Predictably, I have been buying books again – although there are extenuating circumstances (ok there aren’t). Part of my problem is my absolute obsession with my A Century of Books. Originally, I had said I would be doing it over two years, but I now would rather like to finish it in a year. It will be tight – but I might be able to do it!
I have hit a major milestone – halfway and it isn’t even the end of June yet. 50 books down and 50 to go. You can see everything I have read so far here. I have actually read 60 books so far in 2018, so there have been some duplicates, and I know I will be reading more duplicate years.
So, having examined my tbr spreadsheet – invaluable when doing ACOB – I realised I had quite a few gaps. It’s funny how out of more than 260 books one can have six titles for 1950 but absolutely none for 2010. So, I valiantly went online book shopping and filled in all the gaps I had. Some books were bought second hand – others I bought for my kindle – I often buy more modern titles and certain non-fiction on kindle as they are often the books I am less likely to keep.
I bought:
The Seventh Cross by Anna Seghers – 1942 – originally published during the war this novel has recently been re-issued by Virago – and I am hearing great things about it.
Excellent Intentions – Richard Hull – 1938 a BLCC title that I have already seen very good reports about, and a new author to me.
Basil Street Blues – Michael Holroyd – 1999 A biography of a biographer – described on the back as being part detective story, part family saga, and a voyage of self-discovery.
The Queen of the Tambourine – Jane Gardam – 1991 I really haven’t read enough Gardam, and this sounds deeply charming.
The Complete stories of Muriel Spark – not for ACOB but needed for#ReadingMuriel2018 – and I’ve ordered some essays which haven’t yet arrived.
And for my kindle:
The Welsh Girl – Peter Ho Davies 2007 – A novel I have seen some great reports of, had had meant to read back when it first came out.
The Human Factor – Graham Greene 1978 I have meant to read more Greene for ages.
Educating Alice – Alice Steinbach 2004 – a book about learning and travelling, chronicling the author’s European journey of self-discovery.
How the Girl Guides won the War – Jane Hampton 2010 – is pretty much about what it says on the tin (cover) and it sounds fascinating.
If that mighty haul wasn’t enough – I succumbed to the book people’s offer on a set of A A Milne books. I have been meaning to read his adult books for years, and this was the perfect opportunity. At the weekend I gobbled up the first of them, Four Days’ Wonder – such joyful, bright, breezy fun.
So yes, I have gone a bit mad. I am going to try and not buy any more books till the end of the summer, otherwise I will be finishing the year on the same number of books as I started with, which really wasn’t the idea.
heavenali 
Hoped you would go to Astley bookbarn again.Heeheee.
Oh I daren’t go there.
Oh thank you, you do make me feel better about myself and my own habits. Enjoy your lovely books – don’t feel guilty!
I will try not to feel guilty, my guilt never lasts long anyway.
Nice buys! I keep hearing about The Welsh Girl and wondering, so hope you’ll read that soon. Is that all the years covered now? I’ve been doing ACOB since 2014, kind of “naturally” as they come, although I got two early ones on purpose and a friend bought me 4 years I didn’t have for a birthday. But all I read is books from 1933, 1934 and 2010. Very odd.
Yes all years covered though a few years where I have virtually no choice which I don’t like. But I should be OK now.
I’ve always found that good books tend to congregate in particular years and leave others empty, so you’ve done well.
I think my reading tastes mean I have lots of books for certain years and none for others but I am really enjoying A Century of Books.
Those are some lovely purchases, Ali – well done! I am very tempted by the Seghers myself. You’re doing so well with ACOB that I think all of your new books are quite justified! And I can understand not being able to resist the Milne books – I didn’t either! 🙂
Very much looking forward to the Seghers. The Milne books were just too tempting.
How the Girl Guides Won the War sounds very interesting. I am fascinated by that kind of history. I am telling myself I don’t need to buy it right now but I think we both know how this is going to end. Those Milne books are gorgeous.
The Milne books are gorgeous, I am looking forward to reading about How the Girl Guides won the war – it is the sort of non fiction book I like.
You may have 2,000 books by the end of the year.
Oh goodness I hope not.
So happy to see the Milnes, as I’ve said! And I read Excellent Intentions recently and enjoyed it 🙂
Ooh glad you enjoyed Excellent Intentions too.
I think we can all empathize with your situation, Ali! I always tell myself that I could be buying a lot worse (or more expensive) items than books. 🙂
Someone once said to me that books aren’t as expensive as shoes. They may have been think one book not many – but I frequently tell myself they aren’t shoes.
Oh, I’ll be keen to see your reviews for the AA Milnes. I only recently became aware he’d written adult books, and loved his one venture into crime fiction in The Red House Mystery. And I hope you enjoy the Richard Hull – I have that one coming up soon too.
I have heard mixed reports of The Red House mystery but am keen to try it myself.
Lovely haul Ali! I bought the Spark for a colleague who’s a big fan (it was a major challenge to my book buying ban to go into a bookshop and not get anything for myself – I did leave rather hurriedly!) and she assures me it’s great 🙂
Book buying bans are agony but I too will have to grit my teeth. Well done on your restraint.
Oh, I love TBR posts and going mad posts! I never do challenges, so A Century of Books would be beyond me, but I love your zealousness, particularly since it means buying books, which I do so often myself. I do love The Queen of Tamborines, the first Gardam I ever read, and certainly like the sound of the Virago and the look of those Milnes. I’ll look forward to your posts on them.
I am surprised how much I have enjoyed this challenge. I hope I can maintain my enthusiasm. Looking forward to the Gardam.
Some really nice choices! I’ve enjoyed the Steinbach, Mr Pim Passes (a delight!), and Two People. I read a different Hull title this month, The Murder of My Aunt, and thought it was well done, particularly in the characterizations which are important to me. The Hampton, Gardam, and Spark titles are particularly appealing.
Glad to hear you enjoyed several of my new titles that is encouraging. We seem to enjoy many of the same kinds of books.
[…] it. I am also just about to start reading The Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam one of those gap fillers I bought for ACOB. I will probably be dipping into the Collected Stories of Muriel Spark too – […]
I’m awestruck (is that a word?) by your confidence that you’ll finish ACOB in just one year! Even two years would be a stretch for me given my snail like pace of reading at the moment.
I just finished The Welsh Girl – really enjoyed this and its way superior to Owen Sheers book Resistance.
Educating Alice by Alice Steinbach sounds like one I should buy. I read her earlier book Without Reservations and fell in love with it.
Ha ha, pretty sure awestruck is a word, I wouldn’t say confident, but I am hopeful and it’s possible if I keep on track. (That’s a big if).