My favorite local book store semi annual sale has come. Yesterday it was the opening day, and this is what I got. (I went back today for a few minutes and got: A Movable Feast by Hemingway, Far from the Madding Crowd, by Hardy, and Henry V by the Bard.)
First book I saw at the fiction isle was Room, a book recommended by fellow classics reader and blogger. I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw that Flannery O’Connor book next. I have read her A Good Man is Hard to Find, Everything that Rises Must Converge, and a few other of her stories, but, since I had to return the book to the library, I never got to read more. Now I have them all! yay.
I found a copy of The Corrections. Nothing new, as I’ve heard that tons of copies of this book exist in the basements and shelves of all book stores, homes, gas stations, supermarkets. Now it exists at my home too. I know it’s a marmite type of book, you either love it or hate it. I’ll tell you what side I’m in if I ever get to it.
The Giver first book part of the quartet:
The Giver
Gathering Blue
Messenger
Son
I love these four short books. I can’t wait to read them along with the girls when they grow up a bit more. The Giver is a great book in itself, but reading these four books is a wonderful experience.
Two Shakespeares we have but individual titles we can handle better. We read The Merchant of Venice and The Tempest this year, and methinks we’ll go for Romeo and Juliet next. When I say we, I’m talking about my daughters and I. They are 12 and 10.
Candide, because I plan to read it every now and then. Graham Green’s The End of the Affair. Everybody talk about Graham Green, and I must read. Blood Meridian, another book that’s come up in some podcasts I listen to from the Center for Lit crowd. I’ve only read his other book, The Road. The first time I couldn’t read it. The second time, I did. I still don’t know what to think about it. I’m going to try this other title and see.
The Pilot’s Wife. Just because I’ve seen this book at book sales for many years, read the blurb, thought about it, never gotten it. And not long ago, I read a review that said it was a good title. I don’t know if I’ll get to it. Sometimes, after months of reading classics, I open something modern and it feels like sparkling water that has gone flat.
And The Baron in the Trees! Sigh. I do adore Italo Calvino’s “Si una noche de verano un viajero”, If on a winter’s night a traveler. I read a few pages of The Baron in the Trees, and they were an instant surge of delight (humor, craftsmanship, storytelling at its best).
There’s a thin Medieval Times Atlas book in the first two pictures, not in the last picture’s stack. Those are helpful maps of Europe across the centuries during the Medieval period. Useful.
And my list of to read books is out of control, but I’m fine with that. I read books, but I also buy them, gift them, trade them…
Silvia Cachia 
Fariba, that happens to me with some books, for some reason I don’t get them. I found Candide satirical, humorous, and it made me think. But it could be a bit too much.
I know it is difficult to join a book club on the fly, but, should I host another one, I will let you know in advance in case it appeals to you.
Let me know if you still want to read Candide with me.
I have tried so many times to like Candide. I know I’m missing something because I think one scene in particular is one of the most brilliant in all of satirical literature. I will try again. I don’t think I will be able to do the June read along of The Gray House. I would be interested in any future ones though 🙂
I have read (actually listened to) Candide.
I am up for a read along. I’d love it!
Let me know how you would like to do it. June 1st I will be hosting a book club for a book called The Gray House (in case you are interested).
Every few years I reread Candide, so if you want to do a read-along or something I’d be up for it. Have you read it before?
No, I haven’t, which one then?
Did you guess it yet?
Rob, I listened to The Giver’s Quartet, they’re all four short books, YA, very well done. They are 4 different dystopian societies, and they are connected. I enjoyed how well written they are, fast paced, intriguing stories, they keep you thinking.
Yay, what a great haul! I hope you end up liking Room.
I still haven’t read a novel by Italo Calvino, but I have ‘If on a winter’s night a traveler’, so I will hopefully be getting to that soon.
I really enjoyed ‘The End of the Affair’ when I read it a few years back. I listened to it on audiobook, as it was narrated by Colin Firth, and he did a tremendous job. I hope he narrates more books in the future actually.
I’ve been curious about The Giver. I’ll have to look more into that one.
My book sale is in the morning, so you’ve got me even more excited with this!
They all look so good! I have The End of the Affair on my list too and how exciting you found it there! Love this book sale 🙂 My husband went today and found a few treasures also.
Flannery!!! Woohoo!!!
Nope!
Nope!
Or The Corrections
I think I’ve guessed the book, Blood Meridian.
I’m not allowed to buy books right now. I have a budget. 😦 But I also have three ceiling-high bookshelves of unread books, so…
You found some great titles!! Hope you enjoy them. 🙂
I cannot keep up with the movies of the books. I’m not that big of a movie watcher. But I’ll read Greene, and you should tell me those you’ve tried and not liked, do tell…
Great haul! I’ve tried twice with one of those (no spoilers) and remember loving End of the Affair in high school and then being upset (can’t remember why) with the movie. I’ll look forward to your reviews.