Over new year, I was staying in Derbyshire with an enormous number of friends and new-friends. As it happened, we were only a stone’s throw from Scarthin Books and Scrivener’s Books, as long as you are pretty good at throwing stones a long distance. With Project 24 over, I was excited to get back to unbridled book buying. And, reader, the bridle was off.
Here’s what I laid my hands on:
No Man’s Street by Beverley Nichols
I had finished gathering books in Scrivener’s when I thought I’d just duck down and look at the books shelved underneath the till. It turns out, that’s where they keep first editions and other special books – and my leapt when I saw this Beverley Nichols novel I hadn’t even heard of. It turns out it’s his first detective novel and – gulp! – it is SIGNED by him! Given its scarcity and the signature, I think it was pretty reasonably priced – but I still went back and reshelved a few less-vital books to make way for this one.
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
I’ve listened to the audiobook of this one, but I guess I’m a Sedaris completist.
The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens
Set On Edge by Bernice Rubens
One of my favourite discoveries last year was Bernice Rubens – though I only read one and I’ve since bought five more. So I should probably hold off buying any more until I’ve read some of the pile awaiting me.
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
This was one of my favourite books last year, but I listened to the audiobook. I knew I wanted a copy on my shelves at some point, but there wasn’t any great rush – so it was lovely to stumble across a reasonably priced one.
Daughter of Time by Nelia Gardner White
As coincidence would have it, I took a Nelia Gardner White novel with me on holiday (The Pink House), though I didn’t actually get round to opening it. Daughter of Time looks interesting – it tells Katherine Mansfield’s life in novel form. I’m a little wary about the idea, but also intrigued enough to give it a try.
If I Were You by P.G. Wodehouse
Cocktail Time by P.G. Wodehouse
Laughing Gas by P.G. Wodehouse
I vowed I wouldn’t buy any more Wodehouse because I have SO many unread books by him. But then I came across three shelves of the beautiful Everyman hardbacks – they have reprinted more or less everything by him, and in such striking editions that it takes a lot of resistance not to buy them all. As it is, I didn’t resist buying these three – including Laughing Gas, which I listened to about five years ago and, like Interpreter of Maladies, loved enough to want on my shelves at some point.
On the Calculation of Volume (vol.2) by Solvej Balle
As you might have seen in my previous post, I absolutely loved the first volume in this series – and so, the very day after I finished vol.1, I had to buy this one. (Scarthin Books also sells new books – I wasn’t quite blessed enough to find a secondhand copy in the wild.)
So there we go! Book buying officially restarted with vigour and vim. Anything that particularly catches your eye?
Both wonderful shops not far from me in chesterfield both of them unique in their own ways
Ah I didn’t realise you were there! Yes, practically on your doorstop.
I can quite understand why you were thrilled to find the Beverley Nichols.
I am intrigued by the Nelia Gardner White. I have read The Pink House and absolutely loved it; I think you will too. Like you, I am not sure about the concept of Katherine Mansfield’s life in novel form, but it will be interesting to see how Gardner White does it. It sounds vaguely similar to Claire Harman’s All Sorts of Lives, which did not work for me but that may have been down to my not being well read enough as far as Katherine Mansfield’s work is concerned.
The Pink House is on a teetering pile on my bedside table, so I’m sure it’ll come soon! I also got All Sorts of Lives for my birthday, so perhaps I should buddy read it with Daughter of Time and see how they cohere.
I LOVE those Everyman Wodehouse classics! I have a lot of unread Wodehouse too and will still buy every single one of those that I see until further notice XD Glad you loved Laughing Gas enough to need a copy on your shelf, that’s one of my favorites too.
But that Beverley Nichols is an *amazing* find! What a way to start off your non-Project-24 year!! Congratulations!
Ha, you’d better stay away from this shop or you’d need a wheelbarrow. It was so tempting just to sweep them all up.
The Nichols volume looks great! First edition and signed!
I’m not familiar with Nelia Gardner White and will keep my eyes open for her books.
I’m happy to know you’re acquiring more Bernice Rubens titles!
I love those Wodehouse editions, too, and it’s tempting to collect them, although I mostly listen to his work on audio.
On your side of the pond, it is much easier than here to get The Pink House, recently reprinted by Nelia GW! And yes, forever indebted to you for Rubens rec, thank you!
I enjoyed The Pink House so much! I will look for a copy of this other book by Nelia Gardner White.
She might be one of those names that I never knew, and now I’ve heard of her, I’ll see her everywhere!
Scrivener’s is fabulous (apart from those treacherous steep stairs)!
Oh yes, definitely some agility required :D
I am impressed that you could remember which books you already had by an author. I will be on the hunt for some of these. I love Beverly Nichols although I haven’t re-read any of the ones I own in about 20 years. I’ll be interested in what you think of the mystery. Whenever I think of Mr. Nichols I think about his writing about starting his garden and having The Men come an work on it. So funny!
Ah, I definitely don’t remember, and that’s why I swear by my LibraryThing app! I’m often checking my catalogue on my phone to see whether or not I already own the book, and it has saved me quite a lot of money over time.
David Sedaris!!! I remember being mesmerized by the NPR debut of The Santaland Diaries way, way back in the early-mid 90s. I kept thinking “what am I listening to” and laughing my head off. In one of his books he also made me laugh so much telling how the family’s Barbie dolls had tattoos! This was back way before tats were mainstream!
He is so fun, yes! My first was Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim and I was instantly sold.
I am picturing you waiting at the bookshop door at opening so you could use the very first shopping minutes of 2026 to break your fast after Project 24. I love those Wodehouse editions and if I had endless space would absolutely want the complete collection. That alone would be a pretty great library for a cabin somewhere, to be augmented as space allows with some Christies.
Not too far off :D The first trip was me abandoning the entire group on my own, without telling anybody where I was going…
What a wonderful Nichols find, and all the others are great, too, of course. Nice to see you back on track!
The Nichols felt like I was being welcomed back into book buying with open arms.
That sounds like a great start to a new year! A brilliant find and who wouldn’t want to collect the Wodehouse series, I have 2 so a long way to go!
Fast forward a decade, and don’t be surprised if I’m knee-deep in these Wodehouse editions…
Some great finds, Simon, and the Beverley is the jewel in the crown (signed, no less!!) His mysteries are hard to get hold of nowadays I think and so well done – I hope you enjoy it!!
It was definitely one of those pinch-me moments! Now I had better actually read it.
Goodness Simon, at this rate you’ll be up to 608 before the year’s end!
I will not be counting :D
I love Interpreter of Maladies too! Great haul!
I know I’ll be going back to this one. SO good!