Latest Acquisitions (September – October 2017)
Posted 6th October 2017
Category: Acquisitions Genres: N/A
8 Comments
I didn’t realise the last time I posted about acquisitions was January. High time for another; I may write about books in my Reading Life series but unless I’m actively reading/considering reading any one work at that time, it’ll get missed.
A J Waines: Lost In The Lake – You knew this was coming! This is the author’s latest book and one we’ll be focusing on in our conversation. (I’ll be recording the event and may well write about it here as we’re working with a slightly different approach.)
April Munday: The Heir’s Tale – Released just last week, this is April’s latest book, a medieval romance with a blurb that has me thinking of Elizabeth Chadwick – awesome. You’ll know April from my blog comments; we’ve known each other a while. Look out for my review, it’ll be posted later this season, and may well prompt another foray into stories about the Middle Ages.
Hanif Kureishi: The Last Word – Those times when you read about something, are intrigued and then start seeing it everywhere. Mix that with finding a book that’s a comedy (it reminds me of Alan Bennett), a semi-quick read, and a heavy discount, and buying happens.
J Courtney Sullivan: The Engagements – I’ve wanted to read Sullivan’s Maine for years, but it’s proved very difficult to find in Britain. (I once found a copy but it was very battered and not worth the brand new price.) This is the next best thing.
Jane Harris: Sugar Money – I saw this in an article last week and noted it was going to be released on 5th October. I studied American slavery and abolition at university and it’s one of the subjects I’ve retained a big interest in. And when you add the author’s name to that… So, yesterday morning, I looked online for stock at my local Waterstones and there was a copy. I got there after work and it was nowhere to be seen on the shelves; I finally found it on the trolley, yet to be shelved. Bit of a laugh with the member of staff; I was most certainly allowed to take stock from the trolley and it was great it hadn’t even made it to the floor before being sold. With this book, I think my December reading list is complete.
Peter Ackroyd: Civil War – A couple of years ago I bought the previous book in this series in hardback, an impulse buy that nevertheless made absolute sense because, as I believe the common phrase goes, ‘because Tudors’, and thought I might get the next. Never did, and I passed that time when hardbacks are replaced by paperbacks. Then a nephew wanted a toy dinosaur, I found myself in The Works, and there was the book for £3. (For anyone not in Britain, The Works is mostly an art shop but they also sell a whole heap of discounted books.)
Tony Peake: North Facing – From the publisher, a book about South Africa set in the political upheaval of the 1960s. I can’t pretend to know anything more than that but the publisher, Myriad, have proved to be good so far.
Virginia Woolf: Mrs Dalloway – Readying myself for Christmas; I was planning to buy Orlando but it wasn’t there when I went in and I decided to take that as a hint that I should be starting with something else.
As you can tell by the essay above, I’m pretty excited about these books! I should also stop spending money on brand new books and concentrate on my backlog. Best intentions and all that. I’m currently living by the famous quote from Erasmus.
Do you ever go to buy a book on its release date?
October 6, 2017, 5:24 pm
I’m not sure if these are all books I’d want in my TBR, but there are some delightful covers amongst them.
October 7, 2017, 9:14 pm
I hope you enjoy all of your new books. I can’t wait to read Sugar Money – I love Jane Harris!
October 8, 2017, 9:00 am
I have to admit I have never bought a book on its release … probably not even close to their release date! Mainly because their expensive and often come in hardbacks.
I hope you enjoy your new books :-)
October 11, 2017, 10:20 pm
Kelly: There are! the cover of Sugar Money is particularly lovely, all gold foil and the bordering looks lovely.
October 11, 2017, 10:22 pm
Helen: I have a feeling yours was one of the Gillespie & I reviews I had in mind when I saw Sugar Money. I never got round to reading G&I but remember it was highly rated.
October 11, 2017, 10:25 pm
Jessica: And they’re getting more expensive! It’s pretty rare for me, but the Pullman… The problem, beyond expense, is that ‘and now I have to wait for the next one’ factor. I think it’s going to be 50% yay it’s finally here and 50% over too quickly.
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October 6, 2017, 1:48 pm
How lovely to open the email and see a familiar cover.
I’ve read Orlando and I suspect Mrs Dalloway is an easier introduction to Woolf’s work.