It can only be said that I did very, very well this Christmas. Not all the books in the picture were presents, but quite a few were purchased with money/vouchers I was given and the end result makes me more than a little happy!
See that red box to the right of the photo above? That box contains 20 books. As such, it is entirely the fault of Charlotte from the Lit Addicted Brit that my TBR shot up by 19 books! Seriously, just look at my LibraryThing TBR. Honestly.It's the Penguin Greatest Loves set and I love it more than anything. It has novellas by people like Freud, Nabokov and Chekhov, each with a beautiful cover. As much as I'm bitching (which I quite obviously don't mean a word of), I really can't thank Charlotte enough for sending me it.
Then there's Ellie from Musings of a Bookshop Girl, who went to the massive effort of physically buying a book, wrapping it up and posting it the old-fashioned way, along with a pretty card. Not only that, but the book itself is beautiful too - The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield. It's a tiny hardback that feels lovely and it's even nicer to look at.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was a present from Bex at An Armchair by the Sea, who somehow managed to knit a bookmark to go with it, whilst looking after a three month old baby! I really love this book and I can't recommend it highly enough.
New Pride and Prejudices! These take my total up to 54 now - that means I can read one per week for a year, with two spares. You have no idea how happy it makes me, seeing them all lined up on a shelf...
I've been waiting for the release of the Penguin English Library edition for ages. They released so many classics in these lovely covers, without bothering to do one of the staples of classic literature! *shakes fist!* Still, I have it now and it's more than worth the wait.
These were from a Secret Santa exchange on LibraryThing. They're not what I would have picked for myself, but I guess that's the entire point! I'm particularly looking forward to City of Bones, as I've heard wonderful things about the series.
And then of course I bought books as well. Only four though, which I feel is remarkably restrained!
I just couldn't resist Black Heart. I loved White Cat and Red Glove when I read them last year (doesn't it seem strange referring to 2012 as 'last year?'), so buying this one with my Waterstones gift card made perfect sense.
Elemental Masters and The Alchemist of Souls came from an indie book/comic store in Sheffield. The latter I'd never heard of before so I bought it on a complete whim, but the former was a bit of a risk. I love Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series (see my reviews of Reserved for the Cat and Unnatural Issue), and this is a collection of stories from different authors set in the world she created. I'm not sure how well it's going to work as it's the tone of her books I love so much, but they're all established fantasy authors so perhaps everything will be fine.
I actually ordered Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears by accident and uhh... decided not to send it back :) Damn one-click ordering.
Then, finally, the review books. Hodder & Stoughton were nice enough to send me a copy of Requiem by Lauren Oliver all wrapped up in pretty ribbon... and then a copy of Pandemonium when I mentioned that I hadn't read it!
So thank you to the wonderful people that sent me cards and presents, both online and offline, and a very happy 2013 to everyone!
What books came in to your house this Christmas?
What a wonderful haul you got there! I love getting books for Christmas (or buying myself books for Christmas - it's the perfect excuse) :)
ReplyDeleteNiiiiice! I will be VERY interested to read your thoughts on the Great Loves books, mostly because I'm always tempted by those boxed sets EVERY TIME I go near the Penguin website. I'm so glad you like the book I sent (every time I went near it before I posted it I was like ZOMG THE PRETTY!), and just so you know, we've established that Bex actually has X-Ray vision and wears a cape on a regular basis (at least around the house). This explains a LOT. I haven't read City of Bones yet, but I've heard good things, and I managed to avoid the Beautiful Creatures hype until now but I kiiiiinda wanna read it because of the film. So... get on it so I know if it's worth it!
ReplyDeleteAlways fun to see the pretty pretty books (the new PEL P&P is so nice!), and I'm glad I'm not the only one who's somehow now quite managed the Christmas Post until now! (Maybe I'll get mine finished this week!) Until later, ma cherie... *mwah mwah*
Wow, I love the one Ellie sent you - that cover is really gorgeous! And 54 Pride and Prejudices? *__* I actually loved that book too - but I only read it twice, I think. And I SO need that Penguin mug!
ReplyDeleteI adore that cover of Henrietta Lacks but it's quite different from the original! Almost makes it look like a less serious book?
ReplyDeleteAnd HOLY BOXES OF SHOES. It's been a depressing amount of time since I've had a new pair of shoes. I think I'm overdue. ;)
You got such a great haul! And I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one out there who collects different editions of the same book. XD
ReplyDeleteI collect translations of Le Petit Prince, and I'm working on building up a Jane Austen collection as well.
(PS, I always kind of thought those kind of "patterned" covers looked boring, but seeing one in a proper photo instead of just the image from a retail website, it actually looks quite pretty in a simple, sort of elegant, kind of way.)
ReplyDelete*slight defence of PEL* I think they've been keeping the BEST books aside so people get excited about getting them and then explode with joy when they finally do? Or something...
ReplyDeleteYAY books! Basically. I got entirely too many for Christmas and it's all just TOO much and TOO wonderful :)
I wish I could have gotten you something, gah! I more than owe you. Next year I'll so have a job around Christmas :|
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough it was Alchemist of Souls that caught my eye most! I've heard great things about this book and really want to get myself a copy somehow. Probably for Kindle, less £4.50ish is better than £6.70ish.