In My Book Bag (1)

[In My Book Bag highlights library loans and book purchases (second-hand and new) that make their way into Rochester Reader HQ.]

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This past week saw a trip to my local library and an outing to a couple of second-hand book stores.  The hauls are modest as I am trying to read through the books I have on my shelves although I am always tempted to bring back Viragos and other books that I know I probably won't get to read for a long while. 

First up are the second-hand books.  I found a Penguin edition of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark with a cover that I haven't seen before.  It has a photo of the beautiful and graceful Geraldine McEwan (a.k.a Lucia and Miss Marple) who played the titular role in a 1978 TV serial adaptation.  I've been wanting to read this for a long time and, quite frankly, given what a well-known book this is, I'm surprised that I haven't come to it sooner. 

I also picked up a new copy of Ellis Peters' A Morbid Taste for Bones as I remembered that it is the next title for the Cornflower Book Group.  It is the first novel of the Brother Cadfael mysteries.  I've only read one ages ago and it was half-way through the series but I enjoyed it.  I am also a fan of the Derek Jacobi adaptations so I think this may be an interesting read, especially as it's set in the beautiful Shropshire countryside during the middle ages.

Then there's a copy of The Life and Times of Hercule Poirot by Anne Hart, although I have a copy on the other side of the world!  This is a non-fiction book containing interesting nuggets of information about the famous sleuth.  It is now a little out-of-date in terms of  its list of screen adaptations but it is an excellent 'biography' of the detective and a great reference book for the enthusiast.  I thought I'd like to dip in and out of it during my Agatha Christie Challenge.

Next up are the three library books...  I picked up a copy of Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers whilst I await my new copy to arrive in the post... just in case I get too itchy and simply have to immerse myself in Lord Peter Wimsey's world.  This is book two in the series and part of my As My Whimsy Takes Me Challenge.

I also brought home Somerset Maugham's Cakes and Ale simply because I liked the title and I recall reading and enjoying his short stories in school.  It's an old Penguin edition and it appears to be regarded as Somerset Maugham's best novel which is "a delicious satire of London literary society between the Wars".  I really like the Vintage cover for this book (pictured above) - simple and elegant.

And finally, I was happy to spot a pretty Dover Thrift Edition of Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence.  I've been wanting to read Wharton for months ever since listening to an engaging BBC radio play of The Custom of the Country.  This book will fit nicely into my Classic Challenge.  I love the charming cover depicting various flowers and birds.  It reminds me of the Persephone endpapers and I thought that it might be taken from a fabric but the back cover informs me that it was designed by Teresa Delgado.  Sadly I couldn't find any information on this illustrator but I am quite looking forward to reading this book.