So I made one of my infamous trips to Kitchener-Waterloo to hit up the four used books store in the area. Usually I make this trip several times a year, but it's been a while now due to the job change, school and the bookclub.
Sometimes I find absolutely nothing and sometimes I come home with a whole bunch of things... and this time was the latter.
OLD GOAT BOOKS
Found two beautiful rare Tolkien books which detail the history of middle earth. I believe there are 10 volumes or so, and I was able to pick up two for $65. You never see these anywhere, so I'm pleased with the purchase despite the price. Then I was able to pick up some serviceable Hemingway books from the 30's for $8 a piece (two in total).
KW BOOKSTORE
This place is usually very 'miss', but I found a couple of things here. I finally broke down and bought a copy of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" because I had a credit note, and I was also able to pick up a "The Poetical works of Scott" which was dated 1912 or older. It was from a school in the UK, and I had a great time researching the find.
CASABLANCA
The best deals are usually found here, and sometimes they have real gems (1st edition The Great Gatsby). I did end up with some fairly old (40's?) editions of "The Jungle Books" ($8 for 2 volumes). I also picked up a present... ;)
A SECOND LOOK
Every time I walk into this store, something about it floors me. There are books everywhere in piles, but most are so rare & beautiful that you don't know where to start looking first. The problem is, the man who owns the store knows what everything is worth and he usually charges a little more than market for them. I always have to weigh a lot of factors and decide which books make the cut and which don't. I was feeling liberal, so here is what I bought:
The Koran
Arabian Nights (Burton translation)
Wisdom of Confucious
Diary of Young Girl by Anne Frank (I've read this one when I was younger)
This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Middlemarch by George Eliot
A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
I honestly had a real problem narrowing it down to these books. They were chosen for a mix of interest, translation (edition) and price. Maybe some will be added as bookclub books in the future... time will tell.
Sixteen books is a pretty substantial haul considering I read about a book or two a month, and I needed a bookshelf reshuffle to fit everything in. The haul has led to a further dreading of the move. Last time, I took out all the shirts from my dressor, wrapped the books in them, and ended up washing all the shirts after all was done. I probably have 30% more books this time... so it will be a challenge.
Anyhow, I haven't posted for a while so I thought I would relate my story. "The Red and the Black" review will come later this month.
1 comment:
Ah-hem *cough cough*
Weren't you supposed to be taking someone on your next trip? Mmmm? I think you were. I think that someone is a little miffed now.
I've been thinking about reading A Passage to India but I'm still not sure if I'd enjoy the story - mostly cause it's one I actually haven't seen a BBC adaptation of, so I don't know the story. Middlemarch tempts me but I remember from watching it (with yummy Rufus Sewell!) that it was often bleak. Maybe one day.
Have just started The Red and the Black. Not far enough in yet to voice an opinion. Wow the book's heavy though!
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