For someone who reads a lot, I don’t have much of an interest in acquiring books. The library is my friend, as is all my hard-earned money. And when I do buy books they are usually ones I’ve already read (thanks to the library) and know I want to reread.
But every so often there are books that are so interesting or so obscure that my scruples are overcome and they are added to my shelves unread. Oh the wild and crazy risks that I take! On the assumption that everyone enjoys a “books bought” post (yes?), I thought I’d share a few of these recent acquisitions.
Among them are: two stellar books about books, three out-of-print mid-century light romances, a WWII memoir, a middlebrow clergy-themed novel, and two romantic comedies from Muslim Canadian authors.
Here they are:
Packing My Library by Alberto Manguel – I shared a quote from this back in April and there are a dozen more I know would resonate with all of you. Manguel’s musings are always worth reading.
Bewildering Cares by Winifred Peck – the only one of these I’ve actually reviewed! My copy is headed for the give away pile but I’m still happy to have read this pleasant if not particularly well-executed story of a vicar’s wife during wartime.
A Chelsea Concerto by Frances Faviell – I’ve been meaning to read this wartime memoir since Scott first raved about it back in 2013. Now, delightfully, he has brought it back into print.
Ten Way Street, Murder While You Work, and Pirouette by Susan Scarlett – I never read Noel Streatfeild’s books as a child but I’m finally discovering her as an adult. She wrote a number of light romances for adults (under the Susan Scarlett pseudonym), all of which were reissued by Greyladies but are now difficult to find, and I am slowly gathering them all.
The Arrangement by Sonya Lalli – this hasn’t even been released in Canada yet (it’s coming out here early next year as The Matchmaker’s List) but I couldn’t wait. I am a sucker for rom coms about arranged marriages and the excitement over such a story not just existing but being written by a Canadian and set in Canada (big, big, big deal – when did you last read a rom com set in Canada?) was too much for me.
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin – this came out today. I had my library hold placed and was planning to wait. But there’s a bookstore in my office building. And it was raining during my lunch break. And once I started reading the first pages I couldn’t let it go (see above re my love of Canadian-set rom coms featuring arranged marriages). So now my library hold is cancelled and I am a proud owner of this Pride and Prejudice-inspired tale.
Bookworm by Lucy Mangan – Perfect. So, so, so perfect. I will write about this at length but for now rest assured that it is going to feature on my “Best Books of 2018” list.
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The Captive Reader 
I was blown away by the Faviell, a remarkable memoir, and it stayed with me for a long time. I’m adding the Manguel to my list of books to look for.
You know, I don’t think I’ve heard of anyone who hasn’t enjoyed A Chelsea Concerto, which is a remarkable indication of how good it is!
I like your collection of titles, Bookworm sounds like a must read. I had not heard of the Susan Scarlett books; in future I will write a post about books I bought recently. One of them I bought because a blogger wrote that it was the funniest book she’s ever read.
Bookworm is absolutely a must read! I loved every page.
I buy so many books, I’m sure your approach is more sensible. I read A Chelsea Concerto a couple of years ago. It is such a good portrait of living in London during the blitz.
I’m really looking forward to the Faviell. I’ve read so many wartime diaries and memoirs but never tire of them.
I’m so impressed that you’ve mastered the read first then buy system…I’m still mired in the if I buy it I’ll never read it one. I’m very intrigued by Bookworm … and all the others.
Like anyone I still make impulse purchases and definitely still have some books that I bought years ago which I still haven’t read. I am still human! But my volume is low enough that it at least seems possible that I’ll get through all the unread ones. 🙂
I am even more thrifty and only buy second hand books–these do look lovely and new.One cannot “go wrong” with Greyladies authors such as Susan Pleydell and Susan Scarlett.
I can tell you this: however counter-intuitive it may be, the second-hand books in this pile cost a lot more than the new ones! The books I want to read all too often seem to be out of print and therefore quite expensive to find.
Lovely haul, Claire! I’m really looking forward to reading Bookworm and A Chelsea Concerto.
You are going to love Bookworm!
Ooh, those do look good. I’m especially intrigued by Bookworm. I admit to buying far more books than I ought to: but I really only let myself go and buy a bunch of “unknowns” at the library sales. Otherwise I am very picky nowadays.
I love library sales and will let loose at them! They can have some real gems and usually for fantastic prices.
I’ve just placed a hold on Bookworm at our library. I enjoy books about books.
It’s great. I’ll be eager to hear what you think of it!
I’m still waiting in the queue. The word is out apparently🤠🤠🤠
A list I have to come back slowly to browse closely.
Glad you found it intriguing!
Chelsea Concerto is superb. I’m so glad that Scott and Dean Street Press brought it back. The Dancing Bear, about her post-war time in Berlin is also good.
I’m really excited to start it, probably sooner rather than later.
I also buy from charity shops and use my local library but all book lovers should buy new books from independent bookshops. Use them or lose them.
Very true!
I’m not one to browse bookshops, and I tend to rely on the library. But the monthly used book sales at my public library are my downfall. I come home with one or two shopping bags full. My schedule hasn’t allowed me to attend one in months, though, so I’m finally starting to make a dent into the unread books I have piled around my apartment.
‘The Arrangement’ by Sonya Lalli sound intriguing. I don’t think I’ve ever read a rom com set in Canada. They all seem to be set in New York City or London.
Monthly library sales sound like a dangerous temptation! Ours only holds sales a few times a year and mostly during the work week – this definitely helps me cut down on purchases!
The Arrangement was fine but not as good as I’d been hoping. Ayesha at Last, on the other hand (also set in Toronto), was delightful. They’re worth reading on their own merits but yes, it is particularly exciting to have them in a setting that is a bit different from the lazy industry norm. Jennifer Crusie, bless her, uses mid-western settings for her outstanding rom coms and while her books would be fantastic wherever they were set, it makes them that much more special for being set in Ohio, etc.
I’ll have to pass along the recommendation of Jennifer Crusie to a friend who lives in the midwest. She loves rom com and is always suggesting ones to me set in the Rocky Mountains since that’s my region of choice.
I’m with you on using the library and buying books only as a last resort, but slowly I have learned that sometimes a book I am eager to read may be obscure and tricky to track down because it isn’t actually very good. Unfortunately, without browsing beforehand it’s hard to tell.
That is where the inter-library loan system comes into its own! I’ve had great luck tracking down obscure titles that way that would have cost far too much if I’d wanted to buy them.