That New Book Smell...

Does anyone out there love 'The Works' as much as I do? It's a great shop for bargain books and despite what you'd think, sometimes it's possible to get some pretty new releases in there. Take the two Oz books in the top photo. They were only published this year (2013) and yet I got them both on a 2 books for £5 deal. I've always loved The Wizard of Oz and have been dying to read the whole series of books for years but it seems pretty impossible to buy them in the UK for some reason. These are the first two volumes of five so I'm currently on the search for the other three.

The books in the second photo are also all from 'The Works'. The hardback on top of the pile 'Love, Aubrey' cost a tiny £1.99, while the other three were on a 3 for £5 offer. I was geekily ecstatic with my bag of bargains and can't wait to get cracking those spines!

New Book Haul

I've acquired several new books in the last week. It's pretty bad that I own so many un-read books and yet can't resist buying more. Oh well... Four of them were Birthday presents so that doesn't really count. Right?

'Beautiful Darkness', 'Beautiful Chaos' and 'Beautiful Redemption' were Birthday gifts from my parents. I read the first in the series a little while ago and I'm super excited to read the rest of the series.

'Homonculus' was a Birthday present from my friend Stacey who always knows exactly what books I love. I can't wait to get stuck into this one.

I've been after 'The Panopticon' and 'The Silver Linings Playbook' for a while now and couldn't resist buying them on a Buy One Get One Half Price offer in Waterstones. And while I was there I found 'Intrusion' and 'The Girl on the Stairs' equally irresistible. Plus they were on the same offer. A bargain really. And bought with Birthday money so that doesn't really count either.

'Whit Horse' was a bargain £1.95 in my local Tesco store. And it looks brilliant.

Anyway, that's a little peak at the new additions to my bookcase.
Have you bought any interesting books lately?

My 5 Favourite Books

as you can see, they're all pretty battered!

My 5 Favourite Books are all ones that I've read multiple times:

 

Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel

I discovered this book when I was 15. I'd been self harming for a year and still really had no idea what self harm was or why I was doing it. I also had no name for the feeling of emptiness that had descended over me. I felt lost in my life and I wasn't even out of High School. This book showed me that the things I was feeling were all tied up in depression (something I wouldn't be diagnosed with until 2 years later). Elizabeth Wurtzel's prose allowed me to see that there were other people going through the shit I was dealing with and that I wasn't so alone in this crazy world.

Prep by Curtis Sittenfield

This is one of those books I wish I could have written. It's beautifully composed, stylistically flawless and has a protagonist that you can instantly connect with. Although I didn't read this novel until I was in University, Lee and her experiences made me think of my own teenage years and it gave me a little sense of acceptance. I love it. I may have to read it again this year.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

I discovered this book when I was 18 and getting ready to start my degree. The novel seemed appropriate for that time of my life, spreading my wings and entering the 'adult' world. It's such a beautiful little book and I could read it again and again.

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder

(The copy in the photo is actually the third one I've owned. The last two got far too battered from too many re-readings!)

I first read this book when I was 12 years old. It was my introduction to Philosophy and it seriously opened my eyes. I've read it several times since and each time I get something new from it. I think it probably has something to do with the way I've changed since the last time I read it, the life experiences and knowledge I can bring to the page with me.

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

My best friend Stacey introduced me to this gem of a book. I adore the way it's written in the third person, narrated by an un-named observer of events. It adds something really special to the story. Again, this is a book that makes me feel part of something, allows me to feel that other people have been where I've been.

Books Are the Best Medicine

After feeling a little low lately, I went and did something that made me cheerful today. I had some money left over from Christmas presents and decided to splash it all on books. 

I've been waiting for like 2 years for 'The Twelve' to come out and I found it today for half price (£10 for a hardback - not bad!). Of course I couldn't resist. 

I've also been waiting a while to read 'The Marriage Plot'. I adore both of Jeffrey Eugenides other novels and I'm hoping I love this one just as much.

The other two, 'The Art of Fielding' and 'Stonemouth' or sort of impulse buys. I found them on the Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price offer and they both looked like my kind of read. 

One problem... I can't wait to get stuck into them all, which means I really want to zoom through the book I'm currently reading. Oh well, I'd better get my reading head on.  

The Love of My Life

Books

I am in love with books

I own a ridiculous amount of them. 

I can't bear to part with the ones I've read. 

And even when my shelves are over-flowing with un-read books, I still can't resist buying more.

Luckily, my girlfriend understands that we are in a 3-way relationship with my books. She's even added a whole load of her own to my collection.

My perfect lazy afternoon is curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea, a bar of chocolate and a good book. 

And I love taking my book to bed, reading until my eyes get gritty with sleep.

There's always a book in my bag and I'll pull it out and read in the strangest of places. Even when I'm cooking!

Books are a huge part of my life. 

And one day, I hope my own book will be an important part of somebody elses life.