Friday, 11 December 2020

11th December -Advent Photo + Charity Shop Surprise

Today's Christmas book is  'Christmas at High Rising' by Angela Thirkell, a collection of short stories published in 2013.

You either like Angela Thirkell's tales of the people in her fictional Barsetshire or you don't. She wrote 29 books between 1933 and 1961 and I've been gradually collecting and reading them over the last few years. Virago have re-printed several - unfortunately they've not yet done the ones I haven't got, so 5 are still  stuck on my wish list ranging in price fro £20 to £30. I keep hoping Virago will re-do all of them given time.

From Amazon website...........
"Originally published in the 1930s and 1940s and never before collected, these stories by the incomparable Angela Thirkell relate merry scenes of a trip to the pantomime, escapades on ice, a Christmas Day gone awry, and an electrifying afternoon for Laura Morland and friends at Low Rising, not to mention the chatter of the arty set at a London private view. Charming, irreverent and full of mischievous humour, they offer the utmost entertainment in any season of the year."

It's a while since I read it so I've brought it down for reading quickly before the mobile library brings me 15 books next week.... 15! I won't need to worry about what to do if we are snowed in through January!

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And here's the charity shop surprise. In the Oxfam shop in Stowmarket I was amazed to see these


half a shelf of Persephone Books - what a treat, had to put my glasses on to see which were there and they steamed up in excitement ( or it might have been the mask!).

I wasn't too greedy, didn't snap up the lot but at £1 each (£1 is VERY cheap for Oxfam shops, the person pricing couldn't have checked on-line) I could have bought them all and made a profit re-selling. But I did buy £6 worth to add to my collection. 


Back Tomorrow
Sue

 

 

33 comments:

  1. More books to move, more shelves full, more clutter, more stuff to one day clear.

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  2. You were very controlled. I reckon I might have been Little Miss Greedy under those circumstances. What a lovely find.
    xx

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    1. I nearly was greedy but I knew I had some of the others already.

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  3. Wow, from Oxfam they were indeed a bargain. Well snapped up. 😃

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    1. Quick as a wink, without a second thought - although Rachel above has reminded me about moving - so I ought to have thought twice but I would still have bought them!

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  4. Books are addictive. You get rid of 6 then buy 10! At least that's what we do. Still, as addictions go, it's not too bad. Enjoy your find. xx

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    1. When I worked in libraries we were always told that even the richest and most law abiding person might steal a book- As it was a sort of addiction!

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  5. Ah, I understand completely so don't feel guilty. It's your problem at the end of the day, and no-one else's and I am sure others can go to make room for these more desirable ones.

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    1. No guilt with buying books nowadays as I just think of all the things I don't buy

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  6. As long as you can move back and forth between charity shops, don't worry!

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    1. It's good that they are open again - the charities must have lost so much funding with them all shut

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  7. They could not have gone to a better home.
    My daughter brought me "Monica Ferris" books when she came back from holiday each year and I have a big collection that I cannot part with and hope that I can read again.
    Hazel c uk

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    1. They do look at home on my bookshelves alongside all the others!

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  8. Great find! It's rare to see Persephone books in a charity shop and if I do see one, it's invariably Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, which I don't like.

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    1. I've tried to read miss Pettigrew a couple of times and given up, yet other people love it

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  9. My husband reckons that our (thousands) of books help with wall insulation - so saving money really!

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  10. Amazing find. Moving or not, I would have bought those Persephone books, too.

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    1. They won't take up much more room in a book box so thats OK

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  11. The vision of you standing in front of a rack of books with your glasses fogging up from excitement made me laugh. I'd have bought those books. The universe conspired for you to have them. I would have imagined myself sitting comfortably in new surroundings contentedly reading my lovely books. These little close-held visions can get you through a lot of crap times.

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    1. I'm even tempted to go back and see if the others are still there - there's no hope for me!

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  12. Nothing like a Dame or a bargain is there Sue! x

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    1. Love a good book bargain and missed the big charity book sales this year

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  13. Received my book today Sue, thank you. I shall enjoy reading a new to me author.

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    1. Goodness that was quick - Hope you enjoy reading it

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  14. How exciting to find the books you love at such a great price!

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  15. You showed a great deal of control I would say.

    God bless.

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