I’ve been feeling a bit down lately – I’m blaming it on the heat – and nothing cheers me up more than buying new books. Here are a few I’ve acquired over the past month:
Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger – I bought this at my local Barnes & Noble after finishing My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff. I tried reading The Catcher in the Rye earlier this year and didn’t connect with it so I think starting with some of Salinger’s short stories might work better for me.
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh – I’ve checked a copy of this out of the library a few times and couldn’t bring myself to read it because it was grubby and smelly. Sometimes you just have to buy your own copy.
Rose Cottage by Mary Stewart – I bought this in anticipation of Mary Stewart Reading Week ( Sept. 14-22), but I might read it before then as I am looking for escape these days.
God on the Rocks by Jane Gardam – I read Claire’s post about Jane Gardam with curiosity and made a mental note to read her some day. While foraging at Half Price Books just a few weeks later I came across this novel and knew it was meant to be.
Mrs. Ames by E.F. Benson – I found this book on the same Half Price Books trip and, though I know nothing about it, it’s from Bloomsbury Group and by the Mapp & Lucia author. In my basket it went.
Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser – Our last book sale at the library was for half-off all paperbacks and this was included. Originally $1 I was able to buy it for only .50 during the sale. I couldn’t pass it up! I might read it for Paris in July.
What have you bought lately? Does buying books cheer you up?
A Certain Fondness 
Some exciting purchases here! I look forward to reading how you find Brideshead Revisited, I’ve been ‘umm’-ing and ‘ahh’-ing about reading it for a while now.
I’ve bought quite a few over the last few months, most recently has been a collection of Keats poems.
(Book buying makes me happier too.)
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I’ve started it a few times and liked it – the copy I was reading just grossed me out too much to continue!
Keats is so lovely.
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I’ll be interested in your thoughts on Mrs Ames. I was expected something a bit Mapp & Lucia-ish, and was quite surprised (I will say no more!). I’ve been saving up Rose Cottage for some time now, eking out my remaining unread Stewarts until they’re *sob* all gone.
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Now I’m very curious about Mrs. Ames! I’ve been hoarding my Stewarts, also. I only have 4 unread ones to last me.
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Buying books can help sometimes – or just browsing, really. But at other times, like when I can’t find anything I want to read, I get a bit depressed – so many books out there, and nothing appealing to me. And sometimes I also get an attack of conscience, for adding to the TBR stacks! I find libraries better for book therapy, but that wouldn’t work for you, I’m guessing – since you work in one!
That is an interesting stack! I have Rose Cottage myself, and I’m also torn between waiting for the reading week or enjoying them now. I’ve never read Evelyn Waugh, but he’s been on my “someday” list for a long time now. And I’ve only just learned about Jane Gardam from reading blogs, she’s also on my list.
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I picked up a copy of God on the Rocks nearly a year ago, but haven’t gotten to it yet. Just went and read the blurb again. Now I want to read it this summer!
Have fun working your way through the stack 🙂
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So excited to see God on the Rocks in your pile! Gardam is wonderful and this would be the perfect introduction to her. Enjoy!!!
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Buying books cheers me up but also makes me feel guilty for wantonly spending money when I already have so many books. I mostly only buy books on vacations, at which point I go insane and buy loads of them. I recently acquired a book of letters between George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde’s boyfriend Alfred Douglas, which I just cherish so much — I’ve been putting off reading it because I’m so excited and I want to save it for myself as a lovely lovely treat.
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The Antonia Fraser is biased but brilliant for information. It doesn’t seem so long as it looks. Buying books does cheer me up, but like Jenny I feel bad about it afterwards. Instead I try to find a good book from my TBR or listen to music.
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Yes, buying books does cheer me up. And what a hopeful way of lifting one’s spirits. You have a great stack there!
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Glad to hear that I’m not the only one!
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I miss living near a Half Price Books. I mostly rely on the library for cheering me up. Recently I picked up The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart and the Old Filth Trilogy by Jane Gardam so clearly we have some interests in common. I would love to find some Bloomsbury books on sale — they all look so scrumptious. I love E. F. Benson too. Enjoy your haul!
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