The past four days have gone by all too fast. I had a birthday, ate with chopsticks...well mostly, enjoyed a Fall Fair, had friends over for dinner and drove through some really gorgeous vistas in full fall colour to visit The Heiress at school. I've barely had time to pour over some recent acquisitions! Finally, They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple has been reprinted and one can never have too much Whipple. In my quest to read more Elizabeth Taylor I pre-ordered A Game of Hide and Seek almost two months ago and look forward to comparing this one with, In a Summer Season. The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith is a book that I read about on Simon's blog awhile ago and has 'stuck' with me ever since. I was walking around Indigo in Toronto a couple of weeks ago, looked up and there it was in all it's witty English, historical social culture glory. I'm not shy about admitting that I smile and scrunch my shoulders in glee when browsing through its pages.
Most of Kitchener was shut yesterday due to the Thanksgiving holiday. But after a lovely visit with The Heiress, R spied a bookshop that was open - hooray! The Barbara Pym is one that we don't have at the library so I couldn't say no. Elizabeth Bowen's The Death of the Heart was in pretty good shape and rather inexpensive, again, I couldn't resist. Short stories are something I've come to appreciate more and more lately and short stories by Muriel Spark should definitely grace my shelves. The Diary of Virginia Woolf, Volume 2 was in...well, not very good shape. The pages are yellow, they even smell a bit stale but I couldn't leave it behind. R may have wished that I had as I was glued to it for the hour's drive back home!
And this is an absolutely gratuitous photo of the beautiful flowers that my lovely husband gave me on Friday. All together now....'Awwww'.
What a lovely weekend! I am so glad you enjoyed your birthday. Flowers, foliage, beautiful new books and a visit to your daughter sound like perfect ways to celebrate. :)
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic hauls. So many great authors included.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful flowers!
ReplyDeleteDiary of a nobody is one of my very favourite books, it never fails to entertain and make me laugh out loud. I remember reading it at college and wondering if the girl next door could hear me laughing so loudly!
Lovely flowers!
ReplyDeleteAnd coincidentally, one of the books you mention will have a starring role on Cornflower Books tomorrow .... (that's if it arrives today!).
Sounds like a wonderful birthday (and holiday) weekend. And such gorgeous flowers. Awww! K x
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful flowers!! I'm looking forward to reading another Dorothy Whipple soon, and now so is my mother. She loved Someone at a Distance, too. They Were Sisters is tempting...
ReplyDeleteRachel, And there was chocolate too!
ReplyDeleteThomas, I'm really happy with my shelves at home now, it's a terrific stash to keep me through winter.
verity, That's an irresistible recommendation! I'll definitely be reading this one sooner rather than later.
Cornflower, I'm curious now, here's hoping your package arrives on time...fingers crossed! I'll check in tomorrow.
Kristina, Sometimes you need a holiday after the holiday! Wouldn't it be lovely to have such a bouquet on your hall table all the time? D x
JoAnn, I'm so glad your Mum loved the book! I'm sure she didn't think much of Louise either. There are postal strikes taking place in London (not sure how other areas are being affected) so it's backing up the mail. I'm hoping the latest Persephone issues aren't held up too much.
Those flowers are gorgeous! I love They Were Sisters but then I would say that as I love all things Whipple!
ReplyDeleteI did saw 'awww':) So beautiful. And I am very jealous of your Whipple and Grossmith...two books I am very much looking forward to reading in 2010. Happy belated Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteBloomsbury Bell, I'm really looking forward to High Wages, safe to say that you are too?
ReplyDeleteBook Psmith, I just finished Silas Marner this afternoon and could use a laugh so Diary of a Nobody is up next. I'll keep you posted!
A Glass of Blessings, like all 'Pym's' is superb, you will love it. There is a real twist in the tail with this story too. I adore her writing.
ReplyDeleteMerenia, I've read that it's quite a good one, intrigued by the twist now! Makes me want to get a mug of hot tea or chocolate and get down to it but some others are going to come first.
ReplyDeleteLovely piles of books. Glad you had such a nice long weekend--it sounds perfect. I've got the same Elizabeth Taylor and look forward to getting back to her work as well. And I must read Dorothy Whipple....so many books....Beautiful flowers by the way! Enjoy all your goodies.
ReplyDeleteDarn! I bought the hardback Virago edition of A Game of Hide and Seek. Didn't realise it was being re-issued in paperback to match the rest of my set. Hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteVolume 2 is the only one I don't have!
ReplyDeleteDanielle, I know, I know...it's a readers lament!
ReplyDeleteVintage Reading, Oh dear. It was a terrific price too at only $5.99 for the pre-order. If you bought the lovely cloth anniversary edition I'd say that you're still a winner...it's gorgeous!
StuckInABook, Doesn't that figure! If you never come across it and would desperately love to have it then let me know. I know how much you love VW and would send it along but I'll warn you, it's not pretty.