Thursday, January 28, 2010

There goes my idea to read my OWN books...

I had this brilliant plan. I was going to read all my library books and then stop acquiring books for awhile and read my own books. I wasn't going to pick up books from the library (with the exception of graphic novels), I was going to go to charity shops, I made all of my books to be inactive on the book-swapping site I use. And then this morning, I realised my plan's major flaw.

Which is, that in all the years I've been a library card holder, I have never once left the library with nothing.

It's just impossible. Have you ever done that? Returned your big stack of books and left with .. nothing? I certainly haven't, and despite my well-laid plans, who am I break a lifetime's tradition? Who was I kidding anyway?

Before this morning's trip, however, I did finish two of my own books and started a third. So the whole plan wasn't such a huge failure. I do plan to balance more of my own books with my library books this time. Things won't work otherwise. Anyway, here are the books I ended up with today:



Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet and Manga Shakespeare: King Lear - I've not read either of these plays. And I've always meant to. The library had these in new, and had a few other Shakespeare plays I've never gotten around to, but because I am a picture of self-restraint these days (AHAHA!) I only picked up these two.

Tales of the City and More Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin - I always wondered about these books. I seem to vaguely recall some positive comments about them, then a book I read recently mentioned them. I saw them in the library today and I thought 'here's my chance'

The Comical Tradegy or Tragical Comedy of Mr Punch by Neil Gaimain, illustrations by Dave McKean - never heard of this graphic novel before. I was sort of looking for a Sandman GN, but I couldn't remember where to start and this one looked like a stand-alone. I'm really trying with graphic novels, but I feel like I'm flailing around, unsure of where to start.

Terry Pratchett's The Light Fantastic, the Graphic Novel - You might have noticed my current obsession with Terry Pratchett? In the last 6 weeks, I've read three of his novels, and have checked out a further five novels (Reaper Man, not pictured, leftover library loot) I just can't get enough. Why did nobody tell me before?

The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi - I've read some reviews of Oyeyemi and remembered that my library stocked this one. I'm not as thrilled to read it so I can see myself returning this book shortly. Unless someone convinces me otherwise, of course!

And finally, The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, and Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett - I recently read Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents and absolutely adored it, so I was thrilled to see his other YA novels in my library. I'm hoping it won't be Pratchett overload though.

Here are the books that I picked up in my favourite charity shop's sale:


Marley and Me by Josh Grogan

Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson

Property by Valerie Martin

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

At 50p a book I'm not sure I need to give reasons as to why I purchased these books. I'm still wondering why I didn't pick up MORE books at that price.

8 comments:

  1. But what fabulous books you came home with.

    Loved A Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith. Loved The Sugar Queen. Loved The Icarus Girl. Loved them all!

    I am just the same as you I cannot come out of the library empty handed. My hands start to shake and I come out in a cold sweat. The need to refill my bookbag is just over powering.

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  2. Let us know what you think of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I've flipped through it in the library and I just didn't get it - the concept, the appeal, the reason it exists...

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  3. I loved the Sugar Queen! I do the same thing - I have trouble reading books I own vs. books I get from the library. Am not yet troubled over this.

    Not that you need more suggestions, but have you read Juliet Marillier's books? I adored her Sevenwaters books - starting w/ Daughter of the Forest. I think you'd enjoy them.

    Happy reading!

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  4. I can't leave the library with nothing either. There's just no way for me to do that - it's even pretty hard for me to leave with just one or two books. I've been doing pretty well lately, by using the strategy of not bringing a library bag, but today it all fell apart and I came home with a large, teetery, hard-to-carry stack of 14. You are not alone!

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  5. Speaking of Pride and Prejudice (but without the zombies), either the 28th or 29th of January is the date of its publication (I've read different dates in different places). I made a little tribute to the book - more specifically to the Bennet sisters - here:

    http://thesilloftheworld.blogspot.com/2010/01/and-now-some-words-from-bennet-sisters.html

    And a general question - any recommendations for good books set in the era of Regency England and written by contemporary authors?

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  6. I had the same thought this month! I kept to it, mostly...I only came home with two extra books when I went to drop off the big stack. I also find it very difficult to leave with nothing...I mean, all those books are just sitting there waiting to be read! :-)

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  7. I have never managed to leave the library empty handed either. The only way that ever happens is if I only put the books that I am returning into the outside chutes and not actually go in the doors.

    Lots of good loot there!

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  8. I'm in the middle of a similar plan, and I'm being about as successful! ;)

    But then, Pratcett, Bryson, Gaiman... It'd be just wrong to let these books slip you by... :)

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