The gentleman who owns the shop is a lovely man and even though I haven't been there for quite awhile he remembered me. Well, I am an incessant talker and hard to forget. Anyway...look what I found! The fabulous reviews this week have had me really intrigued, such as when Thomas wrote about, All Passion Spent, by Vita Sackville-West. Then Book Group of One wrote about my latest author crush, Elizabeth Taylor, and her book, Palladian, which I knew nothing about but was very interested in. The back cover of William by E.H. Young tempted me with this line...'novels of provincial life in which her precise and truthful portrayals of relationships and social conventions are enhanced by a subtle humour.' Yes please!
Wishing David well, I was backing out of the shop when what to my wandering eye should appear but another Elizabeth Taylor! "You horrible man!" I said as he laughed. How could he let me pay for three Viragos and not tell me about another one only an arm's length away? The movie Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont was lovely and I can only imagine the book will be even more so.
And there you have it, this is well and truly my last post of this reading challenge but as for the conversation, long may it continue. Thank you to Carolyn and Rachel for bringing everyone together and thank you to everyone who provided a fun-filled education for me this past week!
[Raises hand] Those books look beautiful. Well done on spotting an extra Taylor! I agree - it's been a marvelous week with so many new authors to look out for - my head's buzzing!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so glad you found those books, they look lovely! And what a perfect name for a bookshop that I would love to visit, Nostalgia Books.
ReplyDeleteYou'll love Mrs Palfrey, and the book is miles better than the film!
ReplyDeleteWonderful finds, Darlene! Mrs. Palfrey and All Passion Spent are both great; I haven't read the other two, but have been meaning to read more EH Young. Let me know when/if you're going to give William a go, and I'll get my copy off the shelf and join you...
ReplyDeleteWell you lucky thing!! You have got some GREAT titles there, though get the tissues out for Mrs Palfrey. So glad you could join us this week and thank you for your lovely posts and enthusiasm!
ReplyDeleteHow lucky! I've read all of them & enjoyed them all. I read William just last year but my copy wasn't a beautiful Virago like yours. All Passion Spent is especially good. Enjoy your lovely pile of books.
ReplyDeleteOoooh I'm soooooo envious! I picked up a green copy of the later edition of William and commented in my psot yesterday that I'd still rather have the earlier edition. And I don't have All passion spent in green either. All wonderful books and I am very envious!
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether you know the website already, but www.fantasticfiction.co.uk is excellent for checking out a writer's complete list, and in order they were published, so if you want to see all of Elizabeth Taylor's works, for example, this site should list them. But what a kind bookshop-owner to mention the 4th green Virago!
ReplyDeleteMargaret P
Oh aren't those covers fantastic - very envious of Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont I am.....well done...I do like going for a drive that ends at a bookshop :)
ReplyDeleteRochester Reader, You should have seen the smile on my face on the drive home! Let's hope we can do it all again next year...cross your fingers!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, The planets certainly aligned in my favour...I'm feeling very lucky and fulfilled this morning. You on the other hand must be all done in!
mary, Oh thank you for that! I just knew it!
StuckInABook, That would be wonderful and you do the same! I'm really looking forward to reading this one so let's not leave it too long!
Rachel, The pleasure was all mine! The kinship was amazing and this event really went a long way to blowing away the bleakness of January. And thanks for the warning about the tissues!
lyn, Doesn't it make you wonder who packed up such lovely books and passed them on? Glad to hear that you enjoyed these titles and yes, I am feeling awfully lucky to have them.
verity, Well I am just going to pop over and read your post! Isn't that just way, I had never even heard of William but it sounds right up my street.
galant, Thank you for passing on that website information, I will definitely have a look! This could lead to trouble but the very best kind.
Luvvie, My husband knows the way to my heart, yes he does! LOVE the photo, is that you as a baby?
Darlene - great, that's the encouragement I need! Let's set a date to start it... well, I could take it up to Edinburgh with me, which would be the weekend 12th Feb?
ReplyDeleteSimon
You're good--I sort of ran out of steam for the last two days and had to catch up on a couple of other books, though I was bad and inspired by so many other Viragos that I was reading about that others were reading, I ordered a few "new" ones myself (I rarely find them locally in used bookstores). So I guess I'll have a little after the fact wrap up post when they come in. I love the cover of All Passion Spent by the way--lovely books!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear what you think of Mrs. Palfrey....I really liked the movie, too. You found some great titles, Darlene!
ReplyDeleteStuckInABook, Perfect! We can compare notes once you're back!
ReplyDeleteDanielle, You were a wonderful contributor and I am so keen to read Thank Heaven, Fasting. Looking forward to the post I hope you'll write about those new books coming your way!
JoAnn, Rachel says that I should have tissues handy for that one! We can't have tears in our tea now can we.
Ohh, like stuck in a book said all passion spent and mrs palfrey are amazing! All passion spent was my first ever vmc, so it's a speacial book for me!
ReplyDeletele, I don't know how I got so lucky to scoop so many great titles at once! Thanks for letting me know how much you liked the two you mentioned!
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