I’ve added this book to my wish list, and linked this post up in my post ;)