Just got back from Powell’s Books. The intention was to hang out with my friends and buy The Demon’s Daughter and ONLY The Demon’s Daughter, but instead I came home with the following:
Olympos by Dan Simmons. Hey, I already have Ilium, and I was waiting until Olympos was released to begin reading. I’m itching, just itching to start these books. WHEEE! I wonder if Dan Simmons came to town for a reading/signing? I’ll be pissed off if he did and I missed him. Seriously, he’s one of the most entertaining authors I’ve ever encountered. Him and Dan Savage.
The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. It was on sale! $3.98! And I’ve been meaning to read this book for ages. I TOTALLY had to snag it.
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Brown and Dave King. Another sale book. Only $6.98! And trust me, I need allllll the help I can get with fiction writing, and this book looked interesting, accessible and practical.
These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer. OK, there’s no excuse for this one. I remembered somebody mentioning how hot the Duke of Avon was in one of our discussions about romance novel heroes, so I cracked open the book and read the first five pages. I should’ve known better. There was no way I was going to leave the book on the shelf after doing that.
The Demon’s Daughter by Emma Holly. Hey, it was the book I set out to buy.
I also bought a shitload of Brodart Mylar dustjacket protectors. Oh yeah, I’m one of those freaks. Gotta keep those books lookin’ pristine, bitches.
So c’mon, help me feel better. What unexpected splurges have you indulged in lately?
At least you also left with what you came for. I’ve made shopping stops where I get so distracted by other things that I forget my original goal.
Heart of Darkness is fascinating on a number of levels. Hope you enjoy it.
As for my out-of-control shopping sprees, I seem to have them all too regularly.
And here I thought only dorky librarians knew what Brodart mylar dustjacket protectors were?
Good for you that you use them, and obviously know how to put them on. That’s why God created library clerks. So Wendy wouldn’t have to wrestle with dustjacket protectors.
Trust me, it’s ugly.
I love nothing more than going to the bookstore with a list and finding every title on it!
It’s not as easy as you may think. My husband has told me numerous times that I should work for the huge bookstore near us so I could make sure they had all the best books ready and waiting. These were the days before on-line book buying via Canada. (the shipping and exchange made buying from US stores very pricey and very, very rare)
The store boasts having 100 000 titles in stock. Too bad that they are not any that I am looking for!
We’re going to be on vacation the first week in August so I am hoping to hit some bookstores not in our local area. Something to look forward to!
My other bad habit is buying things for other people. I’ll drop money in a second on others. Especially my god-children because Bob and I don’t have any of our own. The problem is, now my friend thinks nothing of asking me to drop a couple hundred dollars on her kids at any given moment. My fault I know, so I am working on fixing it but, it can be hard and I think it has been a bit of a shock lately when I just say no, I can’t do that right now.
CindyS
I try to never think of my book purchases as unnecessary splurges. Recently I got
The Iliad by Homer, translated by Richmond Lattimore – I recently stole Troy from the internet and thought, dang this is soooo sucky, get thee the original STAT.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince which I have already completed. Loved it!
Origin In Death by J.D. Robb – I was caught off-guard by this release date, I thought it wouldn’t be out ‘till August! Despite the highs and lows in the series I’m still addicted. They’re about the only recent Nora Robert books I can stand these days, the rest seem to be repeats.
The Hummingbird’s Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea – He’s a new author for me but the book has been positively highlighted in a number of my regular litblog reads.
and I’m considering exchanging Harlequin’s Unzipped anthology for Edith Pattou’s East which I spied on the HP table at the local bookstore. I only enjoyed the Lori Foster novella from the former, and it turned out I had already read Janelle Denison’s contribution.
“Hi, my name is Charlotte and I´m a bookaholic.” (pause)
(cheery greetings) “Hello Charlotte!”
“I just aquired about 1000 books even though my house, my cellar, my garage *and* an extra garage I´m renting for this purpose is filled to the brimm with more books than I could read in a life time. Help!!!!!!”
(rubs bleary eyes from reading Flowers On The Storm until the wee hours of the morning)
“Oh, wait a minute. What am I doing here? I´m *supposed* to have a shitload of books, I´m the bookseller!”
(great sigh of relief).
“Thank god. A valid excuse to keep buying more books!!!”
(romps to the exit)
I´m especially addicted to the part when I sort through new stock and scan for titles to put away to my numerous TBR stacks…
Somewhere on the ‘net there’s a not-so-tongue-in-cheek signs and symptoms of being a bookaholic list including: “Do you spend money on books you should be spending on food and clothing?” “Do you ever lie about taking another trip to the bookstore?” “Are you ever at social gatherings wishing you were home reading?” (YES!)
But you’re going to love THESE OLD SHADES. Avon defines the romantic hero who has complete sang-froid while he manipulates events around him.
Lessee…I’m drooling over a history book called THE OTHER WAR OF 1812: THE PATRIOT WAR AND THE AMERICAN INVASION OF SPANISH EAST FLORIDA, which retails for $55 and isn’t available used yet. My bookseller said, “C’mon, you know you want it…and for you it’s a tax write off!”
“I know that, Tom, but it’s still $55 bucks out of my pocket _now_.”
So while I mull over how badly I want this for myownself, I keep checking it out of the library.
Of course that was supposed to be “Flowers *From* The Storm”, but I suppose relying on 3 hours sleep *will* do this to a person.
On a side-note: Maddygirl was spared a scathing rewiew by the grace of the very last few pages. I spontaniously decided to forgave her for almost exasperating me to death.
Darlene… I have a similar fondness for social history type of books, (aka “Love in the time of Victoria”, “Uppity Women of the Middle-Ages”, “Age of Elegance” et.) I swear it will be the death of my bank account one day.
Yep, I’ve got all those. Some of my other favorite history/research books are “Dr. Johnson’s London”; “Nothing Too Daring” (a biography of Commodore David Porter; and my favorite snarky Florida history book “The St. Johns—A Parade of Diversities” by James Branch Cabell.
Most of these came from used book stores where one can mine the history sections for all kinds of treasures you didn’t know you needed until you see them.
Self Editing is a writers classic and excellent, but Fiction First Aid by Raymond Obstfeld is brilliant. Mine is dog-eared, highlighted and paper clipped. Cringe, but once read you will understand.
I splurged on The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova, this week past. I just had to see if the hype is true. ::hangs head:: I’m such dork.
Briana
This past weekend was Flashpoint, Warprize, and The Historian.
I have been banned from going into bookstores (except on special occasions) and pet stores (under no circumstances). Due to my impulsiveness to buy.
I currently have 3 dogs that act like a pack of spastic dogs when anyone comes to the house. Drives DH crazy.
And books are filling every available nook and cranny which is also driving him crazy. (Most purchases online now so I can’t be tempted by impulse buying.)
What can I say, books and dogs give my joy. Sue me!
oops I meant Breaking Point.
Darlene… I have a similar fondness for social history type of books,
Has anyone hear read Marriage: a History by Coontz? I’ve been looking at it, can’t quite justify another hardback (Origins in Death, Breaking Point, and 2 copies of HP6 plus HP6 in audio – breaks the bank!) unless I read some strong reviews.
I haven’t done it lately, but I’ve done the Powell’s thing many a time so I have nothing to share except understanding. My first job was about 2 blocks away from the Burnside store and most all of my tip money was spent there.
My husband laughs about it, but going to Powell’s is like going to church *should be* for me. The sight and smell of all of those stories just waiting to be discovered.
::Happy sigh::
I have a friend who shares my fondness for single malts, “Sharpe” novels, and Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles. He’s now a successful surgeon, but he said when he was an undergrad at Oxford they would pool their money to be able to buy one copy of the latest Lymond book as it came hot off the press, and anxiously await their turn on the book reading rotation.
He understands my addiction.[g]
I make it a point to not go into Powell’s alone. If I go with friends, two things happen:
1. A time limit is set.
2. Their goggle-eyed looks at my overflowing shopping basket force me to weed out books I don’t really, truly want.
3. They can help me carry the books out when the goggle-eyed looks don’t shame me enough to trim the herd to manageable levels.
EDIT: Oh how I love it when I can’t count. THREE things happen. THREE, dammit.
Hey! Have any of you actually read The Historian? I bought it for my fab daughter with the idea of reading it after she was done and yesterday she TOOK IT BACK TO THE BOOKSTORE! (gasp) She said, “Mom. I read 35 pages and it sucked.” Just wondering if that’s an 18 year old’s pov or does it really suck?
I’ve been attacking the local bookstores because I am soooo almost caught up on my writing that I’m going to be ahead on my contracts (!!) and will be able to relax and read read read. I snagged: The latest Harry Potter (I’m a dork), Undead & Unappreciated, Kushiel’s Dart, an old Karen M. Moning book I haven’t read yet, Awaken Me Darkly by my buddy Gena Showalter, and the totally amazing Kris Radish’s Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn.
The next stop is the liquor store so that I can choose the proper wine to compliment each book.
PC
Snap. I didn’t buy any books until today. Ha! Thanks to Amazon.co.uk and my husband’s plastic best friend, I bought:
THE TRAVELLER – John Twelve Hawks
ROMANITAS – Sophia Mc Dougall
HEROES & MONSTERS – Jess Nevins
My hubbie refuses to allow me near bookstores because I can never manage just 1 unless he’s there with me. He forgot recently and had me go “pick something up for him.” I did… and picked up 3 books for myself.
I would avoid any programs designed to lessen this.
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers is a book that I always recommend. It’s very clear and easy to follow, and it covers all the craft basics that you need to know.
And as to The Historian, I heard from another writer friend that she is having a really difficult time getting through it. (Ummm, in other words, what your 18 year old said. Although, as we all know, taste in books is, ahem, subjective.
)
I see nothing wrong with your problem in fact I don’t see it as a problem.
nope, not at all
Although, why the fuck did you just buy a book sarah hated? Why didn’t mz sarah send hated book to you?
Tell us if you likey, cuz I have this some where in my tbr mountain.
I see nothing wrong with your problem in fact I don’t see it as a problem.
Hee hee. Ahhh, Sybil, my fellow addict….
Why didn’t mz sarah send hated book to you?
I bought it because Sarah rarely buys books, she uses Books(Not)Free instead, which is the Netflix of books. Therefore, not practical for her to swap books with me.
I’m only 25 pages into it so far, but you know what? I’m really, really liking it. Can’t wait to go home and pick it up again.
(This may not mean anything—it’s early days yet, and the characters have plenty of time to annoy me.)
hhheeeeeeee
that sarah is a smart girl… I shall go update my blog with books bought last week so I can make you feel better 😉
sybil – how the fuck did I get logged out!
“‘Flowers from the Storm,’…Maddygirl was spared a scathing rewiew by the grace of the very last few pages. I spontaniously decided to forgave her for almost exasperating me to death.”
I’m so glad to see I’m not the only one who HATED her. I infuriated me so when I was reading, I really would have loved to be able to cold cock the b*tch. Man, that book brought out way too much of my killer instincts.
Has anyone read either China Mieville or Sean McMullen? I’ve been wavering on buying some of their books, but can’t find anyone who knows them (they’re a Brit and a Kiwi, or maybe Aussie, respectively), and don’t seem to be that well known here. At least not among my friends.
I just bought:
Origin in Death by JD Robb, The Dark Lord by Patricia Simpson, Blood is Thicker than Water by Wynette Hoffman and Those of my Blood by Jacqueline Lichtenberg.
But that was my last hurrah for new book purchases for awhile as the first mortgage payment kicks in in August and there will not be any more room for frivolous book purchases. *sob*
But that was my last hurrah for new book purchases for awhile as the first mortgage payment kicks in in August and there will not be any more room for frivolous book purchases. *sob*
Oh, I hear you. My car payment is due in a month. Not quite as bad as a mortgage, but a bit of belt-tightening is definitely in order chez Candy. This was definitely my last hurrah. Or at least, that’s what I’m telling myself sternly.
Let me tell you, there is no purchasing demon worse than the pregnant lady seeking The Perfect Book for Baby-Education. Since so much of new-parent marketing is based on scaring the ever-living shit out of you that you are going to Make a Big Mistake if you don’t have the perfect and correct this, that, or the other, it is astonishingly easy to clik-clik-clik your way to a huge and ugly purchase.
I’ve managed to keep the baby book buying at bay, but it has not been easy. In fact, I was afraid to order any until after the first ultrasound at 7 weeks. Then, I ordered one that turned out to be partially filled with pregnant-porn – it had PHOTOGRAPHS of sexual positions in it! People making the O-face!
Hubby said, ‘I think you ordered just the right book.’
yes, Sarah, I can relate to that. In fact, if you’re in search of a baby book, you might ask me first before buying it LOL. I have a whole stack of them you can have. Including a few on sleep for after the baby is born 😉