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My visit to Hay-on-Wye may have been short, but it was definitely also sweet! In just over 24 hours I managed to amass a sizeable pile of books. And the best part? Some of them were free!
The books I bought were:
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Armin
Available in the UK and the US
This is @theroamingreader‘s April readathon pick. I could not resist getting this stunning Virago hardback, but the problem is that I now need to collect the rest of the titles available in these editions!
The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley
Available in the UK and the US
The synopsis reads “In 1953, Aldous Huxley took four-tenths of a gram of the drug Mescalin, sat down and waited to see what would happen.” Intrigued, much?
The Bone People by Keri Hulme
Available in the UK and the US
This is penned by a native New Zealand author and fits with my goal to read books from more diverse perspectives. It was also the 1984 winner of the prestigious Man Booker prize. This was one of my bargains of the weekend and I managed to find this gloriously battered edition, from 1986, for just 50p!
A biography of Sylvia Plath by Linda Wagner-Martin
Available in the UK and the US
Plath is my latest literary obsession, and I am eager to read more about the tragic but brilliant woman.
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
Available (in other editions) in the UK and the US
This is described as a “gargantuan, mind-altering comedy about the Pursuit of Happiness in America.” Despite its intimidating size (over 1,000 pages of closely packed text!), I am excited to slowly pore over this… for probably the next decade, or so.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Available in the UK and the US
Big thanks to @bookishsteph1 for finding this gorgeous Signature edition of my favourite Shakespearean play! This edition comes with beautiful line cut images, by illustrator Kevin Stanton, and is total #bookshelfporn.
The Penguin Book of Classical Myths by Jenny March
Available in the UK and the US
This interesting non-fiction was only £4 and, apart from the slightly yellowed pages, it is in perfect condition!
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
Available in the UK and the US
This is another important piece of literature that has been on my tbr since time began. It might not have the most eye-catching of covers, but it was another 50p bargain and it’s what is inside that counts, anyway. The insides of this one are dog-eared, yellowed and creased – just how I like them!
Chilling Horror Short Stories
Available in the UK and the US
Chilling Ghost Short Stories
Available in the UK and the US
Chilling Dystopia Utopia Short Stories
Available in the UK and the US
A series of both well-known and debut authors have penned the troubling tales hidden insides these richly decorated covers. With so many readathons coming up, I know these books are going to be put to good use, soon.
It wasn’t just the book shops delivering the goods. So many generous publishers, as well as the Norwegian embassy(!), donated book for us to pick at and peruse over. And I managed to take a nice collection of them home with me.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSWqz0MjpBu/?taken-by=dannii.elle.reads
Jealousy by Marcel Proust
Available in the UK and the US
This is one title in a gorgeously minimalist new range by Vintage Classics. I managed to get this abridged version of Proust’s In Search of Lost Time to start my collection.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Available in the UK and the US
This stunning Vintage Press edition of Anna Karenina was begging to be taken home and cherished. Measuring in at 992 pages, this isn’t the tallest tome in this haul but it isn’t far off! I own all of the Bronte and Austen books in these intricately patterned editions and this book has started off my collection of Russian literature, next on my list to collect. Thank you, Vintage Press!
All the Good Things by Clare Fisher
Available in the UK and not yet available in the US
Penguin very graciously provided a thick stack of arcs for this exciting debut novel, being published next July.
Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
Available in the UK and (in another edition) the US
This is the next release by the Pulitzer-prize-winning author that brought us Olive Kitteridge and I am delighted to get my hands on such an early edition.
The House by Simon Lelic
Available in the UK and the US
This spooky mystery isn’t due for publication until November this year and I am so glad I don’t have t wait that long to read it!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSZIUZtjWLr/?taken-by=dannii.elle.reads
