Recent Acquisitions

Posted on | March 27, 2010 | 20 Comments

When I arrived home from London earlier this week I was greeted to a number of book parcels, which cheered me some after a dreadful train (well, six trains) journey and five-hour delay due to signal failure on the west-coast and and then a smashed car window awaiting us. There are a couple more proof copies and early birthday books that aren’t photographed but the latter will hopefully have others to join it in a few days…

The proof copies that are featured were unexpectedly sent to me by Sceptre and Windmill books, respectively; the first is the much-anticipated new novel by David Mitchell, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, and the other is Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey, which has been receiving some very favourable whispers in the book world.

Victoria from Virago (Abacus is another imprint of Little, Brown) offered to send me a copy of Hearts and Minds by Amanda Craig after reading my response to the Orange longlist; this is one of the shortlisted titles that I am most looking forward to reading and whilst I was in Glasgow Verity text me to inform me that it is “AMAZING”. Now I am conflicted whether to read it before the other Orange title that I am desperate to read: The Still Point by Amy Sackville… which do you suggest I read first?

Virago also sent me a copy of Wilderness Tips by Margaret Atwood after I won it in one of the Twitter competitions they regularly hold. This is a collection of some of Atwood’s short stories and one of the few books of hers that I didn’t own.

I was also the delighted recipient of the Man Booker-winning The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer from Bloomsbury; I have been wanting to read more Gordimer since reading July’s People earlier this month.

Contests to win a signed copy of Solar by Ian McEwan have been hosted by a few bloggers recently and I was the lucky winner from Simon of Stuck-in-a-Book. The premise of the novel doesn’t appeal to me all that much but I have a feeling that it’s going to continue to be discussed this year and I’d like to be privy to the content!

I am not a fan of posts that are simply means to show off books that bloggers have been sent by publishers and I realise that this one is quite abundant with books that I have received directly from publishers… if it’s any consolation, I caved and bought The Still Point and Don’t Tell Alfred by Nancy Mitford (in the cute edition that some of you are and aren’t as fond of as I am) as I was keen to read both.

Have you acquired and/or read any of these?

Comments

20 Responses to “Recent Acquisitions”

stujallen
March 27th, 2010 @ 6:15 pm

i enjoyed solar when i read it ,think your right it will be discussed it is a marmite book ,strangely picked up a copy of conservationist in oxfam today.
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
March 27th, 2010 @ 8:59 pm

I’ve just finished Solar and have very mixed feelings (I think that is a good sign as I have disliked all McEwans I’ve read in the past!)

I have the Jasper Jones and the Mitchell too, but haven’t read them yet.

I think I’m going to have to get hold of Hearts and Minds as I have heard so many wonderful things about it. I’m still undecided about The Still Point – I think I’ll wait to see what you think of it!

Enjoy your new books!
Rachel
March 27th, 2010 @ 9:04 pm

Margaret Atwood and Ian McEwan are love.
Tony
March 27th, 2010 @ 10:11 pm

Pre-ordered Mitchell’s book (only 40-odd days to go!) and will hopefully have completed my reread of his first four books by the time it drops into my letter box!
claire (kiss a cloud)
March 27th, 2010 @ 10:35 pm

Surely jealous of the free Mitchell, but I will preorder as Tony has done. Am eager to read Solar as I love love love the premise.
Jodie
March 28th, 2010 @ 12:07 am

Oh no I just decided I had to have an Orange splurge! You are all terrible influences on me.
Becky from Page Turners
March 28th, 2010 @ 12:47 am

Oh…. I so so so jealous of you right now!! I can’t wait to read Jasper Jones and I will look forward to your review of the Margaret Atwood book, shes my favourite author.
Verity
March 28th, 2010 @ 8:11 am

Ahhh…I wish I had the Still point – really really want to read that!

Hearts and Minds I thought was wonderful, but am scared that you might not enjoy it now!
SavvyVerse&Wit
March 28th, 2010 @ 12:21 pm

Looks like you got some great books…happy reading.
Nicola
March 28th, 2010 @ 10:41 pm

I like Don’t Tell Alfred but not quite as much as Nancy’s two great comic novels The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate. I’ve bought Wigs on the Green, in the new edition. Couldn’t resist.
Bellezza
March 29th, 2010 @ 12:02 am

I am a huge Margaret Atwood fan, yet I have not read Wilderness Tips. Isn’t that silly? The only one of hers I recently acquired is Surfacing, buying it for .50 cents at the library’s used shelf. I’ll look forward to your thoughts on Wilderness Tips! And, the new McEwan. Atonement was incredible, more so than Saturday in my opinion.
Jennifer Dee
March 29th, 2010 @ 9:27 am

I have pre-ordered The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet; I’ve never read David Mitchell but this book sounds really interesting. I have just ordered from my libray the Amanada Craig Hearts and Minds. I am looking forward to both of these books.
Marie
March 29th, 2010 @ 10:52 am

GREAT stack. Can’t wait to get my hands on the McEwan when it comes out this week. As far as my Maupin book- yes, I know it’s later in the series, but it’s what was available on Bookmooch at the time. I just got the first book in the series as well and hope to fill in the gaps soon. I can’t wait to see what you think of SOLAR!
Kirsty (Other Stories)
March 29th, 2010 @ 11:45 am

Nice selection! I have to say that I’m suffering from Solar overkill at the moment. I can’t seem to get away from the blasted book, and it’s put me right off reading it. I think I’ll give it a couple of years. By that time there will be a massive amount of hype about his next one, no doubt, and no one will be talking about Solar.

Margaret Atwood rocks my world. And I REALLY want the David Mitchell book.
Simon (Savidge Reads)
March 29th, 2010 @ 12:29 pm

Oooh I thought I had commented this and I hadn’t, apols. Lovely set of books there. I received Hearts and Minds last week too and its one I am quite excited about reading in the coming weeks. I really want that collection of Atwood so am jealous of that one and the Conservasionist too.
Meg
March 29th, 2010 @ 1:39 pm

I’m thick in the middle of Ian McEwan’s Solar right now — and struggling mightily to get into the story. I’ve enjoyed some of his other works, but this one feels so dense and muddled. I’m hoping I’ll be able to finish it, but the longer time goes on… the more I worry it’ll be stuck in my bookcase forever, unfinished!
Danielle
March 30th, 2010 @ 4:31 pm

After I saw the Orange Longlist I had to get the Amanda Craig book, too. And I love those new Mitford books–the new covers are great!
kimbofo
March 30th, 2010 @ 9:29 pm

I have Solar, which I’m saving — will read it when the hype dies down a little.

I also have Jasper Jones – it’s on the Miles Franklin longlist. I started reading it last week and thought it was seriously overwritten, as if the author was trying too hard, so I have put it aside to read at a later date. Sometimes if I’m not gelling with a book it’s usually a case of me being the problem, not the book — if that makes sense.

Will look forward to your thoughts on The Conservationist. It’s one of those books I’ve wanted to read for years but have always been too scared to tackle. Now I’ve read July’s People I’m more inclined to try more of Gordimer’s work.
Simon T
March 31st, 2010 @ 12:40 am

The David Mitchell has accompanied me to Somerset – I’ve not read anything by him before, a bit daunted by the length, but we’ll see how it goes!
Anothercookiecrumbles
April 2nd, 2010 @ 7:57 pm

I do want to read Solar and the David Mitchell.

The journey sounds absolutely dreadful. Hope you’ve recovered since.