Went to the annual Book Sale at the Crossroads Market and hauled back my loot, officially kicking off Arti’s summer reading. Although I must admit, I’ve many books on my TBR list. They’re everywhere in my house, my bedside, on the couches, tables and chairs, and even on the floor. Yet I would not miss the booksale at Crossroads. The finds are just too good to pass. My hours of scrutinizing always bring in great rewards. Here’s a list of this year’s haul. 20 of them, almost all trade paperbacks, spine unbent, all new to like-new condition, at $1.50 each. Here they are:
I’ve an eclectic selection here. Here are the categories:
Biography
- Capote: A Biography by Gerald Clarke — Book into film
- Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser — Book into film
Canadiana
- The Time In Between by David Bergen — 2005 Giller Prize
- Late Nights On Air by Elizabeth Hay — 2007 Giller Prize
- Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje — 2007 Governor General’s Literary Award
- A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews — 2004 Governor General’s Literary Award
Contemporary Literature
- The Island of the Day Before by Umberto Eco — International literary awards author
- Love by Toni Morrison — Nobel Prize author
- Run by Ann Patchett — PEN/Faulkner and Orange Prize author
- Cry The Beloved Country by Alan Paton — contemporary classic
- Goldengrove by Francine Prose — National Book Award finalist
- White Teeth by Zadie Smith — 2000 Whitbread First Novel Award
- In The Beauty Of The Lilies by John Updike — Pulitzer winning author
- The Evidence Against Her by Robb Forman Dew — National Book Award author
- The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga — 2008 Man Booker Prize
- Amsterdam by Ian McEwan — 1998 Man Booker Prize
- The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai — 2006 Man Booker Prize
- The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa — Japanese literary awards author
- Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro — Man Booker Prize author
- The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd — Book into film
Mystery and Thriller
- The 39 Steps by John Buchan
- The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
- The Private Patient by P. D. James
- The Messenger by Daniel Silva
Short Stories
- Telling Tales edited by Nadine Gordimer
- Simple Recipes by Madeleine Thien
- The Complete Short Stories of W. Somerset Maugham
Tools of the Trade
- The Declaration of Independent Filmmaking by Mark Polish et al.
- 10 Sure Signs A Movie Character Is Doomed & Other Surprising Movie Lists by Richard Roeper
- Art History’s History by Vernon Hyde Minor
- Notting Hill Screenplay by Richard Curtis
- The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries by Emma Thompson
Fads
- Pride And Prejudice And Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
- Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup — Book into film
Guilty pleasure? Compulsive hoarding? Not really. First off, I’m supporting a well-meaning charity, Servants Anonymous. Secondly, I’m doing something that’s uber important in this digitally-driven society. I’m contributing to the preservation of the art of the printed book. And who knows, someday, these copies might well become valuable antique items when the e-industry totally takes over.
A look at their covers would make you long to touch them, real paper, book art and design, authentic hard copies of the printed word. A future rarity, and I’m sure, collector’s items.
Ripple Effects 
So many books and such great bargins!!
Just by looking at the titles, I sure love to read ‘Amsterdam’, ‘Capote’ (I’ve seen the movie), ‘Goldengrove’, ‘The Housekeeper & The Professor’….
Can’t wait to read your book reports.
Enjoy your reading this summer, tell us more Arti.
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Molly Mavis,
Yes, those are probably my first choices from this pile. I’m happy that I could get a copy of them because I was thinking of reading them before.
Arti
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Wonderful loot, Arti!! I’ve read a number of those and loved all of them.. except maybe Divisadero. Love Ondaatje but that one confused me, maybe it needs a reread(?).
Loved The Island of the Day Before, The White Tiger, and The Inheritance of Loss most especially. Amsterdam was also good. A Complicated Kindness and The Housekeeper and the Professor very nice. Never Let Me Go I didn’t particularly love at first but it grew on me. (Maybe it was because I couldn’t not love Ishiguro.) Simple Recipes I also loved, very quiet kind of book but also profound. Q&A (Slumdog Millionaire) was very funny. So very unlike the film. I enjoyed it a lot.
I have Love, Cry the Beloved Country, and White Teeth on the TBR. But what I really envy you: The COMPLETE stories of Maugham. *sigh* (I also want to read the Antonia Fraser.)
You have a seriously heavy stack. Don’t feel guilty. I’m already looking forward to my own book hoarding in September. 😀 ENjoy your books!! Which are you planning to read first?
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Claire,
You’ve read so many of these titles… I thank you for sharing your views on them. I think I’ll put Divisadero aside for a while. All the Booker Prize winners I’m interested in, esp. The Inheritance of Loss. But then again, I’ve just signed up for Bellezza’s Japanese Lit Challenge, so I just might go for the Japanese writers. Also, Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go will soon be out in a film adaptation, with Carey Mulligan starring in it. So I want to read that soon. As for Maugham’s short stories, yes, I’m quite pleased to have found it.
Arti
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Arti, hmm.. Never Let Me Go as a movie, interesting. Although I have seen a film that is almost like it. I saw it before having read the novel and I think it must’ve contributed to the reason why I didn’t love the book as much then, as I remember reading the book only a few weeks away from seeing the film. I forget the title, but I remember Ewan McGregor was in it. And Scarlett Johanssen I believe (not sure anymore). Anyway, I’d still love to see it on film when it comes out, thanks for the heads up.
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Claire,
I believe the movie you saw was The Island (2005). But I think Ishiguro’s and the director’s treatment of NLMG is quite different from The Island http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399201/
Check this out: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1334260/
Keira Knightly and Carey Mulligan are Ruth and Kathy.
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That’s quite a deal, Arti 🙂 I’ve listened to PD James’ book and enjoyed her masterful characterizations. Happy reading.
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nikkipolani,
I like to intersperse the more serious reads with mysteries. But P.D. James’ books are in a way ‘heavy reading’, esp. her detailed descriptions. Listening to her books sounds interesting too.
Arti
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At that price how could you not bring home even more? What a fun time you must have had browsing. Happy reading!
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Stefanie,
It was quite a task when you have to hold a couple bags of books in one hand and just use the other to sift through another hundreds of them, while fighting the crowd to even get close to the spoils… not to mention the line-ups just to pay for them! But it’s all worth it.
Arti
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$1.50 each…what a great bargain. I’ve got to stay away from sales like those my book shelves 7 floor to ceiling ones are full and I can’t seem to find any to weed out!!
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Ellen,
7 floors (shelves?) of books… No wonder you’d avoid getting close to book sales! But for me, it’s just hard to resist, book sales, bookstores, libraries…
A.
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7 floor shelves? wow, it’s such an enormous compilation of book!!
why don’t you list them on your blog.. or make a review for each book.
i would love to read it if you make one.
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I totally understand your passion and would do the same, bring stacks of books home to add to all the other stacks strewn about the house. Happy reading!
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krpooler,
Thanks! Don’t we all need them, our spice of life.
Arti
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Such wonderful finds, Arti! I listened to the Ondaatje and loved it. Cry, the Beloved Country is a classic and a favorite & I adore PD James (also Antonia Fraser). Looking forward to your insights on whatever you choose to read, especially the Japanese authors. Bellezza’s challenge is great!
Happy reading.
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ds,
I’m feeling the weight of obligation with every single book I buy, but it also adds to a wider personal choice and enjoyment. I’m excited about Bellezza’s JLC. I’ve already started Oe’s Rouse Up O Young Men of the New Age. And I’d like to read Kawabata’s Snow Country also. He’s the Japanese author whom I read as a young teenager in HK, in Chinese translation. Plus I’ve got a few books currently reading as well. So I guess the book sale loot will have to be added to my long TBR list.
Arti
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Glorious bouquet of books, Arti. I feel something stirring inside looking at those spines and covers.
Today is Ian McEwan’s birthday. He’s a treasure.
I’m excited to hear you are going to Paris! And thrilled you are finding good tips at Paris Deconstructed too. Yay! I would be very happy to answer questions in any way I can from my few touristy travels there. I’d love to hear where you’re staying, and anything else you want to tell me, if and when you have time: ruth.mowry@gmail.com
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Ruth,
Love your poetic phrase ‘bouquet of books’. They sure make one fine literary bloom! It’s hard work just to shift through… cause I’m a very picky shopper. I’ve put down many good titles simply because of their lack of perfect condition. So, these ones are in top shape. Thanks for your offer of Parisian recommendations, I’d be in touch definitely. And just love that blog name: ‘Paris Deconstructed’, only from a poetic mind.
Arti
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