Book Haul part two

Remember when I talked about my Germany book haul that I would finish another time? Well, now is that other time.

My friend visited this past weekend and carried back the remaining ten books that I couldn't bring back last time. This is clearly evidence of true love - TEN BOOKS!

Of course we had to do a bit more book shopping while she was here, in order to fill the gaping void in her bag, and so I picked up a few more books there, too.

So, without further ado...

The first book on my shelves is Momo by Michael Ende. It is on my list, but it has been taking second place to Die unendliche Geschichte. Looking at them both, however, I may as well just start with Momo, instead. It's shorter and may well be easier, too. However, they can both wait until I've brought myself through Tintenherz. Momo is about the fight of the young girl by that name to stop the grey 'time thieves'.

Next comes Trix Solier: Zauberlehrling voller fehl und adel (Trix Solier: Sorcery apprenticeship full of error and nobility) by Sergei Lukyanenko of Night Watch fame. I read the first half of The Night Watch, and really enjoyed it, but the second half threw me a bit. The poor book's case wasn't much helped by the poor editing in the edition that I have. I'm hoping that this book will keep a hold of me all the way through. 

Next comes a series of three books. They are together Das geheimnis des Herbstlandes (The Secret of the land of Autumn) trilogy by Herbert Osenger. I picked them up on a whim at the book market. I'm really not sure what to expect from them, but I hope that I'll be pleasantly surprised. They have a secret world type thing going on, which anyone who knows me knows that I love. The first book is called Haus der Türen (House of Doors). Lisa is just looking for her house key but ends up on a long journey to unlock the secret of the autumn lands...

Das Magische Messer by Phillip Pullman follows. I think The Subtle Knife was my favourite of the three books. As said, I love it when someone from one world finds that they've slipped or otherwise travelled into another, so naturally I loved all that happens here.

Then comes Schlachthof 5 oder Der Kinderkreuzzug (Slaughterhouse 5) by Kurt Vonnegut. I read it and loved it in English, and so I couldn't resist when I saw it in the book market.

Then is a bilingual French-German edition of Comment on se marie et comment on se meurt (How we marry and how we die) by Zola. I don't think I've ever experienced any particular desire to read Zola before, but I may well surprise myself. At any rate, it's a fairly slim volume, so if I am not surprised, and least it won't last long. I'm afraid to say that you'll all have to do without a picture of this handsome edition.

Bringing up the rear are two volumes of a manga I really like and have already read in English, Kamisama Kiss by Julia Suzuki which translates to something like 'Goddess Kiss'. It's a fun number about a girl who moves into a temple when her fathers debts mean she can no longer live at home. It's fun, silly, and not very realistic, which is precisely what I like from a manga.







So, those are the books my friend was kind enough to lug around for me for over five hours. Next comes new acquisitions and a borrowed book.

The first was Don't try this at home, a collection of short stories by Angela Readman, published by & Other Stories. I've wanted this book for a while, but have had trouble finding it in bookshops. I put off ordering it online mainly because my shelves are already crammed full of books that I have yet to read. But when I saw it while browsing, I simply couldn't resist and so picked it up and only barely managed to let go long enough for the cashier to scan it. I haven't yet started (see the aforementions shelves crammed full of books; also, my obscenely long 'Currently Reading list). However, as I type this my cousin is sitting next to me, the book open and completely absorbed. I'm taking this as a sign of excellent things to come.

Then, still clutching hold of the above, I came across the holy grail. Of course I mean the edition of Alice in Wonderland as illustrated by Tove Jansson, published by the Tate. Being something of a traditionalist at heart, I am very sceptical of editions of Alice without Tenniel illustrations. Naturally, I have seen certain, non-Tenniel illustrators do amazing things but I've seen others create illustrations that feel like nails clawing across the chalkboard of my delicate soul. Jansson is an exception. I'm almost entirely convinced that everything she touched turned to gold. Or, you know, something close enough that I can't tell the difference.

On the same day, I managed to dig out and purchase Oliver VII by Antal Szerb, published in translation by Pushkin Press. I started reading this sometime last year, but couldn't get my hands on my very own copy, so had to stop a third of the way through. It's extremely absurd and quite funny, so I'm looking forward to diving back in with it.

Finally, I bought my cousin The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey for her birthday, on the condition that she lend it to me as soon as she was finished. I'm nothing, if not generous. This book has been on my 'To Read' list for so long that I have more than once forgotten that it's there. But now it's on my 'To Read' shelf, which is definitely a step. Not necessarily a step up, but a step nonetheless. I was unable to stop myself reading the first few pages when my cousin handed it over to me, but I can't make my mind up on them yet. I'm sure it'll worm its way on to my currently reading list fairly soon, despite my noble intentions to try and get the number of books there under 25 before adding anything more...

This has been a long post, and it has taken me a few hours to write. I could happily toddle off for another month or so, but I have yet another book review coming your way, and I should hopefully get it out within the week. So I'll be back!

Happy reading,
Little Newman