Bits and Pieces

Last week Miss Hargreaves arrived.   Simon at Stuck in a Book kindly offered the book by Frank Baker, and my name was drawn (thanks again Simon).  This is one of Simon's 50 books you must read, but may not have heard about, and I am looking forward to finally reading it.  I love this book design.  It's the first Penguin I've come across like this, but I think they must only have been printed in the UK.  I hear I am in good company reading Miss Hargreaves.  She has criss crossed countries as she's been borrowed and passed around.  I am not very good at parting with books, but I might have to share her when I am done.  It seems a pity to stick her on a shelf when she's such a seasoned traveler.  She may be one of my holiday reads. 

I recently discovered from the folks in my dovegreybooks group that Virago Press is going to reissue eight classics.

"The pioneering women's fiction imprint is marking its 30th birthday by commissioning textile designers to give a new look to modern classics. Orla Kiely is working on Excellent Women by Barbara Pym, Cath Kidston is turning her hand to Diary of a Provincial Lady by EM Delafield, and Biba - aka Barbara Hulanicki - is creating a new cover for Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. Virago editor Donna Coonan says the idea came when she noticed how many textile designers have a retro aesthetic. 'When I did a little research into textile design it became apparent just how innovative women have been in this field over the last century, so combining their work with books by influential 20th-century women writers seems a great match - a celebration of women artists'." (via The Guardian).

The other titles being reissued are A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Sparks, A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Taylor (yay), 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff, The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.  Waterstone's is getting exclusive rights to sell the books.  I guess that means they won't be available here in the US?  A pity if that's the case, as I have wanted a copy of EM Delafield's Diary of a Provincial Lady.  Not to be picky, but I sort of don't like the cover of the US edition.  And of course it goes without saying I'd have to get that Elizabeth Taylor title as well. 

Since I am mentioning reissued books, if you are a fan of Persephone Books you already know they are redesigning some of their titles.  They are "Persephone Classics" which will be available in bookstores as well as through Persephone Books.  There was a sneak peek of the first three titles in the last catalogue.  They look quite nice--not the plain grey cover, but art covers.  They'll be publishing Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson, and Good Evening, Mrs. Craven by Mollie Panter-Downes.  Although I already own Miss Pettigrew I hope to get the other two.  Hopefully somewhere local will carry them, so I can avoid the high postage cost.

I had hoped to spend part of today (my first of five wonderful days away from work!) raking leaves, but as it is snowing(!), I guess I'll have to suffer and stay indoors and read instead!

Comments

[iliana]

I didn't know about the re-issuing of the selected Persephones. They do look quite nice don't they? I would love to add more Persephone books to my little collection.
Anyway, stay warm and curl up with a good book!

[Dorothy W.]

Too, too bad you couldn't rake leaves today :) All those re-issued books! I do hope the Viragos are easily available to us.

[Danielle]

Iliana-- Aren't those Persephones nice!! I am very much in the mood to pull out one of the ones I have and start reading. I'd love to own the whole collection, but I have a long way to go!
Dorothy--What a pity about those leaves, eh?! I kept thinking about dragging myself out of bed to get an early start only to peek outside and see it furiously snowing! Darn. I hope we can get those Viragos over here, too. The designs sound quite nice--I love textiles!

[tara]

Interesting news about the viragos...but as you said, too bad they won't be available here. Hmmm. I agree with you about the Persephone Classics - I think the new covers look teriffic. And fortunately, I don't have Miss Pettigrew or Mrs Craven.

[Danielle]

Tara--I think my favorite new Persephone is Someone at a Distance, which was on the other page, so I didn't get a photo. I figure I can probably order the Viragos online from Waterstones, but I hate the thought of the shipping cost!

[Melanie]

Those Persephones are very tempting! I'll have to keep my eye out for the Viragos - there are very often British books available here in Canada long before they appear in the States, and who knows, perhaps these ones will be permitted to be sold here. I hope!

[Stefanie]

You get five days? Lucky duck! I only get four. But I shouldn't complain. We got snow too, less than an inch but it has made me happy because everything looks like it got dusted with powdered sugar. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

[Matt]

I've been wanting to read A Game of Hide and Seek but I have no luck of finding it. It's good that Viragos is re-issuing classics that are not immediately available. I have a copy of 84 Charing Cross Road and have seen the dvd. :)

[Carl V.]

There is almost nothing more wonderful than curling up with a good book on a snowy day. Lucky you!!!

[Danielle]

Melanie--I wonder if Amazon.ca would carry them? The postage would certainly be cheaper than getting them from the UK. You guys are lucky to get those imports!
Stefanie--The snow was pretty when it was coming down. I only wish the leaves had already fallen and I had already raked them. Oh well. I took an extra day off to extend my vacation. I plan on doing the same for Christmas. Yay.
Matt--You have to read 84 Charing Cross Road--I just love Helene Hanff's books. You should also read Q's Legacy. The movie 84 Charing Cross Road was also good! I'd like to try and find some of Elizabeth Taylor's other OOP books as well.
Carl--Indeed!