I'm having a relaxing day today after a busy Christmas. I have had a lovely few days and thoroughly enjoyed my first Christmas as a married person, as well as the first Christmas in our house (last year we were in a tiny, poky flat so it's a definite upgrade). The majority of my presents were not books as the fact that I own a lot of books is well known and generally puts people off buying any more for me. However, I did receive some books that I'm very happy with ....
The Night Circus was a gift from my parents. I bought the same book for my sister as a gift and when it came in the post I read the first chapter. That was enough to get me hooked and I added it to my own Christmas list straight away. My parents always get me a beautiful hardback book for Christmas - last year it was The Passage and the year before, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.
The Marriage Plot was a gift from my husband, and he had specific instructions about which book I wanted! I've been desperate to read this ever since I started seeing reviews pop up on other people's blogs. I am a big fan of both The Virgin Suicides and Middlesex, so fingers crossed I will enjoy this one too.
My final bookish gift was a wonderful surprise present from my in-laws - a hardback collection of the Penguin classic editions of Arabian Nights! I read the Burton translation of Arabian Nights earlier in the year and loved it so much that at the time I did mention to a few people that I would like a beautiful copy to keep on my shelf. These are going to look great on my bookcase next to my other hardback Penguin Classic editions. I can feel the urge to collect coming on....
Each of the three books has a different cover. The paper inside is just beautiful too.
My favourite.
So I have lots of reading to keep me busy over the next few months! I want to dive straight into my new books but I do have some review deadlines coming up as well as some books on hold at the library that I need to finish before the return date. I will have to practise restraint...
All in all, a great Christmas. Did you receive any books as gifts?
Yay for The Night Circus! And wow that volume of Arabian Night is awesome. I haven't read the whole thing, but loved what I've read (translated by Burton too). I need to read the whole thing at some point.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful gifts! I'm planning to read The Night Circus but I'm so scared to read it right now! I think I might wait more towards the middle of next year to read it since I'm so worried about the hype affecting my perspective of it! But I so want to read it right now!
ReplyDeleteAnd what a lovely and thoughtful gift from your in-laws!
Those hardbacks are BEAUTIFUL! Happy Holidays! :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful gifts! Especially the Arabian Nights collection...Wow!! I love special collections like those, especially when they're books that mean a lot to me :)
ReplyDeleteAmanda, when I read the whole thing in one go it did become a bit repetitive as lots of the stories have the same elements. I think I am going to dip in and out of this collection over the year.
ReplyDeleteNatalie, the hype puts me off a bit too, but the first chapter was honestly very good. So hopefully we won't be disappointed ...
Jillian, Happy Holidays to you too!
Peppermint PhD, you're right, it's even better to get beautiful editions of books that are important to you.
Beautiful!!!! I loved loved loved The Night Circus (hype monster is me), so I hope you have good luck with it as well. I haven't taken the plunge into The Marriage Plot just yet, but I'm certain I will. And I've never read The Arabian Nights! Plenty of takeoffs in other forms, but not the actual text. These are all lovely editions, and I'm sure you'll cherish them!!!
ReplyDeleteWow.. those are some great grabs! I especially love the hardback Arabian Nights collection. I keep seeing that so maybe I should pick it up myself.Looking forward to your reviews!
ReplyDeleteThose books are so beautiful! I showed my husband right away. I am also infrequently given books although I have a clearly updated Amazon wish list and spend all gift monies in books... So this year I just got two that weren't cookbooks - A Handfulof Dust by Evelyn Waugh (with a cool cover) and Catheynne Valente's earliest poetry - Apocrypha,
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you haven't already read The Night Circus but I expect you to like it. It is probably best read in winter anyway, for the right atmosphere. :).
Beautiful books :) I didn't get any books for Christmas at all :( gave several though! Have started considering a trip to London this summer though, am in desperate need of a trip to Waterstones :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely edition of Arabian Nights! The Penguin cloth bounds are the best.
ReplyDeleteI read both The Night Circus and The Marriage Plot and enjoyed them very much! You've got some good reading ahead of you :)
Gorgeous! What a treat. I have (but haven't yet read) The Night Circus, but must say that the UK cover is much more attractive. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on The Marriage Plot.
ReplyDeleteA lovely select selection! I am coveting The Night Circus, at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI got a few books and will post about them soon. Just got to get in the momentum of doing it!
I got the exact first two books like you. And The Secret History by Donna Tartt. What a coincidence!
ReplyDeleteVery nice gifts. I really enjoyed The Night Circus. I hope you do too.
ReplyDeleteA great selection - Night Circus does seem very popular so I would love to know what you think!
ReplyDeleteCheck out your fiiiine British editions. I do think I like the UK Night Circus cover more than the US one, but they're both so pretty.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful books - enjoy!
ReplyDeleteReading Rambo, The Night Circus is a beautiful book - the edges of the pages are black too.
ReplyDeleteSabrina, great minds think alike!
Iben, Waterstone's 3 for 2s are the best. At the moment I get most of my books through abebooks.co.uk, it's much cheaper.
Jenny, I haven't read any Evelyn Waugh and wouldn't know where to start if I did!
Andi, you should read The Arabian Nights. The Richard Burton translation was wonderful, I hope this newer one is just as good.
I hope you enjoy The Night Circus as much as I did! Oh my, those Arabian Nights hardcovers look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThe only books I received were the two volume set of Codename: Sailor V manga. But I got a lot of money and a $20 voucher from Amazon, so I guess some of that could go toward books!
Enjoy your gifts! I'm surprised that no-one gave me a book voucher this Christmas, but everyone took note of other items on my wishlist which was just as thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to go out and browse some book stores in the new year and treat myself.
Ooooh, I LOVE the British cover of The Night Circus. So much so, in fact, that I ordered a copy from Foyles to be shipped to the US! I really hope you enjoy it but I will say no more so as not to add to the hype that's ruined it for some people. I'm hoping to pick up The Marriage Plot soon too - I'll look for your review when it comes!
ReplyDeleteLovely gifts! The Arabian Nights set is a definite keeper. I love collections that look so beautiful on the shelf, you almost forget that you can read what's inside it, too :D
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