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.
Lovely roses, Simon. Are they from your garden?
Thanks! Sadly not – I don’t seem to have many flowers yet, but lots of lovely blossom :)
What a nicely varied little stack of books! I’ve heard mixed things about Ackerley, but as you say – NYRB! Hard to resist! :)
I may end up giving them all away! I did read a good memoir by his half-sister though.
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.
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.
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.
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??
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.
How wonderful!
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!
All months are good for book-buying. Great selection. Can’t wait to read your reviews :)
I have seen the movie version of We Think the World of You. It stars Alan Bates and Gary Oldman.
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.
What an interesting and varied month!! ;)
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 …
Absolutely adore Ackerley AND Denton Welch.
Good to have a vote of confidence :)