I've been in a reading slump the past couple of weeks, but that hasn't stopped me from adding to my already-overflowing bookshelves. My library had their annual book sale last week; it was the first time I've attended and, although it was CRAZY crowded and therefore difficult to browse, I did end up with 5 new additions. The other newbies I've picked up came from one of our local Goodwill stores. I love book shopping there because you never know what you'll find. Sometimes I walk out with just 1 or 2 items, but other times I get an armload. I like to think of it as a bookaholic treasure hunt.
From the book sale, I got:
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
This title was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2004 and is on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list.
On Beauty and White Teeth both by Zadie SmithThese are both hardbacks and appear to be brand new. On Beauty was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2005 and nominated for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 2006. Both titles are on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list.
The Tin Drum by Gunter GrassProbably the best-known work by Grass, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1999. The movie version won a number of awards in 1979, including the Palm d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The novel was originally published in German in 1959 and is included on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list.
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
I got this one from the library a few years ago, but didn't finish it. So many others have read it and loved it, I figured I'd see what all the fuss was about.
The Goodwill produced these gems:
Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
The winner of the Man Booker Prize in 1998, this is also one more title from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list.
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
One of my favorite Humphrey Bogart/Lauren Bacall movies, the book is (guess what) listed on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list.
Blindness by Jose Saramago
Saramago is an author that I've had on my list of authors-to-read for a while, so I was thrilled to pick this one up.
Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor
This collection of short stories was published posthumously in 1965. It's one more title from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list.
Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz
Another title from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list, this book was first published in Arabic in 1947. The Egyptian author won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988.
The Sign of Four and The Valley of Fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I actually already have The Sign of Four as part of another collection, but I was missing The Valley of Fear. For $2, I wasn't going to be picky.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
The best-known work by the Nigerian author, this title is yet another from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list.
