Monday 10 January 2011

Hidden Treasures

The day after New Years Day was a busy one for us in our house. Hubby had hired a skip to clean out our garage - yes you read that right, a huge skip to clean out all the junk accumulated over 7 years in our garage. It is a job that we have meant to do for a long time and we have attempted to clean it in parts before, but enough was enough, it really all had to go.
I was really rather ruthless and threw out lots of boxes containing videos and books from my childhood, although I only got rid of weather damaged books, the rest have been packed away in plastic boxes.
By the end of the day, the garage looked practically empty and I came back in with a little pile of books that I had forgotten I even owned.

Here is a list of the books I discovered.

1) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night -time by Mark Haddon. I tried to read this book when it came out but found it hard to get into. At the time I was studying as well and just really struggled to read any books, so I am hoping to give this one another try.

2) The Day After Tomorrow by Allan Folsome. This was actually hubby's book and one he really enjoyed many years ago. I think it might be an adaption of the film and it wouldn't normally interest me, but hubby thought it was good, so I thought I would give it a try.

3) The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. I didn't even realise I owned this one, but I am so pleased that I do. I have been meaning to read some of Atwood's work for ages. This one was awarded the Booker Prize in 2000 and is set during the Second World War.

4) Tender Is The Night by F.Scott Fitzgerald. I think this one might have actually belonged to my brother, but we won't tell him.  I loved The Great Gatsby, so I look forward to reading this one. This book is based around Americans living on the French Riviera in the 1930's.

5) The Girl in the Swing by Richard Adams, author of Watership Down. 

6) Behind The Scenes At The Museum by Kate Atkinson. I can remember buying this book in the late 90's just before I got married and I never got around to reading it. Looking back, it seems strange to think that this was her first novel and now she is quite a prolific and established writer so many years later. I still haven't read any of her books.

7) A Master of Craft by W.W. Jacobs. This had belonged to my husband's father and I couldn't part with it. Jacobs was known for his sea stories and I am struggling to find out what this one is about, so if any of you have read it, please let me know. I think it might be a first edition too as the publishers date in the book is 1900.

8) The Coral Island by R.M Ballantyne. A lovely children's classic that I can't wait to read.

9 and 10) Jilly Cooper books - Prudence and Emily. These are really quite nostalgic books for me.  I can remember when I finished my last exam for my O' levels, I was completely exhausted. I had studied from morning until night for a good few months and when I finished I purchased the whole set of Jilly Cooper's short books and didn't leave the sofa for a week. I sat and read them from cover to cover one after another. I remember feeling so free and just enjoying the rest. Unfortunately only these two survived the years, so I hope to collect the other five soon, Bella, Imogen, Harriet, Octavia and Lisa and Co. I really do want the whole set together again.

I have now put all these lovely old treasures upon my shelves waiting to be read. Have you found any old books recently that you had forgotten you owned?

25 comments:

  1. I read Emily too, so cute, used to have Bella, but where can that book be..hm.

    And please do read Haddon!

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  2. Hehe - that's funny. i did the same with my clothes and found a dress that I'd never even worn!

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  3. Finding forgotten books is so exciting.

    And also, what's a skip?

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  4. You got "new" books without having to go out and buy them. What a treat! ;)

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  5. It's like going shopping in your own house! :D

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  6. I found some books a couple weeks ago that I had stuck in the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet from 2 years ago. They were still in the Barnes and Noble bag =) I would hate to think how many books I put away like that and completely forget I have even bought them.

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  7. Blodeuedd - I used to love those books so much. Part of my growing up. They were like the original YA books.

    Verity - I have never done that with clothes. Although my wardrobe is the next job to sort.

    Christina- a skip is like a very huge bin, that you fill with all your rubbish and then someone comes and takes it away for you. Easier than taking all your junk to the dump.

    Anna - I hadn't thought about it like that.

    Amanda - haha, cheaper than shopping.

    Kathy - I haven't done that yet, but I am sure there is time,.

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  8. How fun to find all those books you didn't even know you owned!

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  9. Blind Assassin is one of my very faves of the Atwodds I've read! And I remember loving Behind The Scenes At The Museum when I read it in high school. :) I haven't heard of Cooper, but she sounds like the perfect comfort author.

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  10. At the moment I am discovering what my mum has on her bookshelf.

    Did you fill the skip?

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  11. At the moment I am discovering what my mum has on her bookshelf.

    Did you fill the skip?

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  12. Oh how fun to discover books you had forgotten about. You've not read any Atwood? Love her so I hope you'll enjoy discovering her books. I haven't read Blind Assassin but have read a few of her other books and she's never disappointed me.

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  13. I am so glad someone asked about the skip...LOL I had no idea...

    My book club read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night years ago and I really struggled with it and to this day have not finished it. I still need to give it a second try.

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  14. Jen - I wish there had been more. I know I owned more. Sigh!

    Jo - fill it? I could have done with another skip!LOL

    Iliana - I think Atwood needs an airing in my house. Will definitely need to read soon.

    Sheila - don't you guys have skips in America. Glad I am not the only one to struggle with the Haddon book.

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  15. How exciting to find all those treasures, hidden away for so long! I LOVED The Blind Assassin. And having recently finished and adored Case Histories, I envy you that copy of Behind the Scenes at the Museum! I need to get my hands on more of her books asap.

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  16. Finding old books around the house is so much fun!

    I had a hard time getting into The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night also. I was listening to the audiobook and didn't get very far. I'll be curious to see what you think about it when you get around to reading it.

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  17. thats great that you found those books! happy reading :)

    A book came in the mail today that I forgot I ordered online. Does that count? lol
    It took that long to get here. It's called Before I Fall.

    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  18. Lovely treasures. I have not found any books recently. Sadly, I only have a few from my childhood and they sit on a special shelf in our den--my Alice in Wonderland given to me on my 9th birthday and my first edition copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are 2 of those!
    Enjoy your finds!
    *smiles*

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  19. Nymeth - The Blind Assassin is moving up that TBR pile quickly.

    Alyce - I am a bit concerned that perhaps the Haddon book might not be for me.

    Naida - even better - new books that you forgot.

    Kim - those books you have managed to keep are definitey treasures to have though. Especially first editions.

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  20. I read The Girl in the Swing many years ago and I remember it as being super creepy (which in my books is not a good thing). I so need to do some purging too! We have a back shed full of stuff, not to mention all the books all over the house!

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  21. Avisannschild - finally someone who has read The Girl in the Swing. Super creepy is good in my books.

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  22. Does that mean you've already read TGITS? If not, I hope you review it when you do; I'd love to hear your take on it. (I read it 20+ years ago!)

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  23. Avisannschild - nope not yet, but it is moving up my TBR pile!

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  24. Don't you just love when you find treasures like that. I really enjoy Atwood's writing. I bet if I went through my shelves I'd find a lot of treasures!

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  25. Great treasures you've found, Viv! I loved The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time so I hope you'll give it another chance. :D

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