Even though I gave away bags and bags of books last year when we moved, I can’t resist a good library book sale, especially on half-price day. For a grand total of $8.75 I acquired:
Books I always intended to read some day
Thomas Hardy, Tess of the D’Urbervilles – I’ve read other Hardy, but not this one
Ford Madox Ford, The Good Soldier – I’ve never tried Ford and I’m interested in World War I literature
W. G. Sebald – I’m curious about this writer
John Cheever, The Wapshot Scandal – the sequel to The Wapshot Chronicle, which I have read
Books by authors I know and trust
Alison Lurie, Love and Friendship – reliable social comedy
Martin Cruz Smith, Three Stations – one of the series with the Russian detective
Iris Murdoch, The Message to the Planet – weird, but I read a Murdoch when one turns up
Richard Russo, The Risk Pool – he understands families and small towns
Books for family members
Anne Perry, The Cater Street Hangman – the first book in the series, for my husband to try
Garrison Keillor, Lake Wobegon Summer 1956 – the entire family enjoys Keillor
The Appalachian Trail – beautiful picture book for a member of the family who hikes
Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake – for a family member who lost his copy
Impulse purchases
Geraldine Brooks, March – I have read it and have a copy, but I’ll pass it on to a friend
Dai Sijie, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress – the connection with Balzac is because his books were western classics read in China
These will be read — or not read — and most will be returned to the library for the next sale.
Wow what a bargin! I love it when that happens! However I don’t think I’ve ever managed to dig out that many books that I have been looking for before! Well done!
Oh, the dreary task of supporting local libraries as best we can. Must have been thrilling to find so many fabulous books, Nancy. And really… what’s the point of giving away loads of books if we can’t go on a major guilt-free shopping spree at the next worthy event? Happy reading!
Great haul, and some excellent choices. Happy reading!