Isn’t it fantastic when the Books Gods look down favourably upon you and bestow you with wonderful finds? Well, I must have been really well behaved lately in the eyes of the gods, because at the weekend I stumbled across four wonderful titles to add to my personal library, and all were found within a two mile radius of my home (quite remarkable really given that three of the titles are quite obscure(ish) and I live in a town that’s not quite backwater, but it’s getting there).
So what bookish treats did I discover and why am I so delighted with each find:
- Brooklyn by Colm Toibin (Penguin) – Probably the least ‘exotic’ find of the four, but a great discovery nonetheless. This is a book I’ve been meaning to add to my shelves for ages now (and not just because of the obvious New York link
), and as this is a trade paperback edition too i.e. bigger than the mass market edition (I think) – I gleefully snapped it up. - The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Weidenfeld & Nicolson) – OK, so you remember me featuring the delightful Carlos Ruiz Zafon-flavoured birthday present that Orion publicist Lisa Shakespeare sent me a couple of weeks ago? Well it seems that my Zafon radar is now well and truly tuned in (thanks Lisa, I think), and if I see a Zafon now, I have to have it. This is no great hardship to me of course, because it’s an excuse to add another writer-in-translation to my ever-lengthening list. So all good!
Incidentally, this copy is signed too, but sadly not by Senor Zafon. Instead, Bryn passes on Happy Birthday wishes to his friend Dominic, which I think, is still kind of nice.
- Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Penguin) – If my ‘radar’ has only just been turned on for Zafon, then it has long been on for a number of writers who I hold dear to my heart. Gabriel Garcia Marquez is one of those writers. And this particular title I’ve never seen before, or even heard about (am I severely lacking in my knowledge of Marquez?), so I was absolutely thrilled to bits to discover this one, and add it to my Gabriel shelf.
- One Soldier’s War in Chechnya by Arkady Babchenko (Portobello Books) – People say you should save the best until last, and in this case I definitely have. This is a book I remember being hugely excited about when it first came out in 2007. But alas, at the time I was so deep in university study and it somehow slipped off the radar again, and I never got around to picking a copy up.
I don’t know why I never picked a copy of this book up, because the Chechen War(s) fascinates me massively (it’s all to do with the brutality of the war – I’m fascinated with the 1941-1945 War on the Easter Front for the same reason). Plus I’d also heard that Babchenko has penned an incredible account of the war, brutal and honest, but also with an air of lyricism.
Whatever the reason I had forgotten about it, I had. So you can imagine the memory rush that hit me on Saturday when I picked this up in the shop. So hard was I hit that I squealed out like a girl. But by that time I didn’t care. I had found a long lost (to me) treasure. I was delighted!
I’ll let you know how I get on with this delightful quartet, when I get around to reading them.
About Rob
says:
A great haul rob must be some good shops near you too
says:
Thing is Stu, there isn’t. It’s just occasionally I get lucky, and Saturday I got lucky. Anyway you’re one to talk about good 2nd-hand book outlets, Mr. Church Book Sale
Warmest
Rob
Score! I can’t believe you found The Angel’s Game used. It just came out in paperback. Your haul makes me want to stop in to some used book stores . . . .
says:
I know, it’s a heck of a good find isn’t it Jessica. I count my blessings, I really do. And soon after coming home on Saturday I sacrificed a goat in honour of the Book Gods
Warmest
Rob
says:
A great haul
Brooklyn as been on my wishlist for some time and I very much hope I will receive it as a birthday gift from one of my family members. And I’m sorry to disappoint you, but “Memories of My Melancholy Whores” is one of the few titles by Marquez that I actually know. But that might just be me..
says:
No Iris. It’s obviously me. My knowledge of Marquez is sorely lacking *begins sobbing*
Warmest
Rob
I do love seeing what is being added to other peoples book shelves and this is a marvellous haul of books. I hadnt heard of Babchenko so might have a look into that one. I must, must read The Angels Game soon as I have had it on the TBR for ages and ages. I will be looking forward to your thoughts on Brooklyn, one of my favourite reads of last year, loved it!
says:
No might about it Simon, you NEEEED to get a hold of the Babchenko.
My Brooklyn review will come as soon as, but don’t hold your breath. Same goes for The Angel’s Game – glad to have jogged your memory on that one
Thanks for stopping by!
Warmest
Rob
says:
I did like my first experience with Marquez (Chronicles of a Death Foretold) but I’m still a little intimidated by his longer works, your little find could be just the thing to try next!
says:
Well it’s a nice short one Darren. So right up your sustantivo (which I’m reliably informed is Spanish for ‘street’)
Enjoy, if you ever get to it.
Rob
On the contrary, Memories of my Melancholy Whore is the only Garcia Marquez that I have read. BUT coincidentally I am currently reading One Hundred Years of Solitude and enjoying it immensely.
says:
Hi Mee,
.
I hope you are well. So another one who has read ‘Memories…’ eh? Not as obscure a book as I first thought. It definitely must just be me lacking the knowledge
Even though ‘One Hundred Years…’ is considered to be Gabriel’s seminal work I’ve yet to read it myself, so I’m interested in finding out hat you think of it. So far, so good it would seem
Anyway take care and thanks for dropping by. You’ve reminded me I need to drop by the Bookie Mee blog
.
Warmest
Rob