Quite a few books have entered my flat over the last week or so; in fact, a new bookcase has also entered the flat, because my shelves were so tightly filled that I felt that my books must be suffocating and it pained me to see them like that. This little bookshelf takes up the absolutely last bit of wall space in our flat; we are hoping to move in the next couple of months which will be a relief as the books are becoming somewhat overwhelming.
But back to the books. I've already mentioned my birthday books so I won't repeat myself again. I had three books kindly sent to me by Fiona from Random House. These were the new Blake Morrison which I am very much looking forward to reading, having greatly enjoyed his South of the River, which I came to through its Booker shortlisting, and two titles from the back catalogue of Orange longlisted titles, for my longer term Orange Wednesdays reading project, Paradise by Toni Morrison and Fall on your knees by Anne-Marie Macdonald which comes to me highly recommended by Claire from Paperback Reader. Andrea at Canongate sent me The earth hums in B flat which I have been wanting to read for a while but not got around to. I will be writing about all of these in due course.
And, just after I took that picture, three more books snuck in, kindly sent to me by Victoria from Abacus. Abacus is part of the Little Brown Family. Victoria sent me some really rather lovely books, including, Shiny Pennies and Grubby Pinafores by Winifred Foley, which contains the latter volumes of her autobiography (I loved her Child of the Forest and Back to the Forest books as a teenager), The many conditions of love which is Zama's follow up to his hilarious Marriage bureau for rich people book, and Foolish lessons in life and love which sounded like an intriguing title. More on these in due course!
I also treated myself to a couple of books for my birthday. I bought Gardener's Nightcap, which is one of the few Persephones that I have neither read nor own, and I thought it might be interesting to write about in the upcoming Persephone Reading Week. I also bought a copy of Six Ponies, by Josephine Pullein Thompson, which I spotted on Fidra's website shortly before my birthday. It turns out that this is a prequel to a trilogy of horsebooks by JPT which I absolutely adored as a child (Pony Club Team, Pony Club Cup and Pony Club Camp), and which I photograph here with my new Fidra copy*
I must be careful not to let the TBR pile up as I have an absolute stack of library books linked to my Orange Wednesdays project, and have been lent a stash of Virago Modern Classics by Simon from Stuck in a book! I need some restraint, but it's not easy...
* I must write about Fidra very soon as I seem to be building up a collection of their books and they definitely fit within my sphere of interest.
You are very lucky to be reading Fall On Your Knees for the first time! I first heard about it about ten years ago when one of my friends started refusing to come out at night as she was reading 'the most amazing book, ever.'
ReplyDeleteEach time she lent it to one of us, that person also disappeared until it was finished. It is the sort of book that stays with you for a long time.
Switch off your phone,take the day off work, ignore your friends and enjoy!
A great haul, Verity. I really enjoyed Paradise quite a few years ago and Earth Hums in B Flat more recently which has been a bit of a slow burner among my bookish friends. Thank you for reminding me about Fall on Your Knees, I had it on my Bookmooch wishlist but have no points left so I must actively seek it out again. Happy Reading. x
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your need for restraint. I have to stop buying books, but like you, I have just had my birthday and nearly everyone gave me book vouchers. My poor shelves are heaving, so once my new ones arrive - no more!
ReplyDeleteI have read The Earth Hums in B Flat and really enjoyed it, but I do love books written from a child's perspective, especially one with such a vivid imagination.
I didn't enjoy Many Conditions of Love as much as Zama's first book. It felt a bit too similar for my liking, but I hope you enjoy it more than I did.
A wonderful selection. The only one I'm familiar with is Fall On Your Knees, which is truly fantastic. I read it when it first came out, years ago now, but it's stuck with me.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely selection of books, looking forward to your review of The Earth Hums in B Flat, I have been meaning to read that for ages!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do write that post about Fidra, as I'd absolutely love to read it :)
ReplyDeleteTea Lady - one of my friends said that she "enthusiastically recommended" it to me, so I couldn't resist that. I'm excited by your and other people's comments about it.
ReplyDeleteLovely Treez - indeed it is a good selection of things which I'm looking forward to very much.
Vivienne - I'm sorry you were disappointed by Zuma's follow up - the first one was so quirky that I was very keen to read this.
Claire - thanks for your endorsment of Fall on your knees too!
Dot - it was very good and my review will be up soon :)
Nymeth - the post is written and will be up next week I think.
Well I was green with envy simply from the line 'a new bookcase has entered the flat' could someone send The Converted One vibes (maybe even emails) that I am still waiting on a promised THREE bookshelves that have yet to appear lol.
ReplyDeleteThe Earth Hums in B Flat is wonderful, looking forward to your thoughts on that... and all the others of course!
I'm waiting on new bookcases too. I made some space by accidentally knocking a few books down the back of them whilst rearranging some shelves (I forgot that because we have a corner set-up, there is a space at some points between the bookcases and the wall).
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled to see so many other endorsements of Fall on Your Knees; I'm really looking forward to your thoughts on that (please remember that I do like my books to come with a pinch of darkness and a dollop of emotionally devastating).
How lovely to treat yourself to an unread Persephone for Persephone Reading Week.
Simon - the best thing is that we have identified some more space where we could fit another little one :)
ReplyDeleteClaire - I think that is a great way of creating space :) I shall be treating myself to some more new Persephones for the week - the new ones!