I think it's been quite a while since I've shared any of my new book purchases. It's not that I haven't been buying books (as you can see), I've just had other things I've wanted to chat about here lately. But it's Friday, it's been a long week, and while I have a number of books I want to write about, I don't think I have the energy at the moment.
These are a few of the highlights, as I do indeed have a few others that have quietly arrived in the mail. I seem to be ordering most of my books these days, but I would love to spend some time browsing in an actual store soon. Perhaps I can squeeze it in with my other holiday shopping (which will defeat the purpose of holiday shopping as I am sure to buy for me rather than others . . . what can I say? I know my weaknesses). I have plenty to keep me busy until then. I only wish I could say my book buying desires have been satiated, but that never seems to be the case.
From top to bottom:
Thunder on the Right and Madame Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart -- One of the books I need to write about is Mary Stewart's Touch Not the Cat, which I absolutely loved. With every new Stewart book I read I seem to love it the best, and that's the case with this most recent book. It's now my favorite book by her. Will either of these, both with French settings bump it from the top?
The Tin Flute by Gabrielle Roy -- Do you have authors whose books you collect? Roy is my latest addition to the list. I am reading a book by her at the moment, Windflower, which I am very much enjoying so had to start buying all her other books. This is the first of the newest arrivals. Roy was French Canadian--one of my latest interests (literature from that part of the world). I'm also sort of smitten with those lovely New Canadian Library editions.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett -- Have never read this. I've got an itch to read some childhood classics, which I think I'm going to have to scratch soon.
Penmarric by Susan Howatch -- I'm gearing up to read Cashelmara soon and have heard how good Penmarric is, so I broke down and bought it. This has holiday reading written all over it.
Bright Star: Love Letters and Poems of John Keats to Fanny Brawne by John Keats -- Saw the movie and thought this would be interesting to read as well. It's quite slight so should be a fast read.
Trinity Six by Charles Cumming -- Always happy to have a new spy story to read, and I've been eyeing this one for a while. He has a new book out as well, so I had better get moving on this one.
Patience by John Coates -- I've heard many good things about this one--along the lines of it being a charming sort of read. I still want to have a Persephone/Virago month in December. And this looks to be another good holiday read.
The Persephone Book of Short Stories -- This is Persephone Books' 100th title. It's an anthology of stories by women spanning the years 1909 to 1986. There are thirty stories, a few of which I've read, but no matter--can't wait to dive in anyway.
The Apothecary's Daughter by Charlotte Betts -- This comes highly recommended by Margaret P. whose bookish tastes overlap quite a bit with mine, so I was an easy sell. It's set in the 17th century during the London Plague. I think I'm ready again for some good historical fiction.
Sunset Song by Lewis Gibbon -- This has long been on my wishlist. I think it was initially one of those Amazon recommendations that finally made its way into my shopping card. It's the first of a trilogy set in northern Scotland in the years before WWI.
The Fraud by Barbara Ewing -- More historical fiction. This time 18th century Florence and London about a portrait painter.
The Knot by Jane Borodale -- Another book I've heard lots of good things about. It was making the rounds of an online reading group I belong to. There was so much enthusiasm for it, I had to have it. It's set in 16th century England with interesting bits about natural history and botany.
With the exception of just a few, most of these books are either second-hand, remaindered or were purchased with gift cards, so don't think I've gone too reckless and wild with my book acquisition habits!