Thursday, June 24, 2010

On Willpower or the Lack Thereof

I meant to have a book review for you today, but as usual, things didn't go quite as I planned. Instead, I've composed this bookish acquisition post in an effort to convince you that I need an intervention and someone to commit me to book addiction rehab.

It's library book sale season here in Nowheresville, PA, and for the first time in years, I skipped one. It was right after BEA, and I knew I didn't need a single book for years to come. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to skip two. I exercised some restraint in not being there for the very first hour on the very first day in hopes that by the time I got there, it would be all picked over and I wouldn't get much. Again, failure.

I spent about $20 less than usual, but then I usually spend around $40 at this particular library book sale which always seems to have nice, barely used copies of surprisingly new books. Now, if you've been to a library book sale recently, and I suspect that perhaps you have, you'll know that 20 bucks will get you an uncommon amount of lightly used books.

Without further ado - my secret shame, emerging for the first time from the box that I've been trying to pretend I didn't actually bring home with me (with occasional commentary):

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - a book I can't believe I don't already own.
America, America by Ethan Canin
The Age of Shiva by Manil Suri
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga - a book that caught my attention when it won the Man Booker Prize in 2008.
Coventry by Helen Humphreys - to feed my need for World War II fiction.
The Rebels of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd - because I've got the first book in the Dublin Saga, so obviously I need the next one, right?
Unveiled by Francine Rivers - One of a series of novellas about women from the Bible. If I like this one, there's more where it came from!
The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly - Because I think this got some Orange Prize attention at some point, and I heart me some Orange Prize.
Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk - See above. I think.
Let Me Finish by Roger Angell - Even if this didn't sound really interesting, my shallow heart could never pass up the awesome cover on this book.
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith - I seem to recall the blogosphere being abuzz about this a while ago...
Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo - See above.
Bucking the Sun by Ivan Doig - I've had such a thing for stories about people in Montana ever since I went there and didn't stay like I was supposed to.
Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer
Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman - Same author as Downsiders which was a pretty good book.
The Schwa was Here by Neal Shusterman - See above.
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis - I'm pretty sure I've read about a zillion good reviews of this in one place or another. Despite it's not being my normal thing, I certainly have to try it, no?
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis - I've always loved a good Newbery book, and this one is a Newbery Honor.
A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck - See above.

Only, uhm, 19. That's good right. Hardly any really. But where will I put them?

Have you read any of them? Which one should I read first? Discuss while I attempt not to mysteriously vanish for a week. Really. ;-)

15 comments:

  1. Oh what a great list of books! I will just say that I am all for book buying so no shame needed :) That seems to be the weekly geek topic of the day so good day to post this!

    Also, if you read Purple Hibiscus this month you can enter my Nigerian mini-challenge and be eligible for a prize ;)

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  2. Wow, it looks like you got some great buys! Our library doesn't price their books that low. I've only been to one of their sales and haven't felt compelled to go back.

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  3. Gosh - quite a list... I have read good things about Purple Hibiscus and hope that you enjoy it

    Happy reading!

    Hannah

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  4. I so loved Purple Hibiscus - I hope you will too! And I haven't read Doomsday Book, but Connie Willis' To Say Nothing of the Dog was enough to convince me of her brilliance.

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  5. Ah dearie, you've come to the wrong place if you want people to discourage you for book buying. We are horrid enablers here. ;) Great list of books!

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  6. Doomsday Book! *flails hands*

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  7. Connie Willis is great -- I hope you enjoy Doomsday Book. I think I need to reread it. I enjoyed Coventry too. I haven't read any of the others.

    I also really want to go to a library sale in a couple of weeks, even though I certainly don't need to buy more books...

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  8. So jealous of The Age of Shiva and Purple Habiscus!

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  9. wow - great books! I loved Age of Shiva and also found White Tiger pretty interesting. Enjoy!

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  10. 19 isn't that many! I say as long as your purchases at a book sale don't necessitate your acquiring another bookshelf you have no room for, you've done well. :p

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  11. I read The Watson's go to Birmingham when I was in middle school, I think, and remember it being pretty good. I vote for that one:)

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  12. Amy - Nigerian mini-challenge? I'll have to check that out!

    Kathy - Oh, that's too bad. The local libraries are one of my biggest sources of cheap books!

    Hannah - I've heard many good things about Purple Hibiscus, too. I hope it's as great as everyone says it is!

    Nymeth - Seems like I can't go more than a week without hearing about Connie Willis from someone in the blogosphere, seems about time I gave her a try!

    Trisha - Enablers indeed! I even had a bit of enabling from the masses on Twitter the night before when I was deciding whether to go or not. LOL!

    Diane - Plan to! =)

    Raych - Flailing duly noted. LOL.

    Avis - The library sales are much too difficult to resist. Give in to the call! I'm really looking forward to Coventry. It's set during one of my favorite time periods to read about.

    Amanda - Neeener, neener... ;-)

    Colleen - Glad to hear you've enjoyed them. Can't wait to read 'em!

    Jenny - Uhm...I may possibly...definitely...need a new bookshelf. But 19 is definitely moderation for me when it comes to used books sale!

    Kim - I might go for it. It looks like a quick and very interesting read.

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  13. Thanks for enabling my addiction, Megan!

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  14. Some good reading there. I read and loved The Lizard Cage, The White Tiger, and Coventry. I reviewed that last one when it was released if my thoughts on it interest you:

    Coventry

    I look forward to seeing what you think of your purchases.

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