Haul

As you may remember, next year I’m starting Project 24. Not only am I 24 myself at the moment, but that is the number of books I’m intending to buy (for myself, anyway) in 2010. So, before privations set in, my friend Lorna, my brother Colin, and I all went off to Hay-on-Wye for a day’s book buying. It’s a three hour drive from here (if you’re still a fairly nervous driver in the dark, like I am) which left us with 4.5 hours book shopping in Hay – in which time we managed seven shops. Lorna, believe it or not, spends even longer in a bookshop than I do – which makes her the perfect person to take. Colin, wisely, abandoned us as soon as we got there. Not for him the hours looking at every book in the shop.

I realise that I’ve not explained what Hay-on-Wye is, for the uninitiated – it’s a town filled with secondhand bookshops. Yes, filled. We went to seven, but I believe there are over thirty. Some specialist, some general, some tiny, some huge – but something of Elysium for book-lovers. I came away with 15 books, but three of those are presents for other people, so I won’t include them in this list…

The Present and the Past – Ivy Compton-Burnett
A God & His Gifts – Ivy Compton-Burnett
Daughters and Sons – Ivy Compton-Burnett
Secrets of a Woman’s Heart: The Later Life of ICB – Hilary Spurling
As you can tell, the trip was quite a successful one, as regards ICB. And these books actually all came from different shops. Luckily I had my notecards with me, listing every book that I own, so I didn’t get any duplicate ICBs. As I’ve said before about her, I need to ration her novels out – now I have enough to keep my going for a few years at least.

The Love-Child – Edith Olivier
The Seraphim Room – Edith Olivier
Yes, I do have the Virago edition of The Love-Child. Two, in fact. But this was a lovely 1927 edition, and… well, I shan’t bother defending myself. People are in two firm categories when it comes to buying books you already own. Either they find the idea so ridiculous that no amount of rhetoric will persuade them otherwise, or it seems so natural a thing to do that no explanation is necessary.
And then, having seen The Love-Child, I came upon The Seraphim Room. I don’t know about you, but when I’m making special trips to book-towns or big bookshops, I wait for the moment which makes the journey special and memorable. The discovery of a book which will make the excursion worthwhile (above and beyond its intrinsic fun) – and this book was it. I’ve wanted to buy it before, and not been able to find a copy online for less than £70. But this one accompanied me home, having set me back… £4! Hurrah and huzzah!

The Curate’s Wife – EH Young
Though I’ve still not read anything by EH Young, I am now the proud owner of five of her novels.

Sing Me Who You Are – Elizabeth Berridge
I know her as the Persephone author of Tell It To A Stranger – this little novel looked intriguing.

The Debt to Pleasure – John Lanchester
Book Group is reading this later in the year, so I thought I’d pick it up whilst I saw it.

Rose Macaulay – Constance Babbington-Smith
A biography to accompany one of my ‘discoveries’ of 2009 (I am aware that everyone else discovered her before me, but still…)

Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper – Harriet Scott Chessman
Lynne (from dovegreyreader) lent this to me years ago, and I’ve been keeping an eye out for a cheapish copy ever since. In fact I saw half a dozen copies in Hay – like waiting for a bus, I suppose.

Prince – Ib Michael
I’m keen to read more Scandinavian literature, so I pored over the Scandinavian section of the Hay Cinema Bookshop (which is one of my favourites). This Danish novel, subtitled ‘a novel of icebergs and amber’, looks very atmospheric and perfect for a cold winter evening. And trust me, it’s pretty cold here in Somerset at the moment…

As always, I welcome and cherish comments on recent purchases – do feel free. I’m tentatively planning a visit to the Bookbarn before the end of the year, so these couple of weeks are the book equivalent of a huge feast before going on a diet.

I spent the weekend with my brother in Bristol – of course I wanted to see him, but I also wanted to go to the Books for Amnesty shop. It has its own website, which is quite impressive for a charity bookshop, and I documented my first visit to it about a year ago. It’s good quality, cheap, quick turnover, and for a good cause. Of the six books I bought there, all had been put on their shelves in the last month (they date them when they put them out) so the shop really does warrant frequent visits. And of course I also bought three books in another shop… these nine came, in total, to £8.40. A success, I think you’ll agree. Keen eyes will spot 12 books in the Recent Acquisitions pile below… two came from the Albion Beatnik Bookshop in Oxford, one through the post after being recommended by my friend Barbara-from-Ludlow.

Dandelion Wine – Ray Bradbury
This is the one Barbara-from-Ludlow recommended, as being in the same sort of area as my dissertation.

English Short Stories of Today – ed. E. J. O’Brien
Includes a story by David Garnett, Edward Sackville-West, Antonia White etc. The ‘Today’ in question is 1934.

The Sandcastle – Iris Murdoch
I keep piling up the Murdochs that I *will* read one day… Someone recommended this to me once, I think.

Summer at the Haven – Katharine Moore
A friend of Joyce Grenfell, wrote some non-fiction (e.g. this on maiden aunts) – this slim novel is about an old people’s home, and is apparently amusing and optimistic. Might make interesting reading alongside Elizabeth Taylor’s Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont.

Howards End – EM Forster
Despite not having much luck with his novels so far, I thought I’d persevere. Mostly because of the beautifully inviting cover to this edition. I snapped this up before it even reached the shelves – the shop assistant was putting it out, and I took it from her very hands…

Family Money – Nina Bawden
Not read anything by her yet… but her name has always been on the peripheries of my reading. I’ve had Tortoise by Candlelight forever, though no idea from whence it came.

Family History – Vita Sackville-West
This rang a bell in my mind… I was reminded later that someone was going to send me their spare copy of this. Goops.

The Shutter of Snow – Emily Holmes Coleman
I know nothing about this author, would love to be enlightened. The 1930s novel is about madness, a theme I love reading about… will let you know.

Clash – Ellen Wilkinson
Another author about whom I know nothing, but a £1 Virago ought not be left.

Writing Lives: Conversations Between Women Writers
Newer Virago writers interview older Virago writers – what’s not to like? I can give a full list of authors later, if anybody’s interested?

Among You Taking Notes – The Wartime Diary of Naomi Mitchison
I thought I had other books by her… but apparently not. I always like to have letters or diaries on the go.

Behindlings – Nicola Barker
Sounds quirky and weird, and maybe my cup of tea… at 40p, I thought I could risk it.