Friday, February 26, 2016

Bibliotherapy at the end of a tough week

This was a full-moon week, for sure. Too many things to do, too many deadlines and appointments. I felt off-balance all week, like the Red Queen running as fast as I could just to stay in place. And to cap the week off, I had a meeting with my tax adviser this afternoon. (At least it looks like I'll owe less money this year.) Heading home afterwards, I felt I deserved a treat - or a prize for getting through the week. I started with a chai latte at Starbucks and then plotted a course for Kaboom Books. Though I had Willa Cather and Margery Sharp in mind, I wasn't looking for anything in particular. As usual, I found some irresistible books there.



I had not come across this 1935 novel before. The back cover has a quote from the Times Literary Supplement that sold me on it: "In Lucy Gayheart, Willa Cather seems to be writing the lightest and slightest of records of a short life: the obscure life of a young girl in an American village who goes to Chicago to study music . . . but the impression left on the reader is not slight . . . The unity of Miss Cather's design, the clarity and distinction of this book should put it beside her first great success, My Antonia."




Another book I knew nothing of, despite my years of collecting P.G. Wodehouse's books. The back-cover blurb says that this is "the nearest Wodehouse ever came to a serious story," but it also mentions "a series of of comic mishaps in a book which features a galaxy of vintage Wodehouse characters." I see it was published in the U.S. as Their Mutual Child. I just mentioned in a post on Indiscretions of Archie that I've never read a Wodehouse book with a pregnant character - and here apparently is another. Though if the woman on the cover is pregnant, she is carrying that child in a very odd place.



This book sold itself on the title and cover alone. I see that Isabella Bird and Amelia Edwards are included, and I'm looking forward to meeting more of their intrepid sisterhood. I also see many lovely illustrations  - and maps! Lots of maps, for the geographically-challenged!




I instantly thought of Jane of Beyond Eden Rock when I saw this book. I enjoyed reading the three volumes of Rev. Francis Kilvert's diaries from the 1870s, but I was frustrated by the editing, which (as often happens) cut out things that I wanted to read about in favor of things the editor wanted to talk about. (See also: the diaries of George Templeton Strong.) This small volume covers a holiday that Kilvert spent in Cornwall in 1870. "This is the first complete edition of Kilvert's Journal No. 4..." I love the words "complete edition," as well as "Copiously illustrated with contemporary photographs and engravings - some of which are published here for the first time..."




Some time ago, I came across Vol. II of Anthony Trollope's 1862 travelogue North America, in the edition above. Having already read an extremely condensed one-volume edition, I bought it, even though Vol. I was not on the shelf, because complete editions of these books are hard to find (in print). I felt sure that someday I would come across the first volume, and today I did. But it was on sale with the second volume, as a set. I can understand that the proprietor didn't want to be left with an odd Vol. II that was unlikely to sell (except to a hopeful reader like me). So I bought the set, which at least wasn't expensive. If anyone would like the orphaned Vol. II, I'd be happy to send it along. I think it may be the more interesting of the two anyway, since it covers Trollope's visit to Washington and to the western theatre of the Civil War and its armies.

More for the TBR stacks, but at least I think I can resist them for the remainder of the TBR Dare (I've resisted Vol. II of North America for quite a while now).

14 comments:

  1. I'm sorry you had a bad week but what a lovely way to cheer yourself up! I have Lucy Gayheart in a Virago edition & I know I read it a very long time ago. I remember nothing so that means I need to read it again. I remember reading the Dea Birkett book too, years ago. Have you read Jane Robinson's anthology, Unsuitable for Ladies? I've only dipped into it but it's been on the tbr shelves far too long. Haven't heard of the Wodehouse either & didn't know Trollope wrote about America. I know his mother did (another book tbr) & I know he wrote about Australia so more to look out for. Lots for you choose from after the challenge is over.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've had my eye out for his writings on Australia, since I read the sections in his autobiography that talk about his travels. But the only editions I've seen (on-line) are way out of my price range. I don't think his non-fiction has been reprinted as often. I have his mother's book on the TBR shelves already - I'm looking forward to seeing what made her so unpopular in the States :)

      I haven't read Jane Robinson yet, but I will put her on the list, thanks!

      Delete
  2. New books always make life better. Spinsters Abroad looks like a lot of fun...I wouldn't have been able to resist that one either. And I liked Lucy Gayheart when I read it a few years ago. I hope you do, too. Happy Reading!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have a very low threshold of resistance when it comes to books :) It's exciting to wait for them to arrive by mail, but it's even more fun to find them on shelves, and be able to walk out with them!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I can't think of a better way to comfort yourself after a long week! I haven't bought any new books in about a month and now you have me itching to go for a browse. My book club just discussed "My Antonia" this week and she is on my mind - I don't have a copy of Lucy Gayheart so now I must find one. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been buying a lot of books this year, and it's only February! Mostly to collect particular authors, like Willa Cather, but also books that I come across that look interesting. I also want to put in a Persephone order, though I'm trying to hold off since I have acquired so many lately.

      Delete
  5. An excellent reward for surviving a challenging week! I've not heard of the Willa Cather but am intrigued.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am realizing how little I know about Cather's books! I thought I had read a biography of her, but if so I've forgotten most of that as well.

      Delete
  6. I have those Trollope travel books myself, although I have yet to crack them open. What a lovely set of books you found--and nice to treat yourself (I'm a chai latte fan myself).

    Spinsters Abroad looks marvelous--I really enjoy books like this, and I'm a long time Isabella Bird fan :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've had Isabella Bird's book about Hawaii on the TBR shelves for years. And there's a biography of her I meant to read as well. The Spinsters book will probably add even more books to my reading list :)

      Delete
  7. Oh dear! I feel very guilty towards Spinsters Abroad! I owned it once, and it lived in my house for many years, and eventually I decided I was never going to read it and I gave it away. You can let me know how it is! If it's the greatest book you ever read I will really REALLY have cause for regrets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's always my fear with weeding my shelves - that I'll give away a really good book and want it back later :) But I'm trying to get tougher about it.

      Delete
  8. The second hand bookstore makes me feel better after a long week, too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really do believe in book therapy :) It works with libraries of course - but they want their books back eventually.

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to read, and to comment. I always enjoy hearing different points of view about the books I am reading, even if we disagree!