Tuesday 17 November 2015

Birthday Book Loot

It was my birthday back in September and I meant to share details of my bookish loot with you at the time, but I didn't find time to get to it until now. I thought I'd post a few pictures so you can appreciate what delights I have before me, though goodness knows when I'll have time to read them all!


My collection of Georgette Heyer books
I have mentioned it previously, in a post of my top reads, but just in case you didn't know, I am a big admirer of Georgette Heyer's work. I have quite a few of her books....


Various Georgette Heyer booksOk, so maybe I actually mean a lot of her books, but you get the picture. I thought it was a shame that I had so many but not quite the full set so I treated myself to some of the few of her books that I don't have. There are still a few I need to get. I would have preferred the old Pan covers but I am happy just to have the books. Most of the ones I have by her are Regency or Georgian romances and the new books I got are set in older periods, so we'll see how I get on with different eras. I worry a little that I might find them a bit history-heavy and less fun, but hopefully not.

I have a couple of books containing Agatha Christie's 'Miss Marple' stories and this book contains an additional four, including my favourite, 'Sleeping Murder', which has the intriguing beginning of a woman moving to a house and being strangely familiar with it... When I was a child my mum used to watch the adaptations of Miss Marple starring Joan Hickson. Hickson was utterly fantastic in the role of the sweet old lady with such huge insight, and she also reminded me of my great-grandmother, which gives me extra reason to be fond of her portrayal. I always imagine her when I read the stories. As an aside, isn't this cover dreary! Very disappointing.

You may wonder, did I get no Austenesque loot at all?! Well, don't worry, because I had a few things. Firstly, I got the blu ray of 'Clueless' starring Alicia Silverstone, which I had just in time to join in the watch along that Meredith over at Austenesque Reviews hosted, to celebrate both 20 years of 'Clueless' and 200 years of 'Emma'. I hadn't seen it in a long time. I felt it was as good as I thought it was, but I had forgotten how 90s it was! It was like a trip in a time machine!

Book covers: The Summer at Lyme by Laurence Fleming and Second Impressions by Ava Farmer
I also got some Austenesque reads that are only available in physical book, 'Second Impressions' by Ava Farmer, which is a sequel to 'Pride & Prejudice'. Reviews for this book seem quite mixed, so it'll be interesting to see what camp I come into. The book on the left, 'The Summer at Lyme' by Laurence Fleming is part of a trio of P&P sequels. I believe each follows after the other, rather than them being different sequels.

Pride and Prejudice Peacock Edition, written by Jane Austen, illustrated by Hugh Thomson
Behold!
I have saved the best till last. Feast your eyes on this 'Peacock' Pride and Prejudice! It's a tiny bit damaged on the spine but it really is gorgeous. The illustrations are wonderful. You can buy a new reprint of this book and I am sorely tempted to, so I can read it with a bit less care and a bit more abandon! I need to find somewhere to display it :)

Have you read any of the books that I bought? Or have you been lucky enough to get any nice books lately? I'd love to hear what bookish loot you have to look forward to.

8 comments:

  1. Ooh! That is some excellent book loot! I love the Peacock edition of Pride and Prejudice, it would definitely be one I'd like to own someday! ;) So glad you treated yourself to the Clueless DVD and joined in the group-watch my friend!

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    1. Yes, ever since I first saw the Peacock edition of Pride & Prejudice I wanted one. I'd been keeping an eye out and this one was a very reasonable price, so it would have been wrong not to get it. I've never spent that much on a book before though! I really enjoyed the Clueless watch-along, thanks for hosting it, Meredith!

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  2. Delicious! I love Georgette Heyer and spent several years collecting all of her books with the exception of the mysteries. I loved the Spanish Bride and Simon the Coldheart.

    How fun that you got Clueless.

    And I hadn't heard of those Austenesque books. Hope they're good!

    The Peacock Edition is so lovely. What a treasure! Someplace cool, dry, and out of direct sun for sure. Do they make book size shadowboxes? That would be a good way to display it or a table easel stand.

    LOL! Great birthday loot!

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    1. I still have a few Heyers to get. Hopefully I'll get a chance to read these soon. I saw on Goodreads that the Heyer group is thinking of scheduling a group read of The Conqueror for October 2016 to coincide with the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, so maybe I'll save that one for then. I'm glad you say that you enjoyed some of the ones I bought, because I will be stepping out of my comfort Regency/Georgian zone!

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  3. Oh look at all those lovely Heyer books! :)

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    1. There is something really satisfying about having a whole bookshelf full of just one author. And the shelves these are on are short, so it's two bookshelves :)

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  4. Wow, I'm impressed. I don't have room in my house for any more books. In fact, I have been contemplating as to whom I should gift all my books to in the next few years. I do have most of my newer ones on kindle, even tho' I love to hold and read paperbacks. The Peacock edition is beautiful.

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    1. I don't have room for paperbacks either, but it's difficult because some books are only available in hard copy. If I read a book and I know I won't read it again I try and make myself set it free to find a new home that will love it more, but if there's even the slightest chance I will re-read it I am always inclined to keep it! I rearranged my bedroom to allow for more book space too :)

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