What are summer holidays without a trip to the library or two? I've been trying to buy less books recently as my bookshelves are officially full and I need to operate a one-in one-out policy, which is hard for me as I'm a total book hoarder. So when the urge to acquire books strikes, I visit the library instead.
My library actually has a very good classics section. On the whole I like to own the classics I read as I like to highlight as I go, but I couldn't resist these two from the Penguin Victorian Bestsellers series. To be honest, I will probably end up buying all ten of the books in this series as I just love Victorian sensation novels. For now, I have the following two to read (links go to goodreads):
1. The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole - Man sends his wife to a convent in order to marry the intended bride of his recently deceased sons. The story promises to include bleeding statues and skeletal ghouls. It sounds perfect!
2. The String of Pearls by Thomas Preskett Prest - The original Sweeney Todd, including a woman who dresses as a man in order to gain access to Sweeney Todd's premises.
The library also had The Mysteries of Udolpho from the same series, I'm starting to wish I had bought that one home too!
The rest of my picks are from the historical fiction section. It used to be my favourite section (as you can tell from my review archives) but recently I've not been in the mood for it. However, my urge for historical fiction is returning and I had no trouble choosing three to take home:
3. Island Beneath the Sea by Isabelle Allende - I've been meaning to read an Allende for ages and this one about a slave on Saint-Domingue caught my eye. I'm interested in the Haitian Revolution, so I have high hopes for this book.
4. Champollion the Egyptian by Christian Jacq - I used to devour Christian Jacq books as a teenager. I know he isn't the best writer but I love Champollion (the man who first deciphered hieroglyphs) and so couldn't resist this book.
5. The Death of King Arthur by Peter Ackroyd - This is a modern retelling of Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. I know bits and pieces of Arthurian legend, but not as much as I would like. Ackroyd is also an author I've been meaning to get to for ages now, and I'm looking forward to starting this one.
Good job I am on holiday, and will have plenty of time to read!
The blog should be busy this week as I've got a bit of a back-log of reviews to catch up on, Emma for the Austen in August Event and then the first three Percy Jackson books. I'm also part of the way through Northanger Abbey, so I have plenty of reviews to write.
So many good books! I'm gonna have to put myself on a book buying embargo soon, so I'll be librarying more often. lol
ReplyDeleteLibraries are awesome, all I need now is to develop the ability to read many books extremely quickly and then I can read all the books I want to!
DeleteWe have a great library. I'm trying to use it more often since my shelves can't hold anymore either. But new books still keep sneaking into my house somehow.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in what you think of The Death of King Arthur. I've read so many different versions of the Arthurian legend, but not that one.
Those pesky books, they keep sneaking into my house too! :P
DeleteI've never actually read a King Arthur story, I have the Mary Stewart series on my kindle too.
I have tried to read several different copies of Udolpho but the tiny print defeated me and I'd much prefer to read it in tree book form rather than kindle. I should have read it years ago when I first read Northanger Abbey, aged 17. Foiled by procrastination again! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe penguin Victorian Bestsellers version is massive but the print is OK, I might pick it up next time I go. I'm reading Northanger Abbey at the moment for the first time, what a wonderful book!
DeleteI love King Arthur and I love Peter Ackroyd, this book immediately went to the top of my wish list. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteKind regards,
I have high hopes for it now then :)
DeleteAs a librarian I love to read about library trips! Those Victorian best sellers are really eye-catching - I hadn't heard of them before.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be a librarian! I am in charge of the library at the school where I teach, but as a full-time teacher, I just don't have the time to do it justice.
DeleteI have banned myself from the library because I have too many books on my shelf! I hope you enjoy your loot. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Percy Jackson series.
ReplyDeleteI've tried that before, but my bans never last long! I love the Percy Jackson series, I read the first three in a few days and am now forcing myself to take a little break otherwise they will be over too quickly!
DeleteI've just discovered that my local library is closing, which makes me very sad. I got my library card there 40 years ago, aged 4 and it really fostered my love of books. I still use it a lot, and take my son there.
ReplyDeleteOh that is sad, why is it closing?
DeleteThere's nothing like a trip to the library! It's just the best place on earth. That's my opinion anyway :D Nice haul, hope you love them all!
ReplyDeleteLibraries are the best! :)
DeleteWe read Udolpho and The Castle of Otranto in one of my college classes. They are pretty ridiculous, but it's interesting to see what people wanted to read in their novels back then!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great selection! You have an amazing library. Oh look, another Penguin series I obviously have to make my own...
ReplyDeleteI read one of Peter Ackroyd's novels earlier this year (something about Troy if I recall) and I thought it was brilliant. He writes really well and I do love a good re-telling. Happy reading :)
How awesome that your library lets you borrow so many books. Mine? Only two. Luckily I live quite near so I the walk won't kill me. Have fun reading! There is nothing like knowing those books helped and provided enjoyement to other people :)
ReplyDeleteI read and reviewed The Castle of Otranto last year, and I can honestly say I'm so happy I read it. I will say I enjoyed it, more than I liked it. I'm looking forward to your review of it.
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