I had a gift card to use at Barnes and Noble and needed some other things as well, so last Saturday, Hobgoblin and I used this as an excuse to head to Manhattan to go on a shopping spree (which included getting me a new pair of running shoes, so now I consider myself officially a runner). I really, really will stop accumulating books, very soon, I promise, but in addition to the Barnes and Noble trip, I did order a couple other books online that I can’t do without and I mooched one that looked irresistible. So here’s the last “new books” post I’m going to do for a while (seriously!):
- Javier Marias’s All Souls. Marias looks like an interesting new (new to me) author, and Litlove’s intriguing review made me pick this one up. There’s also this article from the NYRB if you’d like to know more.
- Rosamund Lehmann’s The Echoing Grove. I loved Lehmann’s A Note in Music, which I read last year, and I wanted to find The Echoing Grove in particular as a follow-up because it inspired the Jonathan Coe novel I’ve got, The House of Sleep, so perhaps I’ll read the two back to back.
- Elaine Scarry’s Dreaming by the Book. I loved Scarry’s book On Beauty and Being Just, and this one looks fabulous too. One of the Amazon reviews says that Scarry “wonders how the best writing enables us to produce images and scenes in our minds that carry something of the force of reality. She deftly unfolds an answer by identifying and explicating several general principles and five formal practices by which authors invisibly command us to manipulate the objects of our imagination.”
- Margaret Laurence’s The Stone Angel is on its way to my house right now; it’s the next Slaves of Golconda book, the discussion of which will be held at the end of February.
- Plutarch’s Selected Essays on Love, the Family, and the Good Life. Phillip Lopate’s The Art of the Personal Essay recommends this one as follow-up reading for Plutarch.
- Gabriel Josipovici’s Moo Pak. This one is coming to me from Book Mooch. I know very little about it, but I’m sure it’s going to be good!
- Amanda Vickery’s The Gentleman’s Daughter: Women’s Lives in Georgian England. I love reading about this time period!
Of Books and Bicycles 
Oh fine! Come to Manhattan, don’t announce yourself or anything. Phhhhbbt! Hope B&N (presumably you were at the Union Square store?) wasn’t too crowded with loitering readers sitting in the aisles.
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The Stone Angel is an amazing book, Dorothy. Oh, you ARE going to love it.
Last fall I picked up four others by Margaret Laurence at a used-book sale. Now I have all of her Manawaka cycle.
Happy Reading to you, in 2008!
— Cip
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Nice haul! I’ve got the Scarry book but haven’t read it yet. It does look so interesting though. I also have Moo Pak and hope to read that sometime in the first half of this year (nothing like being specific!). I started reading Stone Angel last night. I was only going to read a little bit, but had a hard time stopping!
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I always feel a little guilty about posts listing books bought, not the least since I know I shouldn’t be accumulating more, but I love reading what others are buying! Lucky you to be able to find Lehmann’s books in a local store–I’ve had to order a few, which I hope to read this year (since I’ve heard many good things about her). The Vickery book also sounds tempting–I’ll have to look for that. Enjoy your new books!
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A Barnes and Noble giftcard! What a wonderful gift! All your selections look very interesting! And you should continue to accumulate books, I think 🙂
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That’s a wonderful line-up, Dorothy! I’d really like to get hold of Moo Pak but can’t find it over here yet, and I love Rosamund Lehmann. I was also very impressed with the Elaine Scarry I read (not the one you’ve just bought). I have just received my copy of Stone Angel in the mail, though, and I’m looking forward to that very much!
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Well, I haven’t read any of them. Maybe I should just save myself the trouble and put them all on my TBR list right now, as that’s where I’m sure each of them will end up as you read and report on them. Meanwhile, if you keep up this running, you’ll want to get acquainted with Wally in New Milford (he’s fantastic when it comes to helping you choose gear and get shoes to prevent injuries). I’ll give you details next time I see you.
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Fendergal — I know! Sorry. Yes, we were at Union Square, and yes, the people were annoying. Coming to the city these days makes me feel like such a hick (which I am) — it’s so crowded.
Cipriano — good! I’m glad to hear the good news about Laurence. We should have a good discussion.
Stefanie — good again! Good to hear the Laurence is so engaging. I’m looking forward to it.
Danielle — I thought you might be interested in the Vickery book! I found the Lehmann book (there were a couple of her novels actually) at a very good store in Manhattan — most places don’t carry her, unfortunately.
Hepzibah — thank you for enabling me! I’m sure I’ll continue to accumulate, just maybe not so fast??
Litlove — I’m still planning to read the Lehmann you recommended (Invitation to the Waltz) — I hope to read many of her books! As well as many of Josipovici’s — I hope you find Moo Pak at some point.
Emily — I’d say I’m sorry about the TBR list, but I’m really not. And thanks for the info about running! I’ve heard about the running store in New Milford — will have to check it out some day.
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I haven’t read “Stone Angel” but I’ve read a couple other Laurence books. She’s a terrific writer, perhaps the superior Margaret.
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John — thanks for the commend; I’m looking forward to reading Laurence, an author I (sadly) know nothing about.
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