I think I've satiated my desire to go new book shopping for a while now. It's been months since I've been to a bookstore to browse for new books, but as I had a few gift cards and a little time on my hands I had a little splurge of an afternoon yesterday. Will you believe some of them literally jumped off the shelves and demanded to go home with me and be read? Well, anyway these should keep me busy for a while. I found:
A Morbid Taste for Bones, Ellis Peters - This is the first Brother Cadfael mystery set in Medieval Wales. It's one of the mysteries that was recommended to me (I of course forgot my list at home and this was one of the few authors I could recall).
Roots of Evil, Sarah Payne - This looks like an interesting historical murder mystery in which the narrator looks back at family secrets--first a double murder suicide in a film studio in the 50s and even further back to 1920s Vienna and wartime Auschwitz. This is a new author for me.
The Tomb of Zeus (A Laetitia Talbot Mystery), Barbara Cleverly - Lost book found! I hope this lives up to my expectations now that I've got it finally. It sounds appealing--a British heroine of privilege working as an archaeologist in 1928 Crete. A mystery with a dash of romance.
The Gathering, Anne Enright - I didn't buy this one so much because it won the Booker this year, but because the story sounds intriguing and I've heard good things about it.
Cover Her Face, P.D. James - The first Dalgliesh mystery. I want to go back and start at the beginning.
The Scandal of the Season, Sophie Gee - I try to not buy hardcovers, but this was 60% off (with my discount card), so I couldn't pass it up. It's set in 18th century London. I hope it is as good as it sounds, but I am always a little leery when a new book ends up heavily discounted.
An Elegant Madness: High Society in Regency England, Venetia Murray - I was looking for a book on the Mitford sisters, when I came across this. It's supposed to be a "delightful book, well researched and highly entertaining." I'd love to know more about the Regency era.
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew, Daniel Pool - I've seen this book in catalogs, and I came across it and the Regency book above at the same time. It's meant to be a companion to Victorian literature, so another good reference book.
The Age of Homespun: Objects and Stories in the Creation of an American Myth, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich - I've wanted this book for a long time, too. Have you noticed how much more nonfiction books cost than fiction books? This is part of the reason I tend to buy more fiction, but I felt like splurging since I wasn't technically paying. Another excellent resource for someone who likes needlework.
The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family, Mary S. Lovell - Ah, yes, the Mitford book--I did find it, too. I want the new book of letters that was recently released, but I thought it might be better to start with a biography of the sisters. I've read Nancy Mitford, and I'd like to know more about the family in general.
Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, Michael Pollan - I'm afraid I won't like what I read here, and I wonder how surprised I'll be. This is one I definitely want to get to next year!
My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams, edited by Margaret A. Hogan - This was another big splurge as it is a hardcover, but it is a lovely book, complete with color illustrations. And I've always been interested in Abigail Adams.
I thought I would also mention that I bought a used copy of Magdalen king-Hall's novel, The Diary of a Young Lady of Fashion in the Year 1764-1765. It sounds like a thoroughly delightful read. It was written in the 1920s and is the fictional diary of Cleone, a 19 year old woman. "Cleone's breathless description of her experiences overflows with zest and laughter and transports the reader to an age brilliant with flashing color and abundant life." This was another recommendation. One of the things I love about blogging is discovering new (or very old) books!