Recently bought (acquired) books! Showing 1,701-1,750 of 2,634

[Trelawn]

I made a long overdue visit to Chapters today and picked up the following;
Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls and The Kalahari Typing School for Men. These are books 2-4 in Alexander McCall Smith's No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I also got Corduroy Mansions by the same author. Lastly, I picked up Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson as it's been on my radar for a while. I got all these for €17 so I'm pretty happy.

[Paul]

Trelawn allowed me on the Chapters trip.
Picked up three books ,
The Falcon Throne by Karen Miller
The Crimson Campaign by Brian McLellan
and John Saturnall's Feast by Lawrence Norfolk

[Sara]

First stack with the new card (Top to Bottom):

Eye on the Struggle: Ethel Payne, the First Lady of the Black Press: This one has been on my radar for awhile
Further Tales of the City: The next in the series
Jimmy's Blues and Other Poems: There was a James Baldwin poem in the multicultural poetry anthology I read last year
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne: Allan they had an entire shelf of Brian Moore!
To Kill a Mockingbird: I got the Audiobook version read by Sissy Spacek
Contrariwise: A CD based upon the work of Lewis Caroll

[Paul]

Sissy Spacek doing To Kill a Mockingbird should be interesting. Nice haul

[Allan]

Very impressive, Sara, particularly the Brian Moore selection, considering that my local library had only one of his titles the last time I was in! In my opinion, his Belfast novels are his best, so you made the right choice as well!

I really should read the Maupin title, given that I have the entire series on my shelf and never got past the second one.

[Barbara]

I visited the library yesterday and Politics and Prose bookstore both Thurs. and Fri. I was tempted to buy loads in P&P , especially two Elena Ferrantes. Instead I got The Green Road, Anne Enright's new novel, and Eduardo Galeano' Children of the Days: A Calendar of Human History. At the library I picked up The Murder of Harriet Krohn by Karin Fossum. While in the library, loads of recent books were available but they were books I'd already bought and read as ebooks or audiobooks. Sigh. Using the library is hard because of the time limits on borrowing, and being fickle about what I want to read when, or needing a book for a book club. I am going to make an effort though to use it more.

[Paul]

I picked up Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson yesterday . Easons were selling off paperback copies for 99c . How could i say no.

[Allan]

Barbara, I actually bought The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrnate with one of my Audible credits today, as well as an audio copy of Boyhood Island: My Struggle Book 3 by Karl Ove Knausgaard.

I was also over picking up my signed copy of The Good Son by Paul McVeigh and noticed that Jarlath Gregory, originally from South Armagh, has a new book, The Organised Criminal, which I also bought.

Lastly, I bought a copy of Revolutionary Road off Amazon, on the strength of a recommendation by the organiser of the book club I attended on Thursday night.

[Trelawn]

While dropping off old toys and clothes belonging to the little man at our local charity shop, I found a copy of The Full Cupboard of Life and In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith for €3 total. I just have to find time to read them all now.

[Barbara]

Emma wrote: "Barbara check out the Guardian. There are a couple of articles about Enrights new book in it."

Emma - I am going to read them after I finish the book as I prefer absolutely no spoilers:) But they should be helpful before seeing her next week.

Allan - I've been tempted to read Revolutionary Road after seeing the film a few years ago. The Gregory book sounds interesting. Ferrante seems to be very hot in the US at the moment so I will read more.

I'd like to read more this sleepy day - cloudy then too hot with the sun out. But I still have grades to finish by Monday. And was given only the weekend to review for the third or fourth time the MA project from hell. I have lost all patience and would like to fail the student just for being sooooooooo annoying and being a month past what is supposed to be the drop dead deadline. That last sentence is telling me maybe I should wait til Monday morning when it's due and not spoil tomorrow which is Mother's Day.

[Allan]

I bought Huraki Murakami's latest novel, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage for £3 in the Audible UK Daily Deal today. I know it sold in the millions in Japan, so I'll be interested to see if it appeals to me.

[Seraphina]

Have you read murakami before Alan?

[Cathleen]

I've put myself on a book buying ban for the time being (we'll see how long that lasts), but that didn't stop me from checking books out of the library. I picked up The Murder of Roger Ackroyd because an entire segment of a recent documentary about the golden age of detective novels was devoted to it. And I picked up Colum McCann's Fishing the Sloe-Black River, as well as The Tale of Halcyon Crane. I had never heard of the last novel, but it caught my eye.

[Barbara]

Allan wrote: "I bought Huraki Murakami's latest novel, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage for £3 in the Audible UK Daily Deal today. I know it sold in the millions in Japan, so ..."

I see this one is less than half the length of some of his which is encouraging...

[Allan]

Seraphina, I have 'Norwegian Wood' on my shelf but have never read it-I think I remember that Kevin has, though. I thought I'd give him a go.

Barbara, I noticed the length of the book myself. Nothing ventured, nothing gained...

[Allan]

Cathleen, the McCann book was his debut, if I remember. I hope you enjoy!

[Cathleen]

Allan wrote: "Cathleen, the McCann book was his debut, if I remember. I hope you enjoy!"

Thanks, Allan! I didn't know he had written a book of short stories, and it looks good.

[H]

Allan Murakami can take some getting used to, you really just have to let yourself go with his work and not try to figure things out, some of his work is akin to dreaming - the more you try to grasp at reason or meaning the more frustrated and lost you become. I've heard his latest offering is a bit different and more approachable so I hope you find it a nice introduction to his weird and wonderful mind. I haven't read anything by him in years but the stories I've devoured are still fresh in my mind which can only be a good things. That reminds me I need to tackle 1Q84 this summer, it's been sitting on my shelves for far too long!

[Seraphina]

Ya I attempted 1Q84 and got about half way through before abandoning. Looking forward to seeing how Alan gets on with the latest one

[Colleen]

Heather, you are so right about Murakami novels.1Q84 is so good but you just have to go with the flow.It's worth it . The funny think about his novels at least for me is that I like his "dream world writing" so much that when I read Norwegian Wood I really didn't like it.

[Colleen]

Allan, Murakami has also written The Strange Library it's only 96 pages .I haven't read it yet but it's on my TBR and it looks to be good.

[Barbara]

Heather wrote: "Allan Murakami can take some getting used to, you really just have to let yourself go with his work and not try to figure things out, some of his work is akin to dreaming - the more you try to gras..."

I'm not sure I'll tackle Murakami soon. My James Joyce is actually reading Finnegans Wake and are about 150 pages in after 8 months. We didn't know if we'd stick with it, but we are finding it kind of fun. So one strange book at a time...
I am tearing through the new Anne Enright The Green Road which I bought Thursday. Tearing through despite the fact I spent 8 hours grading yesterday (Mother's Day) and 4 hours on Sat. Sigh....

[Barbara]

I forgot the add I got the audiobooks Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline and The Diggers Rest Hotel which I think is an Australian mystery/police procedural .

[Allan]

I liked the look of The Incorrigible Optimists Club after reading the blurb in Waterstones on Saturday, so, while I didn't buy it at the time, I succumbed and bought it online later. It came today.

[Barbara]

Allan wrote: "I liked the look of The Incorrigible Optimists Club after reading the blurb in Waterstones on Saturday, so, while I didn't buy it at the time, I succumbed and bought it online later..."

Looks like an interesting book and I look forward to your review.

[Trelawn]

My friend was up from Limerick today, I haven't seen her for a while and she brought up a christmas present which included books :-)
I got The Warden by Anthony Trollope. I haven't read anything by him but it will tie in well with my aim to read more classics this year.
I also got Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children. Not sure if this one is too out there for me but I'll give it a go at some point.

Also, earlier in the week I picked up Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford.

[Sara]

So as promised over in the "General Chit Chat," I have a book purchasing splurge to confess.

On Sunday I went to church...Well after that there was about an hour and half to kill before the local library opened for the day. First I went and had an absolutely scrumptious brunch of pancakes, coffee, and a mimosa. After that I still had about 30 minutes to kill, so I went to the local independent bookstore where I got a bit carried away and purchased three books...one used, two new.

Lost in the City: This was the used one, but it was in excellent shape. I know that it's a favorite of Barbara's and Allan also gave it 5 stars. I'm looking forward to getting another perspective on life in D.C.

Who Fears Death: The author is a Nigerian-American who weaves Nigerian culture into her fantasy and science fiction resulting in a very different fell to your typical run of the mill reads in those genres

The Sacred Book of the Werewolf: I was turned onto this Russian author when my friend Lars convinced our science fiction group to read one of his novels. His work is almost impossible to describe...but Goodreads tries.."His comic inventiveness has won him comparisons to Kafka, Calvino, and Gogol, and Time has described him as a 'psychedelic Nabokov for the cyberage.'"

At the library I returned a bunch of stuff and came out with two new books.

The Just City: The one is for a feminist science fiction club I'll be attending in Boston in June.

There Once Lived a Mother Who Loved Her Children, Until They Moved Back In: Three Novellas About Family: This one is by another Russian author and just looked good.

I thought at that point I was done with book acquisition for the day, but alas, or perhaps indeed, I was not. Later I went on a needed and planned clothes buying excursion to a huge local thrift store. I found 2 pairs of shorts, a t-shirt, and a pair of pants in about 30-40 minutes. My friends wanted to shop more, so I was sucked into the book section where I purchased 4 books at $3/book.

Lighthousekeeping
Life Mask
A Handful of Dust
Small Island

A good haul! I was thoroughly impressed with the store's selection and general condition of the books..although there were some shelving errors...For instance I saw a copy of The Bluest Eye shelved in the mystery section.

Also, because I bought 4 books, I was able to get a 5th for free...I got Their Eyes Were Watching God for my roommate...but sadly seem to have misplaced it...possibly dropping it in the thrift store parking lot. It's a shame though. It's my favorite book of all time, and I love sharing it with people who will appreciate it.

[Barbara]

I'm smiling cuz you worked to destash books before your move. Well I completely understand being a book acquirer extraordinaire.

[Barbara]

IanieB wrote: "I have bought more books. Damn you, bookdepository.com ;)

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov; Smoke gets in your eyes and other lessons from the Crematorium by Caitlin Doughty; Essays by my bae, President..."

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a fascinating read. The author has set up scholarship funds so that Henrietta Lack's descendants can go to university.

[Sara]

I agree with Barbara about The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. I would almost call it a must read. I haven't read The Journals of Keith Harring, but find his art really interesting.

[Gavin]

All I Know Now: Wonderings and Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully;
The Night Circus;
East of Eden;
Dark Inside;

So bought these today :P

[Barbara]

IanieB wrote: "....oops...somehow money disappeared from my bank account and materialised into books....

Some of them I cannot wait for.

Feeling Backward: Loss and the Politics of Queer History (Heather Love);..."

You're on a roll - what a pile!

[Paul]

Nice stashes Iain and Gavin. I assume its a post exam treat Gav. I loved the night Circus as well.

[Gavin]

Paul wrote: "Nice stashes Iain and Gavin. I assume its a post exam treat Gav. I loved the night Circus as well."

Ya post exam treat shouldn't have really with saving for america lol but i was in bookstore for stuff for someone else and they were looking at me hehe

[Allan]

Today I bought Not My Father's Son: A Memoir as the Audible UK Daily Deal for £2, which was great. Having spotted and fancied Preparation for the Next Life in Waterstones a few weeks ago, I succumbed and bought it off Amazon as well.

You may laugh, but over the next while, aside from group reads that I fancy, I'm actually going to aim to buy fewer books, instead reading those I already own. We'll see how that plan goes...!

[Paul]

Did you manage to say that with a straight face ;-)
My uncle handed me a 50quid book voucher someone else gave him as he has no room for more books. I will spend it well

[Barbara]

Allan - I absolutely have to read some of the books on my shelves. But I am reading mostly books that I want to keep and nothing from the pile of books that I won't keep when I'm done.

Paul - 50 quid is a nice amount.

[Kevin]

I think you will definitely like Academy Street Emma but I'm not sure how to describe Norwegian Wood to you. I guess I would call it a pensive read but also heavily coated in sexually graphic scenes and long-winded plots. I think I read somewhere that it annoys Murakami that it is so popular compared to his other works that he considers more important.

[Sara]

In Search of Gay America: Women and Men in a Time of Change: Picked up this older work for $1!

[Cathleen]

IanieB wrote: "....oops...somehow money disappeared from my bank account and materialised into books....

Some of them I cannot wait for.

Feeling Backward: Loss and the Politics of Queer History (Heather Love);..."
I'm catching up on discussion threads, and Ianie, your post made me laugh. How does that always happen--somehow my money just disappears, too. And I have more piles of books around me. It's a mystery.
I've been desperately trying not to buy more books. I've been modestly successful. Or minimally successful, it depends upon my mood--whether I'm being self-congratulatory or self-critical. Now that I'm transitioning into summer term, I'm optimistic I'll be able to make more of a dent in my tottering piles. I'll have to put Henrietta Lacks on top of the pile.

[Cathleen]

Allan wrote: "Today I bought Not My Father's Son: A Memoir as the Audible UK Daily Deal for £2, which was great. Having spotted and fancied Preparation for the Next Life in Waters..."

You read so quickly though, Allan, that you might need to keep buying---just so you don't run out of things to read. Because that would be a tragedy :)

[Barbara]

Cathleen wrote: "Allan wrote: "Today I bought Not My Father's Son: A Memoir as the Audible UK Daily Deal for £2, which was great. Having spotted and fancied Preparation for the Next Life and have a copy of The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken coming from Paperback Swap.

[Isabella]

I don't know if this is a general thing, but I was just able to upgrade a book I already owned to audio for just £3.49. It may be something Amazon just started, and not being very technical, I've only managed to get it on to my phone, not my iPod.

If you have a book you'd like to listen to, it's probably worth checking out though, as you can save a huge amount.

[Seraphina]

So the first time I've had 5 minutes to myself since the big day I decided to treat myself to a few new reads
Picked up The Perks of Being a Wallflower American Wife
Short Walks from Bogota: Journeys in the New Colombia
And
Fathers Come First
A nice way to start married life, cuddled up by the fire looking out at the rain with some good books
Good choice for the monthly read too :)

[Seraphina]

We're in Ireland at home. Going away in august for honeymoon. We've had a friend from oz staying with us until today and friends from Dubai and Uk around too so it's been good.

[Barbara]

Seraphina wrote: "So the first time I've had 5 minutes to myself since the big day I decided to treat myself to a few new reads
Picked up The Perks of Being a Wallflower American Wife
[bo..."

Fathers Come First is a classic!
Yes, I have found sometimes when I get a Kindle deal I can add Whispersync and get both for between $3.99-4.99. A great bargain.

[Sara]

So I have some more book acquisitions to report...but at least they're library books this time!

A History of Loneliness
Bumperhead
A Bintel Brief: Love and Longing in Old New York

[Trelawn]

So with it being a long weekend a book trip was all but inevitable. Added to that is the fact I am on a book buying ban from tomorrow, so I NEEDED to buy some books. And if that weren't reason enough, Paul's uncle gave us a € 40 voucher for Hodges Figgis so it would have been rude not to go in, sort of.

So I managed to pick up a copy of The Perks of Being a Wallflower in Chapters which O am looking forward to based on the enthusiasm for it here.
I also got Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford and Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers by Alexander McCall Smith.

I also got two book presents this week; Nordic Twilight by E.M Forster and a guide to researching Irish Family history on the internet.

That should keep me busy for a while :-)

[[deleted user]]

Yes, you were duty bound to spend those vouchers and beat the BBB.

Good luck with the BBB. Not many members of this group have success with these LOL

[Trelawn]

I'll be fine Theresa, I've collected a decent stockpile to get me through. Plus, if I buy something it might ruin birthday presents and the guilt of that would just ruin the book for me.