Spending a Waterstone's Voucher

Almost a month ago, it was my birthday.  One of Tom's friend and his partner got me a £20 Waterstone's voucher, which I had been saving up for a time when I felt an irrepressible urge to buy some books.  That time came on Monday, one day in to the last week of the term, when I was feeling exhausted and in need of some cheering up.  Here are my purchases:

Mornings In Jenin by Susan Abulhawa.


This promises to be a multi-generational epic about a Palestinian family after 1948.  Whilst I was at university completing my psychology degree, I took a module in International Politics with an inspirational professor and have been interested in the Israel-Palestine conflict ever since.  Plus, this comes recommended by Michael Palin, which is always a bonus!

Minaret by Leila Aboulela


I've heard good things about Aboulela's writing and have decided to start with Minaret, the story of Najwa, a cleaner in London who was once part of a wealthy family in the Sudan.   I have high hopes for this one, it promises to deal with the immigrant experience, romance and religious awakening.

The House of The Mosque by Kader Abdolah


This novel starts in Iran in 1950 and follows the life of an ordinary family in a country that is on the verge of revolution.  I must admit that my knowledge of the Iranian revolution is based mainly on Persepolis, so I'm hoping that this book will give me another perspective.

The Novel In The Viola by Natasha Solomons

And now for something completely different - the story of a Jewish refugee in 1930s London who becomes a maid and falls in love with the owner of the grand country house she works in.  I've bought this one purely based on the similarity of the plot with Eva Ibbotson's The Secret Countess, which I adored.  I'm hoping this will be a lovely escapist reading experience.
I believe it's published as something else in America, something Tyneford?



Once I finish my backlog of library books, I'm looking forward to cracking the spine on a few of these!  I think my spending choices reflect the fact that I'm itching for travel at the moment.  We've decided not to go away this year so we can save more money in our house deposit-fund, but that doesn't stop me dreaming.  My top two choices would be Marrakech or Istanbul, both destinations I've wanted to go to for years.

What books are your favourites for armchair travelling?

Shopping Spree!

I have been very good recently about using the library and reading from the books I already own, but last week I had a bit of a bad week and my husband convinced me to go book shopping (I didn't need too much persuading!).  Of course, he also ended up with Skyrim for his xbox, so I'd say a good time was had by all.  I managed to get two books I've wanted to read for a while from a charity shop for the bargain price of £1.50 each:

The Peculiar Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender:  I'm not too sure on this one, as I didn't like Perfume and the concept sounds a bit similar but despite this I've wanted to read it since I first saw it.  It's about a girl who can taste the emotions of the person who has made the food she is eating.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain: I've seen this book everywhere recently, and as I have read a Hemingway (even if only one) and an F.Scott Fitzgerald, I feel as if I am allowed to read this fictionalised account of the marriage between Hemingway and Hadley Richardson.  I love the Jazz Age.

I know supermarkets are part of the reason independent bookshops are not doing so well, and I really shouldn't buy from them, but their 2 for £7 deals are too good for me to pass up on. From Sainsburys:

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt:  I've had this on hold from the library for four months already and I am still number 23 on the list.  So I bought the book and cancelled the reservation.  I love the sound of this tale set in the West, with prospectors and outlaws.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles:  Again, I love the Jazz Age.  Set in 1930s New York, this is about two girls who head to the city to have the time of their lives.

The Somnambulist by Essie Fox:  Regular readers will know that I am a sucker for Victorian settings and gothic plots.  This book is about a lady's companion in a grand country house that soon starts to uncover dark secrets.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend:  This is a bit of a modern British classic but I still haven't read it.  I hope it is as funny as it is supposed to be.

And finally, from Waterstone's:

The Turn of the Screw and other stories by Henry James:  This was technically a joint purchase, as the husband wants to read it after he finishes with Game of Thrones.  I think I will save this spooky story for Halloween.

I also got a new notebook with books all over the cover.  I've almost finished my current journal, so snapped this one up.

Have you done any impulse spending recently?

Christmas Loot!

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?

A Good Trip To The Library

I'm in for a busy time reading over the next few weeks as several items I had on reserve at the library all came in at once.   Today I took home with me (summaries from Goodreads):

A Mountain of Crumbs by Elena Gorokhova


Elena Gorokhova grows up in 1960's Leningrad where she discovers that beauty and passion can be found in unexpected places in Soviet Russia.
A Mountain of Crumbs is the moving story of a young Soviet girl's discovery of the hidden truths of adulthood and her country's profound political deception.

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff


It all began with a letter inquiring about second-hand books, written by Helene Hanff in New York, and posted to a bookshop at 84, Charing Cross Road in London. As Helene's sarcastic and witty letters are responded to by the stodgy and proper Frank Doel of 84, Charing Cross Road, a relationship blossoms into a warm and charming long-distance friendship lasting many years.

The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly


Vibrant, fresh, and intelligent, The Little Women Letters explores the imagined lives of Jo March’s descendants—three sisters who are both thoroughly modern and thoroughly March.

Vlad: The Last Confession by C.C. Humphreys
(as recommended by Coffee and a Book Chick)

Dracula. A name of horror and  depravity.

His tale is told by those who knew him best. The only woman he ever loved...and whom he had to sacrifice. His closest comrade...and traitor. And his priest, betraying the secrets of the confessional to reveal the mind of the man history would forever remember as The Impaler. This is the story of the man behind the legend...as it has never been told before.

An eclectic mix of books - I can't wait to get started!  Have you read any of them? If so, what did you think?