Wednesday 6 May 2009

Girl Guides Jumble Sale

Last week I was helping my daughters to run a stall at the annual Girl Guides Jumble Sale. Usually I insist on running the book stall but I was beaten to it this year. Guess what somebody donated to the book stall. Ten brand new Virago paperbacks still wrapped in polythene! Must've been part of some competition prize or promotion. Of course, I bought them and when I unwrapped them found I actually already owned seven of the titles so I just kept the three I hadn't got. I couldn't have wished for a better selection, Rebecca West, Elizabeth Taylor and Elizabeth Von Arnim.

I started Blaming at the weekend and I think this is the first time I've truly appreciated Taylor's gift for comedy. I'll post a review as soon as I can put it down.

9 comments:

kristina said...

How fabulous! I do love Elizabeth Taylor. And I've been meaning to read Elizabeth and her German Garden forever... K x

Nan said...

Those are beautiful, beautiful books! Lucky you!

Anonymous said...

The luck! I love to hear these good finds stories.

Vintage Reading said...

Thanks for all you comments! I do seem to have had some luck with book finds this year. I'm still hoping to find some vintage children's books sometime. Noel Streatfeild would be nice!

Saah said...

Lucky you! I still have the von Arnim and West books to look forward to, but loved Blaming. Re Taylor's talent for comedy, have you read Angel?

zetor said...

You are lucky; 'Elizabeth and her German Garden'. I have read 'Enchanted April' by the same author and absolutely loved it!Hope you enjoy all your books.

Vintage Reading said...

Zetor, yes Von Arnim is new to me. I believe she was related to Katherine Mansfield. Can't wait to read her.

StuckInABook said...

Return of the Soldier is brilliant.

So.. what were the other 7?! And what did you do with them..?

Vintage Reading said...

Simon, I'm looking forward to reading the Rebecca West, I love her novel The Fountain Overflows. The other seven included Willa Cather,Rosamund Lehman,Miles Franklin and Elaine Dundy. I put them back in the sale so others could discover the pleasures of those texts, but now I'm thinking I should have offered them as a giveaway on my blog.