chasing bawa

I recently swore to myself I wouldn’t buy any more books until I had read at least three from my TBR bookcase (and yes, it’s not a bookshelf but a whole bookcase) but I couldn’t resist popping into my favourite charity bookshop and found four (!) books that I just had to have. I am weak, weak, weak.

I find I often go into bookshops to cheer myself up and to find a bit of peace and quality time. If I have a stressful day at work I pop into the Waterstone’s in Piccadilly before I head off home. If I’m on my way home from my sister’s I pop into the Highgate Oxfam bookshop. Sometimes I find nothing, but the very act of browsing somehow releases the tension in my mind and shoulders. And this weekend I was lucky/unlucky depending on whether you consult my mind or my wallet.

So what did I get?

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver – I have heard many wonderful things about this book from friends, book blogs and reviews and have been wanting to read this for a while.

Remainder by Tom McCarthy – I first heard about this book while perusing Scott Pack’s very entertaining blog Me and My Big Mouth. You can also read articles about McCarthy here and here. Incidentally, the copy I bought was signed by the author himself, woo hoo!

Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino – I read her novel Out several years ago and was seriously impressed! She makes the mundane very sinister. I no longer look at housewives in the same way.

Age of Misrule by Mark Chadbourn – has been mentioned with awe several times in the sff blogs I read. I unsuccessfully entered a competition to win a copy several weeks back, and so when I saw this one, I knew it was fate.

Not a bad haul for under ten quid.