Recent Acquisitions

Posted on | April 12, 2010 | 30 Comments

I promised that I would share my birthday loot and here it is. First of all, a big thank you to Verity and Simon T who both sent me lovely birthday surprises in the mail; from Verity there was a copy of Carbonel by Barbara Sleigh, a children’s novel about the eponymous Royal cat (when I read the book I really must post a photograph of the cover as it is stunning) and from Simon, The Haunted Woman by David Lindsay, a mystery that he enjoyed a lot. I trust both Verity and Simon’s judgement implicitly so I look forward to curling up with both of these books.

Does anyone else treat themselves to a little birthday something? It’s not a tradition of mine but this year I could not resist the Penguin Decades edition of The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman by Angela Carter, especially as it was released the day after my birthday and on the first day of the Angela Carter month I am hosting. This is one of only two Carter novels that I haven’t yet read hence the treat; you can expect my thoughts at some point this month.

I was the delighted recipient of an Amazon giftcard from my lovely in-laws and deliberated over the remaining books that you see above. I ordered books from my wish-list, ones that had been tempting me for some time.

Caramelo by Susan Cisneros has been on my radar for a few years but it was this review by Eva that more than convinced me that I had to read it. I’m a huge family of epic family sagas and this sounds like my type of book.

I was a big fan of Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri last year and I’ve been wanting to follow that experience up by reading her novel, The Namesake and then her newest collection of short stories, Unaccustomed Earth, which I already have on my bookshelves.

I’ve already picked up a copy of Don’t Tell Alfred by Nancy Mitford in the new Penguin designs and added a copy of Wigs on the Green to my collection. I will, however, be discovering Nancy by reading her more famous and popular works first.

I am currently reading Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola for The Classics Circuit and have been desiring The Ladies’ Paradise (Au Bonheur des Dames) for some time. A novel about a department store? Of course that would be one I’d need to read (I worship at the alter of shopping).

I have documented my discovery of Shirley Jackson via blogging, the best author discovery to date. Since reading “The Lottery” and Penguin’s reissue of Jackson’s work, I have been coveting her collection of short stories and I am delighted that I now have a copy in my possession.

Speaking of Shirley Jackson, I read somewhere that The Well by Elizabeth Jolley was similar to Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I read a Jolley short story in a collection last year and sought out her novel-length work; The Well won the Miles Franklin Award in 1986 and sounds intriguing.

Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred has been on my wishlist for a few years and when Kimbofo opted for Fledgling as one of her choices for the Not the TV Book Group, I decided to start with that instead. I have since read some very compelling reviews by Eva and both Teresa and Jenny from Shelf Love, and I am very excited to read it (vampires? there just aren’t enough of them in literature and popular culture, if you ask me /tongue in cheek).

Lastly, I opted for Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery, which is the first in a trilogy. Even though I devoured the Anne of Green Gables/Avonlea/The Island etc. series as a child, I have never read any more of Montgomery’s work and it is about time that I rectify that.

Have you read any of these or looking forward to finding out more once I do?

I also have some other recent acquisitions of the review copy variety but I will share those separately at a later date.

Comments

30 Responses to “Recent Acquisitions”

Verity
April 12th, 2010 @ 9:03 am

Wow – aren’t you lucky to have such a nice pile of books! I am sure the Shirley Jackson will be wonderful. I really hope you like Carbonel. I’ll be interested to hear about Wigs on the Green as I have not read that.
Rachel
April 12th, 2010 @ 9:40 am

Lovely selection! And how nice of Verity and Simon!

You will love The Namesake – I read it a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I am jealous of Wigs on the Green – I am so hoping to get the new Mitfords for my own birthday next month!
Sasha
April 12th, 2010 @ 9:42 am

Those are so pretty. So so pretty. Everyone is entitled to birthday loot! :]

I’ve had Caramelo on my shelves for about three years now. (Almost to the day, actually.) I’ve read Eva’s post too, and Cisneros is slowly making her way on top of my TBR Land Mass.
Iris
April 12th, 2010 @ 11:12 am

What a lovely pile of books. I love birthdays mostly for the amount of books I get. Um, that sounds bad, doesn’t it?

Caramelo sounds like a great book, I’ve instantly added it to my own TBR-pile.
JoAnn
April 12th, 2010 @ 11:44 am

What a wonderful stack of books. The only one I’ve read is The Namesake. Even though I enjoyed it, I feel like the short story is where Lahiri shines the brightest. The Ladies’ Paradise is my current read (another 150 pages or so to go) – a fascinating look at the rise of the department store in Paris. Enjoy!
Becky from Page Turners
April 12th, 2010 @ 12:38 pm

Wow, what a great lot of books! I hope that you enjoy them all and that you had a great birthday
Claire (The Captive Reader)
April 12th, 2010 @ 12:45 pm

A lovely pile! I loved the Emily of New Moon books as a child but it’s been years since I reread any of them.
vivienne
April 12th, 2010 @ 12:53 pm

Wow – what fabulous books. I am desperate to read Shirley Jackson and I did get one of her books for Christmas. I am after Fledgling too.

I am working my way through The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter at the moment and it is so not what I expected. It is very unusual but I can’t wait to find out what happens in the end.
Nadia
April 12th, 2010 @ 1:07 pm

Wow! I love your pile of books – they look so wonderful!! I’ve read two of them – Caramelo and The Namesake. Cisneros is just brilliant. I have loved all of her work and just find it all to be so engaging and refreshing. As for Lahiri – her debut book of short stories are what turned me on to short stories. The Namesake is another exampler of wonderful writing. Hope you enjoy all of your latest acquisitions!!
Amanda
April 12th, 2010 @ 1:08 pm

What a wonderful collection of books! I’m glad to hear you are becoming a Zola fan too!
Michelle N
April 12th, 2010 @ 1:28 pm

Oh oh oh! I wanted to like Caramelo SO BADLY, but I felt alienated with her use of Spanish and my lack of it. The Namesake is awesome — I couldn’t put it down, really — I’d say it’s 4 stars out of 5 for Lahiri (I have high standards for her), but 5 out of 5 for any other writer.
Michelle N
April 12th, 2010 @ 1:33 pm

p.s. I think it’s so amazing that you discovered Shirley Jackson on your own — in the US, I think that “The Lottery” is a staple of high school (or middle school? I’m so old I can’t remember when I read it!) English classes.
LizF
April 12th, 2010 @ 2:25 pm

I first read Carbonel in primary school in the late 1960′s and adored it and my two daughters (now aged 24 and 16)have loved it in their turn.
As a result my ancient Puffin copy is about to fall apart so has been put in honourable retirement so I will have to buy another so the next generation (grand daughter Amelia almost 2) can enjoy it in her turn!
Currently working my way through Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery and have the Zola next in line as I have heard wonderful things about it. I have had Caramelo on my shelves for about four years so might actually read it after reading that review,
Steph
April 12th, 2010 @ 3:06 pm

Yay for birthday books! If you don’t get books on your birthday, that would be a sad thing indeed!

I haven’t read any of the books that you acquired, but they all sound wonderful, so I’ll be interested in hearing your thoughts on them when you get to them!
claire (kiss a cloud)
April 12th, 2010 @ 3:44 pm

Great birthday loot! How sweet of Verity and Simon T.

I LOVED Caramelo, but then I super adore Sandra Cisneros so hope it wasn’t just bias on my part. Also loved The Namesake but haven’t read Lahiri’s shorts yet, will do soon!

(I preordered the Red Penguin Therese Raquin so waiting to hear your thoughts on it.)

Enjoy your new books!!
Amy
April 12th, 2010 @ 4:24 pm

Caramelo is fantastic. A friend gave it to me for my birthday a couple of years ago (and yes, I often pick up a little treat for my own birthday too!), and I just loved it. It’s on that very short shelf of books I’ll re-read eventually.
Jenny
April 12th, 2010 @ 5:00 pm

Awww, you got Emily of New Moon! How good! I mean all your books look exciting and shiny, but I am fondest of Emily of New Moon. I hope you enjoy it!
Simon T
April 12th, 2010 @ 9:43 pm

I haven’t heard of The Well, but if it’s anything like the Shirley Jackson, then I’ll be very intrigued! I’ll wait to see what you have to say about it…

And you’re welcome for The Haunted Woman
Rebecca Reid
April 12th, 2010 @ 10:03 pm

Aw, what a great stack of books! So many that I”d like to read in that pile.

I have not yet found time to read Angela Carter, but I am enjoying the introduction this month and must give her a try sooner rather than later!
Simon (Savidge Reads)
April 12th, 2010 @ 10:11 pm

Wigs on the Green I am naturally very excited about, the Angela Carter looks a delight I am reading one (maybe two) of hers this month at some point in honour of your theme. Fledgling I will be reading soon strangely enough, and if The Well has the cover I think it does I want it just for that alone. Lovely loot.
Teresa
April 12th, 2010 @ 10:45 pm

That is a beautiful array of books! And I do hope you enjoy Fledgling. I thought it was fascinating, and if you like it, Kindred (which is about time travel) is also quite good.
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
April 13th, 2010 @ 9:12 am

I haven’t read any of your new books, but look forward to hearing all about them. I have a copy of the Namesake – I really should read some Lahiri sometime soon!
Jessica
April 13th, 2010 @ 10:46 am

oh I love Shirley Jackson, I have read house on haunted hill and we have always lived in the castle and I also own the lottery but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. Lovely pile of books.
Buried In Print
April 13th, 2010 @ 3:56 pm

I’ve read the Emily series, Butler’s Fledgling, and the Shirley Jackson stories (and other titles by Jolley and Cisneros). Several of the others are on my TBR list as well and I’m just re-reading another old L.M. Montgomery favourite now (The Blue Castle). Books and birthdays are a perfect combo!
Andreea
April 13th, 2010 @ 4:45 pm

Sounds great. I am off to check them out. Happy reading!
Eva
April 13th, 2010 @ 5:14 pm

Squee for Caramelo! I really enjoyed Fledgling too. And The Namesake! And Shirley Jackson!
Mark David
April 14th, 2010 @ 4:18 am

The Lottery is such a powerful, well-crafted story! Looking forward to hearing what you think about the other stories in the collection.
Mystica
April 14th, 2010 @ 7:06 am

I’ve read all Jhumpa Lahiri’s books. You are not going to be disappointed there. The others are all new to me and I will await your reviews.
really looking forward to what you are going to say.
Mae
April 14th, 2010 @ 7:44 am

What a great looking stack of books! You didn’t do too badly at all. I read ‘The Namesake’ a few years ago after randomly picking it up from the market and I LOVED it. I also discovered Gogol through it. I think you’ll really love The Well. I read it earlier this year and it is a bit like Shirley Jackson now that you mention it. Jackson is indeed a great find through the blogosphere. I’m going to try and get more of her writing too. I want The Ladies Paradise!
Recent Acquisitions | Paperback Reader
April 19th, 2010 @ 2:57 pm

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