April 19, 2009

Weekend Book Buying




While many of you have been caught up in the world of the read-a-thon this weekend I have been spending time catching up on housework (not fun EVER!) and spending a day in Sydney with my boy visiting all of our favourite bookish haunts. I was surprisingly restrained in the book buying department but I did come home with a couple of new purchases:




Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham - thanks to Claire I was hunting out these gorgeous Vintage editions of Maugham's work. I have actually never read any of his books before so I thought it was appropriate to start with one with an absolutely divine cover like this.




Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi - this is my first adventure into graphic novel reading and I have heard this is a great book to start with.






19 comments:

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

Persepolis was my first GN and I loved it. I'm reading Fun Home right now and I might even be loving it more. Enjoy!!

Laura said...

I keep wanted to try a graphic novel, but they are intimidating to me. I've heard this is a great one to start with! I hope you like it!

Anonymous said...

I don't know how so may book bloggers can forgo sleep and do the read-athon. I haven't done much reading this weekend, I took my nine-year-old brother to the Easter Show yesterday and have spent most of today recovering!

Love the Maugham cover, I haven't read him yet either although I enjoyed the movie version of The Painted Veil.

I'm unsure about graphic novels aka comics, but also enjoyed the movie version of Persepolis and might have to make it my first.

Anonymous said...

the weather was too nice here to read all weekend...i took my nephew to the boardwalk instead!

for as much as i read, i've never tried a graphic novel...but you've piqued my interest. i'm going to dash this title down and look it up when i visit the library on tuesday. :)

Savidge Reads said...

Arent the covers of Vintage's Maugham series absolutely stunning, seriously I had to get three when I saw them... ok I didnt have to... but I did. Saw the movie of Persepolis and thought it was marvellous so wait to see what you make of the book.

Karen said...

Hi Trish - that sounds excellent. Hopefully I will want to read more after I finish Persepolis.

Hi Laura - they are a little intimidating to me too - just not really my thing but the story of Persepolis sounds fascinating so I think that will keep me interested.

Hi adevotedreader - you are very brave heading out to the Easter Show!! I didn't see The Painted Veil but really wanted to - I'm sure it is probably out on DVD by now??

Hi booklineandsinker - I wish our weather had been nice but we had rain, rain and more rain - yucky!

Hi Savidge Reads - they are just so beautiful - I told my partner that I had basically just bought a book for it's cover!!

Mari said...

I have read a Maugham book before but I can't remember which it was! Enjoy the books.

Tamara said...

Karen, I love it when you purchase new books for my library! These look really interesting too. I'm going to need more holidays.. I also notice you're going to Ali at the SWF. I really enjoyed that book - mixing two worlds I know, with family dynamics I know.. Hope she's as good in person.

Marg said...

Persepolis was my first graphic novel as well, and I really enjoyed it!

Karen said...

Hi Mari - if you remember which book it was make sure you let me know!

Hi Tamara - hope you are enjoying your holidays and getting lots of reading in!

Hi Marg - I'm really looking forward to reading this one - I haven't heard a bad thing about it.

the_young_dude said...

I still haven't found the time to read Persepolis.. all I can't tell you is that the movie is great!

claire said...

Karen, I am so happy you got the Maugham!! I haven't read that title yet, but I plan to read all his works as, seriously, he writes bee-yoo-tifully! And I just read Persepolis.. I hope you enjoy it! Both! Happy reading! :D

Amanda said...

Oh I LOVE Of Human Bondage. One of my all time favorite "classics". The new vintage cover is gorgeous...although once you've read it, let us know if you think it's fitting to the story. I don't really think it is.

Lisa said...

Oh, I love the cover... I'll have to be on the look out myself. I have a thing for beautiful covers. :) I attempted the read-a-thon, but sadly didn't get very much accomplished. Too many outside distractions.

Karen said...

Hi the_young_dude - it sounds like I am going to need to track down this movie, I'm hearing great things about it.

Hi Claire - thanks for putting me on to Maugham - I read the first few pages of the book in the shop and I was hooked so I think I will enjoy it!

Hi Amanda - that's interesting to hear about the cover - I will certainly let you know what I think.

Hi Lisa - I have a thing for beautiful covers too - it seems a little superficial I know but I do think I enjoy a book more if it has a beautiful cover!!

Anonymous said...

The cover of Of Human Bondage is so exquisite and elegant. I hope you enjoy reading the book. :)

Karen said...

Hi mattviews - I hope I enjoy it too. If the content is half as spectacular as the cover I am sure I will!

jspeyton said...

Once you're finished with "Persepolis" I highly recommend "Fun Home" by Alison Bechdel. Like Trish, you'll love it.

www.whosabiblioaddict.com

Karen said...

Hi Jspeyton - thanks so much for the recommendation!