Project 24: Book 1

It’s taken five weeks, but I’ve bought my first book of 2017! In case you’ve missed this project, I’m only buying 24 books throughout the year. It wouldn’t be a challenge for everybody, but I’m sure quite a few of you appreciate what a big deal this is for a bibliophile who loves browsing and buying almost as much as reading.

And the first book which persuaded me to use up one of my allocated spaces? I found it in an Oxfam shop in Thame, having not heard about it before: Dearest Andrew: Letters From Vita Sackville-West to Andrew Reiber 1951-1962.

Dearest Andrew

It’s not particularly rare or anything – copies are available online for less than a pound – but it felt exciting to find a book about an author I love that I never knew existed. I love collections of letters, particularly a correspondence between two people (though, in this instance, only the letters from VSW survive) – and, to be frank, it was getting to the point where I really needed to buy something. I’m still ahead of myself – 1.5 books in hand!

The only review I’ve found of this collection is quite negative, I have subsequently discovered, but… well, I’ll make up my own mind one day before too long! I do know that the more I read by Vita Sackville-West, the more interesting a writer I find her.

5 thoughts on “Project 24: Book 1

  • February 7, 2017 at 10:00 pm
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    Well done. I am not even going to calculate how many books I’ve bought in those five weeks. It’s more than I’ve managed to read for sure!

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  • February 7, 2017 at 10:34 pm
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    Interesting choice! Well found, Simon. Next time you go to Thame, might I suggest the Shaw Trust charity shop at the west end of the town? Paperbacks are 3 for a £1.

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  • February 8, 2017 at 5:02 pm
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    I really admire Vita SW’s fiction. Very engaging. Loved All Passion Spent. I make a beeline for the Thame Oxfam when visiting Oxford, have found some real treasures there.
    I see the Tove Jansson in the background.. Must get to that one day. Her adult writing, can’t call it fiction really, is superb and very affecting.

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  • February 9, 2017 at 8:40 am
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    Yes, I’d have bought that, too. I have bought three books so far this year, but acquired far more …

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