It’s both a blessing and a curse to have my birthday fall so soon after Christmas – hooray, piles of books, but also oh, no, where to fit in all these books? This year, I’ve decided to embrace it fully: usually I save up my book tokens to spend in the summer but I’ve already spent some of my old and new Christmas book tokens and as well as receiving this lovely pile I have some more book and Heath Bookshop tokens to spend, and will do soon! But in the meantime, look at this lovely pile!
From the top, my best friend Emma went off-list (again) to pick out Robin Ince’s “Bibliophile” for me, which is about a tour around indie bookshops. She also kindly gave me two Susan Scarlett (Noel Streatfeild) novels, “Babbacombe’s” and “Ten Way Street”, the latter having the distinction of having been published in 1940, so it seamlessly allows me to take part in Kaggsy and Simon’s 1940 Week later in the spring. As do Margery Sharp’s “The Stone of Chastity” and D. E. Stevenson’s “The English Air”, which Ali forebearingly bought for me with no choice, given they’re the other Dean Street Press books published in 1940 that I wanted (don’t worry, DSP fans, I have plenty left for Dean Street December still!).
Then Sian kindly chose “Found in Translation: How Language Shapes our Lives and Transforms the World” by Nataly Kelly and Jost Zetzsche as well as giving me a book token, and Meg picked “The Story of Art Without Men” by Katy Hessel (with its v. clever spine and cover!) both from my extensive wish list.
I’m so lucky to have such bookish friends, and very grateful for the tokens from Gill, Laura, Jen and my parkrun core team friends (as well as the coffee!) which I will make good use of very soon!
MarinaSofia
Jan 24, 2023 @ 09:07:40
I am so envious – none of my friends ever give me book tokens or books. I think they believe I have too many already! Or fear that they will give me the wrong ones etc.
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:05:58
Well I have a comprehensive wish list that’s easily available on this site, and I usually let Ali and Emma know a list of Dean Street Press books I’m looking for, so it’s a no-risk situation!
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Simon T
Jan 24, 2023 @ 09:11:14
Wonderful haul! Bibliomaniac sounds wonderful, and delighted that so many DSPs fit the 1940 Club.
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:07:01
Yes, we like a book about book(shop)s don’t we! And I am glad I asked DSP so I had a list to wave at Ali.
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Wendy
Jan 24, 2023 @ 10:58:53
How nice! It sounds as if your friends know you well! Happy reading!
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:07:26
Yes, I’m very lucky!
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madamebibilophile
Jan 24, 2023 @ 11:15:56
What a lovely haul Liz! I’m also planning on reading Sharp for the 1940 Club.
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:08:02
Oh, excellent, I’ll look forward to joining you in reading that one!
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kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 24, 2023 @ 11:22:37
How wonderful, Liz, what a brilliant haul and I’m so glad you’ve got something suitable lined up for 1940 – a very good year, it seems! And I covet “The Story of Art Without Women” which is on my wishlist too – it sounds great!
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:10:09
Yes, it’s great, I will have to remember to read one in advance to fit all the reviews in! And you must get the art one, right up your street, too!
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bookbii
Jan 24, 2023 @ 11:43:23
Is there anything more wonderful than a lovely pile of new books? What an excellent haul. Happy birthday and I hope you enjoy all your new books.
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:10:47
Thank you, I am very lucky and it’s so nice to have good friends who provide such piles of books!
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peterleyland
Jan 24, 2023 @ 12:00:39
I think Bibliomaniac might suit me Liz as I’m getting snowed under with must reads. Just finished the absolutely stunning The Years by Annie Ernaux which I’ve probably mentioned to everyone, and I am now being hotly tipped on Deborah Levy’s new novel, so Robin Ince will have to wait…
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:11:13
Too many books, too little time, I know the feeling!
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hopewellslibraryoflife
Jan 24, 2023 @ 12:22:38
Good friends! Bibliomamiav appeals to me.
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:11:44
It looks so good and enticing, it won’t be long till I get into it, I’m sure!
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volatilemuse
Jan 24, 2023 @ 13:37:30
Excellent additions here – lucky you. I loved Katy Hessel. In fact I think we need her for Prime Minister.
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:12:09
Well that’s a positive recommendation for it!
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Tredynas Days
Jan 24, 2023 @ 14:46:41
My wife bought the K Hessel last month and I confess I hadn’t noticed the semi-hidden ‘without men’! It looks very interesting
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:12:58
If it makes you feel any better, I waved it excitedly at my husband and he had to have it pointed out to him, too!
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Jane
Jan 24, 2023 @ 15:41:49
Happy Birthday and what a fabulous collection to keep you going for a while!
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:13:34
Yes, indeed!
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A Life in Books
Jan 24, 2023 @ 16:40:58
Happy Birthday! Very keen to read the Hessel.
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:14:08
Thank you, and I’ll look forward to seeing everyone’s thoughts on that one!
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lizannelloyd
Jan 24, 2023 @ 16:54:38
D E Stevenson is a great author. I read many of her books years ago but not The English Air. I’ll be interested to read what you think of it.
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:17:55
Yes, I’ve been enjoying her books for a number of years now. I will be reading that one in December for my Dean Street Press December challenge, if I can wait that long …!
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Paul Cheney
Jan 24, 2023 @ 17:48:17
Happy Birthday, Liz!! I have a copy of Bibliomaniac from the library to read soon
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:14:45
Excellent, I bet you get a lot out of it, too! And thank you!
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Anne@HeadFullofBooks
Jan 24, 2023 @ 17:51:46
Happy Birthday and happy reading!!!!!
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:15:13
Thank you on both counts!
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Calmgrove
Jan 24, 2023 @ 18:59:12
Lucky you! The Robin Ince looks interesting, Liz, and is doubtless highly readable as I suspect from attending one of his engaging talks at our local litfest before lockdown kicked in.
No book money for me at Christmas, but I recently got book vouchers for accompanying our local choral society, so treated myself to a few titles incuding R F Kuang’s Babel, The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley by Sean Lusk, and Sayaka Murata’s Earthlings. Hopefully I’ll get through all of these before too long!
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:15:56
Oh, excellent, I’ve never seen him speak! And how great to be recompensed in book tokens and good choices – enjoy!
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Brona's Books
Jan 24, 2023 @ 21:25:55
Happy belated Birthday for starters!! And luck you for seconds! All those delicious looking DSP books – will you be able to wait until December to read them though 😀
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Liz Dexter
Jan 24, 2023 @ 22:16:43
Thank you! I will read as many of the three 1940 ones for 1940Club in April but I have three others to go, too, so plenty for December!
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Laura
Jan 25, 2023 @ 06:58:09
Oh, I had no idea that Noel Streatfield also published under another name!
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Liz Dexter
Jan 25, 2023 @ 08:59:15
Yes! They are (and were) marketed as romances but the one I’ve read so far was more a family / career novel which I really enjoyed. I mean, there was romance but also a lot of detail about the other two aspects.
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thecontentreader
Jan 25, 2023 @ 11:20:51
Happy birthday! You are lucky to get so many books/tokens. Wonderful.
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Liz Dexter
Jan 25, 2023 @ 12:38:08
Thank you and yes, so lucky!
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Davida Chazan
Jan 26, 2023 @ 08:45:56
I see Dean Street Press strikes again! I’d read any of those books. Too bad I can only get the eBook versions.
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Liz Dexter
Jan 26, 2023 @ 21:52:12
At least they’re all (I think) available in that format so accessible. I’ve read a fair few of the ebooks as my review copies come that way.
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Claire 'Word by Word'
Jan 27, 2023 @ 09:36:05
Happy birthday, what wonderful literary treasures! I love the thrill of seeing what readers receive in their bday hauls, especially like yours where you have an informed set of friends. Enjoy!
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Liz Dexter
Jan 28, 2023 @ 14:49:42
Thank you! And yes, also a comprehensive wish list and subsidiary lists for particular people!
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Stuck in a Book’s Weekend Miscellany – Stuck in a Book
Jan 28, 2023 @ 07:37:32
Thomas
Jan 28, 2023 @ 12:26:01
Yay so happy to hear you embrace this bookish birthday haul! Love the sound of The Story of Art Without Men. Your social connections are on point and I appreciate you sharing about your book friends, exercise friends, etc.
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Liz Dexter
Jan 28, 2023 @ 14:50:53
I’m very fortunate in my friendship groups! And watch this space for info on all the book token spending I’ve done so far …!!
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JacquiWine
Jan 31, 2023 @ 09:17:51
Happy belated birthday, Liz. I hope you had a great celebration at the time! What lovely gifts, especially those DSP editions. I wish they were more visible in bookshops, but sadly they don’t seem to be very easy to get hold of through Gardners (the main wholesaler)! Looking forward to hearing what you think of the Margery Sharp – she’s a writer I’d like to read more of in the future.
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Liz Dexter
Feb 01, 2023 @ 07:36:39
Thank you, and yes, it was a lovely day, too (volunteering at a different parkrun from usual featured in the morning, hanging out with my parkrun family, then a nice wander around the local high street in the afternoon and a takeaway). I am looking forward to the Margery Sharp and will be reading it relatively soon!
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heavenali
Jan 31, 2023 @ 23:36:16
Well you did do well. A pleasing birthday pile. How satisfying that the DE Stevenson is a bit chunkier. I have now finished spending my Christmas book tokens, so my tbr is exploding too.
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Liz Dexter
Feb 01, 2023 @ 07:37:04
I did! I need to see a pile of your new ones, too!
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State of my TBR
Feb 01, 2023 @ 09:44:43
January book haul part 2
Feb 03, 2023 @ 10:29:35
Book review - Susan Scarlett - "Babbacombe's"
Dec 16, 2023 @ 09:01:22