You know what makes me even happier than new books? New books that are half-off. Which is why Half Price Books will forever be my happy place. The loot:
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton: I picked this one up for my classics challenge (19th century classic). Set in the upper-class society of New York City in the 1870's and focuses on a couple's pending marriage. It also won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921.
Sula by Toni Morrison: I've read a few Toni Morrison novels (The Bluest Eye and Beloved) but that was a few years back and I think it's time to revisit her. Sula traces the lives of two black heroines from their close-knit childhood in small-town Ohio through their sharply different paths of womanhood.
Zola by Thérèse Raquin: In an effort to read more worldly lit, I chose to try Raquin. Zola follows a woman trapped in a loveless marriage who embarks on a turbulent affair.
Dreaming of Baghdad by Haifa Zangana (non-fiction): Zangana tells her story as a resister to the Baath Party as led by Saddam Hussein and her eventual imprisonment and torture in Abu Ghraib.
Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood: I am slowly making my way through Margaret Atwood's 13 works of fiction. Cat's Eye is "a breathtaking novel of a woman grappling with the tangled knot of her life".
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri: I may be one of the last people to read this novel. It examines the immigrant experience in America.
Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz (non-fiction): A cognitive scientist explains how dogs perceive their daily worlds, each other and humans.
Dreaming of Baghdad by Haifa Zangana (non-fiction): Zangana tells her story as a resister to the Baath Party as led by Saddam Hussein and her eventual imprisonment and torture in Abu Ghraib.
Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood: I am slowly making my way through Margaret Atwood's 13 works of fiction. Cat's Eye is "a breathtaking novel of a woman grappling with the tangled knot of her life".
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri: I may be one of the last people to read this novel. It examines the immigrant experience in America.
Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz (non-fiction): A cognitive scientist explains how dogs perceive their daily worlds, each other and humans.
I have never been to this Half Price Books, but I think I need to change this. Once I get money of course.
ReplyDeleteCat's Eye is the only Atwood I have left on my shelf (I need to replenish!), so I'm interested to see what you think. In looking up her list of works, I see that I've read nearly half of her works of fiction. I think you've inspired me to read them all as well!
Nice book haul! Don't worry I haven't read The Namesake either.
ReplyDeleteThese look fabulous! I know what you mean about that new book feeling. I have been reading your Margaret Atwood posts over the last year and I am determined to read one of her books this year. For someone who has not read any of her novels, where would you suggest I start?
ReplyDeleteHappy 2011!
historyofshe, You do need to change that! Have you checked if there is one in your area? I'm also excited you decided to read all of Atwood's works as well. I think its a good goal.
ReplyDeleteRed, That makes me feel better :)
Mel, I started with The Handmaids Tale awhile back. It's still one of my favorites. I would recommend you start with that.
Oh geeze, Zola? Really? Great selection overall, but Zola is a ruthless bastard. Never read Thérèse Raquin, but L'Assomoir knocked me the hell out.
ReplyDeleteBen, That's bad news. I bought it on a whim without knowing much about it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great haul. Cat's Eye is wonderful; Atwood captures female relationships so well.And Wharton, Morrison, Zola--a great selection. Haven't read Therese Raquin but thought Nana was brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThe Namesake is one of those books I read instead of eating, showering or sleeping. Really, really good! Enjoy! (Terrible movie, though - hard to get past the fact that the guy who plays the main character - Kal Penn - is the dude from Harold and Kumar!)
ReplyDeletebibliophiliac, OK now I'm not so worried about Zola. Ben had me doubting my purchase.
ReplyDeleteGreg, I've never seem Harold and Kumar. But now I'm really excited for The Namesake. I hope you had a great vacation!
You'll see what I mean when you'll read I guess. It's not bad it's just...it's hard to explain. What I'll say though is that Zola has a knack for torturing his characters, which gives him a certain charm.
ReplyDeleteThe Namesake is excellent; enjoy them all.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great selection of books. 'Dreaming of Baghdad' sounds particularly interesting and it's gone on my wishlist :)
ReplyDeleteWe don't have the shop half-price books where I live but I love finding a book bargain.
An excellent loot! Hard to go wrong with Morrison, Atwood or Jhumpa Lahiri.
ReplyDeleteMmmmm new books. I had to laugh when I saw Inside of a Dog because my husband and I were at the bookstore last weekend killing time before our movie started and we were laughing at the title of the book. It does sound interesting, though! Like everyone else, I hope you enjoy the Namesake. I am planning on rereading it this year, because I love it so much. Dreaming of Baghdad sounds really interesting, I hope you review that one so I know if it's worth checking out. :)
ReplyDeleteHPB is one of the best things about living in Texas! It's off-limits for me right now since I'm on a book-buying ban, but what great stuff you got! I loved The Namesake (the movie is quite good also); Edith Wharton -- great! And Zola -- one of my new favorite authors. I've read Therese Raquin and The Belly of Paris, which I loved, and my IRL classics group is reading Germinal this year, which is supposed to be his best book. I look forward to your reviews.
ReplyDeleteOh Half Price Books--how I love you. :)
ReplyDeleteI've read Cat's Eye and Age of Innocence--liked both. Love Atwood. Oh, and Sula. Enjoyed that one, too.
You're not the last to read The Namesake, though! I have it but haven't read it yet.
I always enjoy a good book find. I am jealous of this Half Price Books that you frequently cite. I loved The Namesake and Cat's Eye, but afraid to mention either in case you absolutely hate both. It isn't likely, but you must cover your bases. Hope you enjoy the nonfiction; I'm on a nonfiction kick all of the sudden.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice haul! Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great haul! I have the Atwood on my shelf, so I'm looking forward to your thoughts on it. As for the Lahiri book - loved it! Hope you enjoy it as well.
ReplyDeleteI actually didn't enjoy The Namesake, but I won't tell you why before you read it. Like others, you may love it! I do love Cat's Eye, though, and Inside of a Dog sounds really interesting, though I might get weepy because I love my Lucy so much and she's getting old and having a bit of a hard time...
ReplyDeleteI love HPB but live 2 hours from the closest one-- since I don't get to it very often, I go hogwild! I picked up Age of Innocence recently at a library sale and I've really been wanting to read more Atwood. Great haul!
ReplyDeleteHey Brenna - I'm almost through with "Cat's Eye" - enjoying it very much!! :)
ReplyDeleteNice haul! I got a whole bunch of books for the new year myself!
ReplyDeleteI just picked up The Namesake as well. I've read both of Lahiri's short story collections, so I'm interested to try her novel. Cat's Eye has been recommended to me frequently; I have a copy on my shelf and hope to get to it soon. Great books!
ReplyDelete