I'm so impressed that KMcD has kept her copy of The Secret History so intact after all those reads... I bought my copy in around 2000, have read it twice and my boyfriend read it once and it's completely falling apart! What did I do to it?! I will probably just have to buy that handsome new edition when I next want to reread it, I guess...!
I've just wrecked a copy of Crown of Blood by Nicola Tallis on first reading. Even mild spine opening has made the central coloured pages fall out. Very annoying because it was good and now I can't lend it to anybody.
I think The Secret History collectively set all our expectations too high for university life. And yet I have the fantasy that I could live out that life if I wanted to? That it is in fact a matter of choice that I haven’t been to a bacchanal, not lack of opportunity.
I do! Thank you so much. We really appreciate all the orders through our bookshop.org account - as long as you can see my shop name (Storytellers, Inc) and logo in your left hand corner, we'll get a cut! thanks, Mel.
How many times have I been put off by a book’s heft and then LOVED it (The Goldfinch, Wolf Hall etc, The Luminaries, all the Donna Tartts, trying to remember others...)? In fact, too many to count. But I agree, i can race through a big fat book more swiftly than an average run of the mill sized book. I try not to let size put me off any more!
I absolutely love Donna Tartt and think she’s a genius! I read her after college, so didn’t suffer bacchanalia disappointment!!
I know. I think there's something in committing to a long novel, then feeling more rewarded/satisfied because you've been through more together?? But I'm still always hesitant!!
I loathed that kite book! But I also reread The Secret History every few years! That edition does look special. I’m sorry you were not invited to a bacchanal, that’s such poor form!
Just read Kristin Hannah's 'The Four Winds'...'twas a book I bought from (whispers) an independent online book shop over on the dark side of the Pennines. It's been on my bedside pile for an age. Anyway, I know alot more about dust bowl America during the 1930s than I did before reading, which is good. Probably won't peruse the KH shelf again though if I'm honest.
Now on 'The God of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy. Early signs are encouraging!!!
I love reading your bookshop updates and following the links to your recommended titles, and yes, The Kite Runner is heart-breaking, but ignited my passion for Khalid Hosseini for which I'm grateful. I eventually read The Secret History after it had sat on my shelves for years, a brick of a book which scared me, and which I thought might be beyond me (books with more than three main characters fries my ND brain). Perhaps I should re-visit it and read it with much less trepidation; I might enjoy it more second time around.
Naughty of WH Smith to under-price the same books you stock, though I assume it must be more a quantity issue than favouritism.
I'm so impressed that KMcD has kept her copy of The Secret History so intact after all those reads... I bought my copy in around 2000, have read it twice and my boyfriend read it once and it's completely falling apart! What did I do to it?! I will probably just have to buy that handsome new edition when I next want to reread it, I guess...!
I think the condition really depends on the style of reading - an enthusiastic spine cracker can wreck a book on a first read!
I've just wrecked a copy of Crown of Blood by Nicola Tallis on first reading. Even mild spine opening has made the central coloured pages fall out. Very annoying because it was good and now I can't lend it to anybody.
That's true, I am one of those!
Also love the sound of the little chap in the yellow wellies!
I think The Secret History collectively set all our expectations too high for university life. And yet I have the fantasy that I could live out that life if I wanted to? That it is in fact a matter of choice that I haven’t been to a bacchanal, not lack of opportunity.
I'm now concerned that there were bacchanals and I just wasn't invited!
If we purchase through the bookshop links do you get the profit? Christmas shopping time!
I do! Thank you so much. We really appreciate all the orders through our bookshop.org account - as long as you can see my shop name (Storytellers, Inc) and logo in your left hand corner, we'll get a cut! thanks, Mel.
Thanks Katie.
How many times have I been put off by a book’s heft and then LOVED it (The Goldfinch, Wolf Hall etc, The Luminaries, all the Donna Tartts, trying to remember others...)? In fact, too many to count. But I agree, i can race through a big fat book more swiftly than an average run of the mill sized book. I try not to let size put me off any more!
I absolutely love Donna Tartt and think she’s a genius! I read her after college, so didn’t suffer bacchanalia disappointment!!
Another great dispatch xx
I know. I think there's something in committing to a long novel, then feeling more rewarded/satisfied because you've been through more together?? But I'm still always hesitant!!
You’re hosting Lizzy Stewart at a book club! What a dream of an event! Personally, I think that sounds way better than a book club on a cruise liner
I know I know, I'm so excited!!!
A joy to read again, Katie. There's something very calming about reading about the happenings of your bookshop 😊
Thanks Nathan. Yeah, it's a pretty chill place... on account of there being so few customers 😆🙈
😬😅
Hopefully plenty this week, in part so you can write about them all 😉
I loathed that kite book! But I also reread The Secret History every few years! That edition does look special. I’m sorry you were not invited to a bacchanal, that’s such poor form!
Just read Kristin Hannah's 'The Four Winds'...'twas a book I bought from (whispers) an independent online book shop over on the dark side of the Pennines. It's been on my bedside pile for an age. Anyway, I know alot more about dust bowl America during the 1930s than I did before reading, which is good. Probably won't peruse the KH shelf again though if I'm honest.
Now on 'The God of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy. Early signs are encouraging!!!
Thanks for the newsletter, really enjoy it.
I love reading your bookshop updates and following the links to your recommended titles, and yes, The Kite Runner is heart-breaking, but ignited my passion for Khalid Hosseini for which I'm grateful. I eventually read The Secret History after it had sat on my shelves for years, a brick of a book which scared me, and which I thought might be beyond me (books with more than three main characters fries my ND brain). Perhaps I should re-visit it and read it with much less trepidation; I might enjoy it more second time around.
Naughty of WH Smith to under-price the same books you stock, though I assume it must be more a quantity issue than favouritism.