You know what makes me happy?
BOOOOKS!!!
Just a couple of days ago I finished reading By Darkness Hid, by Jill Williamson.
Can I just say: Loooooove! I’ve been wanting to read this one for a good while now. It was so GOOD! I had already ordered the next one, To Darkness Fled, before I had even finished the first one, and now I greatly anticipate it arriving.
But, fortunately, while I wait I have some other reads to pass the time.
In addition to acquiring By Darkness Hid and ordering To Darkness Fled, I also recently visited a local secondhand bookstore and…well…I don’t really have any self control when I can get a book for just a dollar or two. I probably would have gotten more, too, if I had more time there, but, alas, I was not able to stay too long. But I’m sure I’ll go there plenty times more! Entering a store with rows upon rows of books all for dirt cheap is like entering Heaven for me. Except in Heaven they’d all be free. *winks*
I honestly don’t even know what half of the books I bought are, but when they’re so cheap, who cares?! It’s no great loss if they’re not good. Some, though, I was quite happy to obtain.
Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede is something I’ve very much been wanting to read, completely oblivious that it’s the first of an entire series. Me being the fairytale/fantasy lover I am, I saw this nice hardback book and instantly ripped it off the shelf to see what it held inside. It was a very nice surprise.
Oh. A book with Dealing With Dragons plus all the rest of the series that I didn’t know was a series? Yes please!
I also found another treasure.
I am so very ashamed to admit that I have not actually ever read The Silmarillion. Yes…I know…it’s horrible. *hangs head in utter shame* As you probably all know, Tolkien is my hero and The Silmarillion is a must read for all Tolkien fanatics. I have been meaning to read it for years upon years, but I just never had a copy to actually read. So upon finding it for just $1 or something like that there was no possible way I was going to leave that store without it. I’m so happy to actually own a copy of it! Now, I would like to someday get a really nice copy of it. This is a secondhand bookstore after all, so most of the books are very much used. I like my books in mint condition; but, hey, when you’re getting them for dirt cheap, how can you complain about the condition?
Couldn’t pass up on Tolkien goodness!
You should probably know that I am a total Arthurian Legend nut. I get completely nerdy when it comes to King Arthur and Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table and Excalibur and Lancelot and Guinevere and all that wonderfulness!
I have not read much of Stephen R. Lawhead’s works, but what I have I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. It was a good while back that I was in a bookstore and saw a book entitled Taliesin by said author that was apparently the first book of a series called The Pendragon Cycle. Upon realizing Stephen R. Lawhead had an Arthurian Legend series, I was very quick to buy Taliesin. I found it a fascinating read and hoped to someday continue the series, but…I never did. Mainly due to me being broke. Heh. And also I always had other books I wanted to get more. The Pendragon Cycle just kept getting pushed back. But then, there on the bookshelf in the secondhand bookstore, was Merlin, the second book of the series. Yay! My only hesitation in buying it was that I really hate having a series when the books don’t match. And these two books don’t even look like they’re from the same series! But I knew I’d probably never get around to actually buying the right edition for who-knows how much. This copy was cheap. So bought it I did. (Maybe someday I’ll get it all in a matching set…)
I couldn’t help but snag up some more Arthurian Legend fiction while I was there as well. I don’t really know anything about these other titles, so we’ll see.
Just a few weeks ago I finished reading This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti, something I probably should have read a long time ago… It really was such a powerful story! I had no idea it had a sequel until after I had finished it. I was very excited to find said sequel on one of the bookshelves just waiting for me to purchase it.
You’ve probably already guessed I’m really a kid at heart. Being such, I still enjoy books for those dear younger people.
I feel as though this book, The Moffats by Eleanor Estes, has been following me around. It seems like every time I go into a bookstore it catches my eye for some reason. One time I really even almost just bought it because of that. I have no idea what it even is, but it looked like such a fun story. I’m pretty sure it is for young readers, but from what I can see it has a humorous, nonsensical storyline which is my absolute favorite thing! I love ridiculous stories! That probably says something about me… Ahem. Anyways, I was just about to leave the bookstore when I saw this on a bottom shelf. I was delighted, because I declare this curious little book has been haunting me. I did not question taking it home. Even if I don’t like it, it has an adorable cover. A nice addition to my bookshelf.
I have many things to add to my bookshelf, whether I like them or not. I’m as much a book collector as I am a book reader. …Okay, I might be way more of a reader, but I sure enjoy collecting them, too! It’s a shame I don’t actually have anymore room on my bookshelf for these new additions…
Ah well, room for them or not, I’m a very happy elf!
Secondhand bookstores are the best!! You never know what you'll find in there!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, The Silmarillion is a must. I've only read it once, and that was when I was about 11. I had just discovered LOTR, so I had to read all Tolkien right then. The librarian looked skeptical when I checked it out, and she mentioned that most adults didn't get through the book. I took that as a challenge and read the book cover to cover. ;)
Ooh! I loved Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court! It was sooo good! Twain just has that witty writing style that makes him so much to read.
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles are good, too. Luckily for me, our library had the entire series so I didn't have to wait on any account. ;)
Thanks for posting! Thoroughly enjoyed all the pictures of all those lovely books! You make me rather envious, for most of the places around me selling used books have horrible selections, and it's nigh impossible to find excellent titles. Ah, the sorrows we literary lovers go through....
Yes! Love the 2nd-hand bookstores! We have one in my area called McKays, and I LOVE shopping there. Your collection of books looks like such good reading! I recognized many that I've read and/or want to read.
ReplyDeletePeretti's Piercing the Darkness is a great sequel to the first. It's actually on my re-read list. =] And, like you, I haven't read Tolkien's Silmarillion or the Lays of Beleriand... I'd love to know what you think of them once you read through their adventures!!
Great post!
@Kiri - They are absolutely the best thing ever! I love how I can just buy tons of things without having to worry about spending too much.
ReplyDeleteYou go, girl! I think a lot of people thought I was crazy as well when I read LotR for the first time at the age of 10. But I adored every single word of it! Avid readers cannot be judged by age. ;) I'm looking forward to delving into The Silmarillion.
When I saw the Mark Twain book I nearly gasped that I did not know he had written such a book! It just looks sooo up my alley. I cannot wait to read it! It will probably be one of the first ones I read.
It's great the library had the entire series. My library is often lacking certain books of certain series, and it frustrates me. I hate when I can't complete a series.
Thank YOU for reading and commenting! I'm glad you enjoyed this post. I had a blast putting it together! That's sad you don't have a good used bookstore around you. I, myself, only recently discovered this one. I don't know how I missed it. All this time I could have been going there!
@Sarah - Yes, yes, yes. Love 'em!
Is it? Then that makes me look even more forward to reading it. This Present Darkness was spectacular!
I might have to do some reviews of some of these books as I read them. I've been pretty lazy about reviewing books lately. :-/
Thank you so much, Sarah. Glad you enjoyed it!
I love King Arthur, the knights of the round table, Merlin, and Lancelot too! I have only read the book about them by Green though... :( I should really look into some other ones.
ReplyDelete~U sure do read a lot!! ^w^ I love JRR Tolkien`s books too!!
ReplyDelete~My family doesn`t hate Sherlock(save my grandma), they just can`t watch a show without commenting on it while it`s playing!! >_<
~Oh! I really do hope the 3rd season is out by fall!! =D
@lightwarriorsinadarkworld - I totally geek over it all! Sadly, I haven't read much Arthurian Legend fiction myself though. I have read some of Le Morte D'Arthur but it's not always the easiest thing to get through.
ReplyDelete@River - Lol! Yes, I read a LOT lot! And that's putting it mildly. XD Woot for Tolkien! He's my hero.
Ah, I understand. Which is why I like watching some shows by myself. Hehe. But I like having family movie watchings and such as well.
Me too! I think it is, but again, not entirely sure.