 | Books! Now that I have fellow book-lovers' attention, let me do a happy dance. I'm always trying to build up my home library (without also breaking my home bank account). This month I got hold of over 60 volumes that were being given away free at the library. I love giving used and unwanted books a place to call home! It was really hard to walk out and not take ALL the books. (But that wouldn't be nice or fair to others.) |
I won't list all the titles I got here, but will share a few of the ones I thought were pretty awesome finds.
I know some people carefully research each and every book they buy (or even borrow), but I'm really not one of those people. I love playing "book roulette" and being surprised (for better or worse) when I finally get around to reading them.
Obviously, some book titles speak for themselves, and some books are so well-known that it really isn't a mystery what the plot is about. But have you ever just walked into a used bookstore or book sale somewhere and picked up one of those old library books with no CLUE what it is about? Those good, old (sometimes garishly colored) hardcovers with nothing more than a title and an author name to go by?
I have found some REALLY great books that way. Like Tory Oath and West With the Vikings. (Neither of which had a dust jacket when I found them in a thrift store years ago.)
I guess my message is a plea to readers everywhere...don't snub a book just because it isn't a recent best seller or well-known classic!
That kind of explains this erratic list of books. Haha. Here are the books I added if you are looking for some inspiration:
I know some people carefully research each and every book they buy (or even borrow), but I'm really not one of those people. I love playing "book roulette" and being surprised (for better or worse) when I finally get around to reading them.
Obviously, some book titles speak for themselves, and some books are so well-known that it really isn't a mystery what the plot is about. But have you ever just walked into a used bookstore or book sale somewhere and picked up one of those old library books with no CLUE what it is about? Those good, old (sometimes garishly colored) hardcovers with nothing more than a title and an author name to go by?
I have found some REALLY great books that way. Like Tory Oath and West With the Vikings. (Neither of which had a dust jacket when I found them in a thrift store years ago.)
I guess my message is a plea to readers everywhere...don't snub a book just because it isn't a recent best seller or well-known classic!
That kind of explains this erratic list of books. Haha. Here are the books I added if you are looking for some inspiration:
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Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury
When I was about twelve my mom gave me a copy of Bradbury's complete short stories. It was about 5 feet thick, I think (or felt like it!), but I remember those moments of just finishing one of the stories and having to sit there and really digest the idea for awhile before reading the next one.
I've read this one before too, and it is part of a series. I hope to have his complete collection someday to share with my kids. (Maybe spread out over several smaller books!)
The First Crusade--Edward Peters
A collection of letters, writings and other documents written at the time of the First Crusade by different sources.
I always love finding any sort of historical texts, and its a good thing too, because...
Chronicles of the Crusades--John de Joinville
It was a bit of a trend. That's two books! But wait!
Crossed: A Tale of the Fourth Crusade
Okay, this one is a historical novel. And a different Crusade. But at least it is a theme, right? Now I just need to fill in between.
The Roman Conquest of Scotland--James Fraser
I'm a sucker for anything Roman, so this was like finding a little treasure.
When I was about twelve my mom gave me a copy of Bradbury's complete short stories. It was about 5 feet thick, I think (or felt like it!), but I remember those moments of just finishing one of the stories and having to sit there and really digest the idea for awhile before reading the next one.
I've read this one before too, and it is part of a series. I hope to have his complete collection someday to share with my kids. (Maybe spread out over several smaller books!)
The First Crusade--Edward Peters
A collection of letters, writings and other documents written at the time of the First Crusade by different sources.
I always love finding any sort of historical texts, and its a good thing too, because...
Chronicles of the Crusades--John de Joinville
It was a bit of a trend. That's two books! But wait!
Crossed: A Tale of the Fourth Crusade
Okay, this one is a historical novel. And a different Crusade. But at least it is a theme, right? Now I just need to fill in between.
The Roman Conquest of Scotland--James Fraser
I'm a sucker for anything Roman, so this was like finding a little treasure.
Swordspoint--Ellen Kushner
Never heard of it. My daughter liked the cover art so home it came with us. Looks to be a highly detailed, fun fantasy novel set over a series of three books. (I don't dare read it until I've found the next two!)
Never heard of it. My daughter liked the cover art so home it came with us. Looks to be a highly detailed, fun fantasy novel set over a series of three books. (I don't dare read it until I've found the next two!)
Madame Letizia: A Portrait of Napoleon's Mother--Monica Sterling
Seen a lot of books about Napoleon...never one about his mother. There isn't a even an Amazon link to buy a copy in English.
Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier--Jakob Walter
To go with Napoleon's mother, of course.
Had a Good Time--Robert Olen Butler
A series of short stories based on vintage postcards the author collected. I was intrigued by the concept. How many times have most of us found old notes, cards, inscriptions and other such bits of the lost past and wondered about the people who wrote them?
Walk In My Soul--Lucia St. Clair Robson
I read Ride the Wind by this author when I was eleven, and it is still on my list of top favorite books. Hoping this one will be good as well.
Other Books:
NW--Zadie Smith
The American Presidency--Forrest McDonald
Pillar of Cloud--Jackson Burgess (Not about tornadoes. Oh well.)
Treasure Island--Robert Louis Stevenson
Friday Night Lights--H.G. Bissinger
The Last Letter Home--Vilhelm Moberg
Anna Hastings--Allen Drury
Sacajawea--Anna L. Waldo
Stormswift--Madeleine Brent
That's just a few. There were a couple of books on writing, a vintage copy of Black Beauty, a few that I don't even know what they are about (yet), a handful of Zane Grey and Louis L'amour westerns...
Also books from the Longarm series of westerns. These were some my grandfather liked to read, so I've been collecting them along as a sort of novelty. It's a bit slow because there are over 400 of them!
Seen a lot of books about Napoleon...never one about his mother. There isn't a even an Amazon link to buy a copy in English.
Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier--Jakob Walter
To go with Napoleon's mother, of course.
Had a Good Time--Robert Olen Butler
A series of short stories based on vintage postcards the author collected. I was intrigued by the concept. How many times have most of us found old notes, cards, inscriptions and other such bits of the lost past and wondered about the people who wrote them?
Walk In My Soul--Lucia St. Clair Robson
I read Ride the Wind by this author when I was eleven, and it is still on my list of top favorite books. Hoping this one will be good as well.
Other Books:
NW--Zadie Smith
The American Presidency--Forrest McDonald
Pillar of Cloud--Jackson Burgess (Not about tornadoes. Oh well.)
Treasure Island--Robert Louis Stevenson
Friday Night Lights--H.G. Bissinger
The Last Letter Home--Vilhelm Moberg
Anna Hastings--Allen Drury
Sacajawea--Anna L. Waldo
Stormswift--Madeleine Brent
That's just a few. There were a couple of books on writing, a vintage copy of Black Beauty, a few that I don't even know what they are about (yet), a handful of Zane Grey and Louis L'amour westerns...
Also books from the Longarm series of westerns. These were some my grandfather liked to read, so I've been collecting them along as a sort of novelty. It's a bit slow because there are over 400 of them!
On Books and Shelves
So there we go. The first books of the year, and not a moment too soon. My current shelves are full, and unless I go beyond full, it is hard to justify building more shelves.
Once the books start becoming troublesome piles, then I have a "good reason" to build the set of shelves I've had designed for ages now. Which will give me space to...well, you know. Find more books! :D
What are you reading this week?
Do you take chances on books, or carefully pick your next reads after reading reviews?
So there we go. The first books of the year, and not a moment too soon. My current shelves are full, and unless I go beyond full, it is hard to justify building more shelves.
Once the books start becoming troublesome piles, then I have a "good reason" to build the set of shelves I've had designed for ages now. Which will give me space to...well, you know. Find more books! :D
What are you reading this week?
Do you take chances on books, or carefully pick your next reads after reading reviews?
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