I spent much of this week in a castle in Scotland, which was a rather wonderful way to escape the coronavirus headlines – this castle, to be precise. There’s a group of us who try to get to a Landmark Trust property at least once a year, and this location was chosen because it’s not far from Wigtown. That’s the Scottish equivalent of Hay-on-Wye, and the book town made famous by Shaun Bythell’s Diary of a Bookseller. Many of the group love his books and were keen to meet him – as well as a little nervous, in case we said anything stupid and ended up in a sequel.
On the way up, we stopped in Carlisle and went to the extraordinarily good Bookcase bookshop. I hadn’t been for quite a few years and had forgotten how enormous it is. Not the cheapest, but a real Aladdin’s cave.
Anyway, between the Wigtown bookshops and Bookcase, I came away with quite a haul. Here we go…
Three Things You Need To Know About Rockets by Jessica Fox
If you’ve read Bythell’s book, you’ll know about his on/off American girlfriend Anna. Well, turns out Anna is Jessica and she wrote a book about moving to Scotland and helping run a bookshop.
The Finishing Touch by Brigid Brophy
I’ve still only read one book by Brophy, but… now I can read more.
Middle Class by Sarah Gertrude Millin
I’ve never heard of Millin, but I’m increasingly on the look-out for books that could be contenders for the British Library Women Writers series. Which means I’m buying a lot of obscure books and not reading very many of them…
Rose Under Glass by Elizabeth Berridge
And the only Berridge book I’ve read is her short stories published by Persephone, but I’ll add another to the shelf.
Sapphira and the Slave Girl by Willa Cather
I thought I already had this, but when I was looking for a copy for the next episode of Tea or Books? I realised I did not. Well, too late now for that episode, but good to have on the shelves nonetheless.
The White Riband by F. Tennyson Jesse
All I know about FTJ is the two books Virago published by her – of which I’ve read only the brilliant A Pin To See The Peepshow – so it was fun to find another.
I’m Not Complaining by Ruth Adam
Speaking of Virago, I’ve seen a lot of love for this Virago Modern Classic over the years, so thought it was worth nabbing a copy.
The Cheval Glass by Ursula Bloom
I’ve only read Bloom under her Mary Essex pseudonym – and I’m delighted that Tea Is So Intoxicating will be one of the BL Women Writers reprints in the autumn. This one has a fantastical premise and you KNOW I love a fantastic premise.
Calypso by David Sedaris
I also love Sedaris! Always happy to add another of his hilarious and observant essay collections to my shelves, though it’s been too long since I read one.
Twenty-Five by Beverley Nichols
Some would argue that 25 is too young to write an autobiography, but Nichols alleges it’s the oldest age that one should. It’s a tongue-in-cheek statement, of course, and this looks like it’s more about the period. His book about the 20s written from a distance, The Sweet and Twenties, was my favourite the year I read it – this one is more up close.
Raspberry Reich by Wolf Mankowitz
I really like the offbeat charm of A Kid For Two Farthings and Make Me An Offer. This one looks heavier on the offbeat than the charm, but I’m keen to give it a go.
Turnabout by Thorne Smith
Thorne Smith is one of those names I’ve seen around for many years and never really explored. Bookcase had a big and inviting pile of his books, and I was quite tempted just to buy them all, but I thought I should exercise restraint and try just one. Smith usually does comic, fantastic books, and this one is a body-swap comedy. What’s not to like?
nice post thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Great choices Simon, none of which I have read – and I also love Sedaris. I think I have Calypso somewhere, must seek it out.
I’m glad you enjoyed your visit to Scotland – I have retreated from Edinburgh to rural Deeside for the time being. I know of course that nowhere is ‘safe’, but it does at least feel a great deal more peaceful up here.
Very best wishes, Rosemary
How lovely, what a fantastic trip, you must have had a fabulous time. And you have come back with some wonderful spoils. I do envy you the Elizabeth Berridge. I have read Sapphira and the Slave girl, I liked it, though there is something slightly uncomfortable about it. Not Cather’s best.
Hooray, so glad you made it to Wigtown! I hope you’ll tell us more about your trip. The castle looks amazing.
We went out the other day to stock up on reading material. In this plague year others may go to the toilet paper shelf, but we went to our favourite second-hand book store. I found a Rumer Godden I hadn’t read – Gypsy Gypsy. When I got home I opened the front cover and saw the name of my best friend’s sister-in-law written when she was a teenager 50 years ago. I like that. Nova Scotia is small. I love the sound of your haul. I’d forgotten about Thornton Smith. My parents had a book of his, Nightlife of the Gods, which I read and reread.
What wonderful finds, Simon, and an F. Tennyson Jesse I’ve never heard of! :D I loved Twenty-Five and there is a very moving chapter on the Thompson-Bywaters case. I’ll look forward to hearing what you think of the book.
Oooh… I am SO jealous! A castle in Scotland’s version of Hay-on-Wye to buy lots of books! I want to BE there NOW!
The castle looks marvelous but… no Wi-Fi!
Your posting always demonstrate that book lovers are the best! Reading about your book buying adventures is pure joy.
If in your book buying adventures you find a copy of “Across the Common” by Elizabeth Berridge, grab it as is a wonderful book. I highly recommend it.
The castle looks cosy! Did you read anything good while there? Bring lots of books and read none?
I can’t wait to hear what ends up on the British Library Women Writers series. I just read O the Brave Music based on your recommendation and it was really lovely. I know you compared it to I Captured the Castle (if you like that then you might like this) but it put me more in mind of How Green Was My Valley for some reason. I think partially because the landscape (mostly the moors but also later Cobbetts) was so important to Ruan and her being.
So did you meet Bythell? Another post please!
You were much luckier than I have been on my visits to Wigtown. I’m envious that you got Twenty-Five, and the Willa Cather. I read The Cheval Mirror fairly recently. I’ve had better luck in some of the other bookshops there but each time I go back there are fewer of them. It’s an interesting area to visit though.
Looking forward to hearing more about your trip to Wigtown – did you meet Shaun??
No we didn’t meet Shaun, there was a young woman serving in the shop – probably just as well!!
How fun! Thanks for your follow up post about your trip, too. I had a trip planned for this weekend to visit my parents in Portland, Oregon, but now I’m here working remotely, possibly for up to a month. I was crushed (albeit understanding) when my favorite bookshop here closed for the time being because there’s nothing like the joy and serendipity of browsing. I happily ordered 19 books from the shop online instead with some money I earned house-sitting. I can’t wait for that giant box of books to show up at the front door and add to the nearly 50 books I already brought from my home library.
Ah, the BEST part of any trip – the book haul! Really looking forward to hearing what you think of the Sedaris ;)
I see your haul included “I’m Not Complaining” by Ruth Adam. Is it still a TBR? I ask cos I’ve just bought a copy.
Ah, still tbr, but thanks for the reminder :D
Ha ha! Good luck. I’m just about to start my copy.