Saturday, February 09, 2008

Books, books and more books

Ooooh, I’ve been book shopping. I wiped out the knowledge of my towering ‘To Be Read’ pile at home and bought some more. (I was in Asia Books this time (not Kinokuniya) and they had an offer of ‘buy three get a fourth free’ – so really who could resist?)

I’ve bought:

My Favourite Wife by Tony Parsons
I bought this because it’s about an expat family in Shanghai. (Research, you see! Know your market: recognise your work in the context of the modern publishing industry… persuaded?) And anyway, I like his books … although I do get him terribly mixed up with Nick Hornby.

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
I’m almost too ashamed to say out loud that I have never even seen the film. *flinches while everyone shouts in disbelief.* I know, I know, it’s shocking.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
I first heard about this book from Liz Novel Racer Fenwick. And I’ve continued to be told what a good read it is. I didn’t bother to read the blurb and still have no idea what it’s about.

Marley & Me by John Grogan
What can I say about this? Animal stories aren’t really my thing but it does have a cute Labrador on the jacket, I grew up with yellow and black labs and I keep seeing it on library thing on the blogs. I read the blurb and thought it would make some nice light reading. I've just finished this; it made me laugh out loud.

Afterwards by Rachel Seiffert
I thought this was a wildcard until I read about the author inside the jacket, but that was after I got it home. I was attracted initially by the cover (YUP), read the blurb and committed. She was Booker shortlisted with her first novel The Dark Room and Granta have named her ‘Best of Young British Novelists.’ Not really a wildcard then.

Yes, I know I bought five when the offer was for three/four, but I chose Afterwards as a fourth and then when I decided on Marley and Me as well, I found I couldn’t put Afterwards back on the shelf… cos, well, they were restacking the shelves and there was no longer any space left, so I had to get that too. See?

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Great selection. The 13th Tale is still one of favs - the language is brilliant.......enjoy :-)

Jen said...

Arriving home with a big bag of books is a great feeling, isn't it?

I haven't read any of those but I love Tony Parsons. Sounds like one to be purchased at Waterstones later!

If it's any consolation, I've not seen Gone With The Wind either.

Happy reading!

Pacha said...

YOU AND JEN HAVEN'T SEEN 'GONE WITH THE WIND'?????

Shocked and quite frankly I don't know if I will ever get over this. (Only because I so want to go book shopping today - I am not compulsive buyer except when it comes to books; I can have bad hair with white/dark roots showing, same clothes as past 10 years but books...I manage to always have the funds for those!)

Jenny Beattie said...

I'm so glad to hear that Liz. I'm looking forward to it.

It is, Jen. There are very few things to beat it...

No, Pacha, I know ... I'm so ashamed. I'm always behind of stuff like that. Breakfast at Tiffany's only took me 35 years to see!

Yvonne said...

Ooh I love book shopping. How easy/hard is it to find English books where you are? I haven't read any of those, so please let me know what you think of them!

Jenny Beattie said...

Yvonne, surprisingly easy. We have two main chains: Kinokuniya (a Japanese shop) and Asia Books (well, Asian, I guess). I have a loyalty card with Kinokuniya so usually shop there and find it better anyway. You can get most classics and popular stuff, they stock from America and UK. So we often get a different version of a book - which can be fun. Sometimes the US jacket will be better than the UK one.

I don't really know why English books are easy to come by here (well, other than that there is obviously a market). Can you imagine being able to buy a Thai book in London, Edinburgh or Dublin?

JJx

Carol said...

Ooohhh I love buying books. I seem to have bought a hell of a lot of art books recently.....I think I need an afternoon book browsing!!

I will treat myself when I feel better :-)

C x

Lane Mathias said...

I loved The Dark Room so I'd be interested in what you think of Afterwards (haven't read it yet).
My daughter's been nagging me to get Marley and Me. Now I will!

Nothing like a good book buying spree:-)

Jenny Beattie said...

Carol-a, Can I come? Let's also go to Dasa books, the second hand one, then we'll feel we've got a bargain too.

Lane, oh you're so right. There's nothing like it. I LOVE BOOKS.

laurie said...

oh god i love buying books.

and you are the first person i've ever encountered who actually finished a "to read" pile.

good job!

Jenny Beattie said...

Oh Laurie, I've misled you. I still do have a towering TBR pile, but I denied its existence in order to justify buying yet more books.

Thinking about it, I couldn't possibly ever get close to finishing my TBR pile; it would give me palpitations.

Lucy said...

am now fighting off the urge to run out to the bookstore and load up on new books. my tbr pile is still quite large. Afterwards looks like a good read.

Leigh Forbes said...

Sorry - off topic - you're tagged for the Good Vibrations meme!

Liane Spicer said...

Don't feel to badly about GWTW - I haven't read the book nor seen the movie either!

Yes, books are my vice. One of the Greek philosophers [can't remember which] said that when he gets some money he buys books, and if there's any left over he buys food and clothes. Or something to that effect. Some of us can truly identify.

Liane Spicer said...

Jeez, what's wrong with me? That should be 'too badly'.