Which books did I buy in April?

Yes, I bought books in April. I bought eight books. But I read 11! So I’m continuing my reading-more-than-I’m-buying streak – spoilers, this will not be the case in June, as I’m going to Hay on Wye. But so far so good in May.

Here are the books I bought, and where and why etc.

Honeybubble & Co by A.P. Herbert
This is the first of three books I bought at a donkey sanctuary table top sale (classic me). APH was one of those Punch types whom I’ve not read much of, but vaguely know about. Something to add to the pile.

A Legacy by Sybille Bedford
I always think I have all of Bedfords novels, but I didn’t actually have this one before. Now i do!

Rolling in the Drew by Ethel Mannin
Mannin is another of those authors I think I know about, then realise I’ve just seen her name a lot. This looks really funny – a satire of a health retreat, from 1940.

The Bankrupt Bookseller by Will Darling
The original book and its sequel collected in one edition. Fun!

We Think the World of You by J.R. Ackerley
I really hope I like Ackerley, since this is the fourth book I’ve bought by him without having read any. But NYRB Classics… so beautiful.

Out of the Ordinary by Jon Ronson
I do really enjoy Ronson. This will be a nice, undemanding read sometime.

To See Ourselves by E.M. Delafield
My friends know me well enough that they knew to message me when they found this in Hay-on-Wye, and ask if I’d like them to pick it up for me. Er, yes please!

The Vanishing Celebrities by Adrian Alington
I couldn’t resist this murder mystery (I think?) with such an intriguing title. I was going to read straightaway, but A Century of Books means this one might wait a while.

 

18 thoughts on “Which books did I buy in April?

  • May 9, 2018 at 2:57 pm
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    Lovely roses, Simon. Are they from your garden?

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    • May 9, 2018 at 3:41 pm
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      Thanks! Sadly not – I don’t seem to have many flowers yet, but lots of lovely blossom :)

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  • May 9, 2018 at 3:03 pm
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    What a nicely varied little stack of books! I’ve heard mixed things about Ackerley, but as you say – NYRB! Hard to resist! :)

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    • May 9, 2018 at 3:37 pm
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      I may end up giving them all away! I did read a good memoir by his half-sister though.

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  • May 9, 2018 at 3:10 pm
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    I just went looking for and found a copy of The Bankrupt Bookseller at Abebooks and had to buy it. The Goodreads review of the Darling book mentions Arnold Bennett’s How to Live on 24 Hours a Day and I had to get that one too. It’s Bennett and the title is appealing. I need to adopt the buy-fewer-books-than-I-read-in-a-month plan, too.

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    • May 9, 2018 at 3:36 pm
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      I’ve had my eye on that one too – I listened to one of his other advice-about-life books, and it was quite fun.

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  • May 9, 2018 at 3:44 pm
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    I went to Hay on Wye in November and found a huge stash of Delafield they had just received in Addymans bookshop. I bought about 8 or 9 novels but there were lots more. Some v expensive, including one which was signed by EM herself! They wanted £125 for that. But I didn’t see Messalina of the Suburbs which I have been searching for.

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    • May 9, 2018 at 3:51 pm
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      That’s precisely where this one came from! Apparently there were still about 6 or 7 of her novels in April, though I already had the ones there. Which did you buy??

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      • May 9, 2018 at 7:13 pm
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        Straw without Bricks, No-one will know, Tension, Faster faster, The way things are, the book on Victorian authors, and more. I haven’t got going on them yet as I am currently in the midst of a Beverley Nichols marathon. I really enjoy his books in spite of the recycling of material.

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        • May 25, 2018 at 4:01 pm
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          How wonderful!

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  • May 9, 2018 at 4:45 pm
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    Just want you to know you have another reader from the U.S. I look forward to reading your posts and web site each day, especially to discover authors who are new to me even if I don’t get around to reading all of them — although currently I am reading The Boat/LP Hartley due to your recommendation a few weeks ago! Thank you!

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  • May 9, 2018 at 4:58 pm
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    All months are good for book-buying. Great selection. Can’t wait to read your reviews :)

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  • May 9, 2018 at 8:20 pm
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    I have seen the movie version of We Think the World of You. It stars Alan Bates and Gary Oldman.

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  • May 10, 2018 at 2:53 am
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    Jealous and Hay on Wye are two words that go together. Addyman’s is just so lovely. I look forward to hearing about every page you buy there. Well done to read more than you buy. So far I am still on track with TBR books and have not bought anything. It is hard though, very very hard. Don’t know if I can last the full year.

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  • May 12, 2018 at 3:59 pm
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    Nice buys and what good friends! I have whittled the TBR down a bit but still have some book tokens to spend and saw some tempting tomes in Foyles the other day. But I think it’s time to have a trip to Stratford or Hay and fill in some ACOB gaps …

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  • May 18, 2018 at 9:14 am
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    Absolutely adore Ackerley AND Denton Welch.

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    • May 25, 2018 at 3:49 pm
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      Good to have a vote of confidence :)

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