Sunday, April 25, 2021

It was the least I could do: Pandemic book shopping

Just wanted to share how selflessly I've been supporting booksellers in the U.S. and the U.K. (and perhaps one or two in New Zealand) in the past year.


Of course, the cynics among you will assume that I've done this partly for selfish reasons. Not at all. I mean, for heaven's sake, who on earth actually wants a pile of old books like this?! Nope, it's all been purely out of the goodness of my heart.

And if you think that this pile suggests that I got a bit carried away while sheltering in place, perhaps I shouldn't mention that there are actually many more, but these were the most photogenic and blog-relevant... (Nor does it include a tiny bit of D. E. Stevenson purchasing that I highlighted here.) You'll even get reviews of at least a handful of these, which surely makes it all worthwhile. You see how good I am to you?

17 comments:

  1. Good work!! I have been selflessly ordering from bookstore.org so that bookshops get a percentage. Selflessly, I tell you!

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    1. I absolutely believe you Liz. We are sacrificing ourselves for the good of all.

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  2. What and interesting looking stack of books. A few of the titles I couldn't make out, even by zooming to maximum magnification. One jumped out at me: Cat's Cradle. And I thought, is Scott reading/collecting Kurt Vonnegut? Always interesting to see a title used for two or more completely different books. One of my favorite examples is Still Glides the Stream, used by both D. E. Stevenson and Flora Thompson.

    Enjoy your treasures.

    Jerri

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    1. Thanks Jerri. Haven't read this Cat's Cradle yet, but it looks intriguing.

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  3. Very unselfish but envy-making of you.I had bought twenty books already but hadn't completed my circuit of the table at the latest monthly booksale.So I dumped my books by the servers..they are used to me..and went back....and found a copy of Rebecca West's The Fountain Overflows and Miles Franklin's My brilliant career goes bung.My bookcase on full alert that day.

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    1. Going back for more is always a good sign at a book sale!

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  4. Can't wait til they start having in-person book sales again in the Bay Area. I really miss them.

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    1. Yes, I wonder about this fall? They are taking donations again anyway, so fingers crossed!

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  5. A delicious sight! My collection has grown greatly in the time of pandemic too even though sadly I haven't been near a physical bookshop. I salve my conscience by trying to buy from real bookshops rather than the book warehouses so prevalent on ebay and abebooks these days. And I have apologised to my postie for all the parcels that won't fit through my letterbox and his wait on the doorstep while I get out of bed!!!

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    1. Glad you've been making the most of a bad situation too, Ann. Mail delivery was one of the rare high points of our lockdown!

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  6. Wonderful selection of books, and I am grateful as you have pointed some real gems to me. I am looking forward to mybfirst foray to a charity shop today.

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  7. There. I was able to read almost all the titles and authors by selecting the picture, saving it, and turning it sideways.

    I have to admit,none of the titles and few of the authors are known to me. Very adventurous lot, Scott. Enjoy mightily.

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    1. But you wouldn't expect to recognize most of the titles I purchase, would you Susan? If you did, I wouldn't be doing my work properly! :-)

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  8. Just think of all the good you are doing for the economy and the income of the booksellers....

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  9. This picture is everything to me. A dream. ;)

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