December 28, 2009

Beautiful Classics


I don't usually receive a lot of books as gifts at Christmas - my friends and family are too fearful that they will get me a book that I already have or have read - or that they will get me something that I don't like at all. So, when we hit the shops for the post Christmas sales today I did treat myself to a couple of "Christmas Gift" books.

I couldn't go past these beautiful hard cover Penguin Classics editions of Great Expectations and Jane Eyre. I am planning on making 2010 my year of reading and re-reading Dickens so I felt that I could justify the purchase of Great Expectations and Jane Eyre was actually half price so really it was just begging to come home with me...

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I dropped soooo many hints I wanted these classics in these delightful covers... I think the hints fell on deaf ears. Most envious.

Jules said...

Same problem here! I received 2 books only because I had made a list for my husband! :o) Love your special editions!

JoAnn said...

They're gorgeous! I just listened to Great Expectations last month and have decided that Dickens is also wonderful on audio!

Nadia said...

What lovely books! Definitely a sweet treat. I'll have to peruse the shelves at my local bookshop to see if they have any of those editions in stock.

Molly said...

The spines are just beautiful!

I love the idea of spending an entire year re-reading Dickens - I would love to do that sometime (although a lot of his novels will be first time reads for me). I look forward to reading those reviews in the new year.

Anonymous said...

Those covers are just lovely. Of course you had to bring them home!

Karen said...

Hi Simon - I am so sorry your hints fell on deaf ears!! That is so frustrating. You might just have to make them a present to yourself...

Hi Jules - Lists are always a good idea. I'm a bit hopeless though and end up getting a copy of a book on the list for myself earlier!!

Hi JoAnn - how long did it take to listen to GE??

Hi Nadia - they are all gorgeous - very hard to decide on just two.

Hi Molly - a lot of them will be first reads for me too - or as good as, I haven't read some of them in so long it will feel like a first read I'm sure!

Hi fleurfisher - thank you for supporting my decision!

JoAnn said...

Karen, I listened to an unabridged version of Great Expectations (read by Frank Muller) that was just over 16 hours long and loved it. I had the CD in the car and read from the book at home in the evening, too.

Unknown said...

I have the same problem - no one wants to buy me books for Christmas :-(

I love the look of those classics. Are thay as beautiful inside?

Tara said...

These are gorgeous editions! I saw them someplace recently and drooled all over them!

Iliana said...

I usually have to treat myself to Christmas books too as friends and family never give me that many. I think you did great. Those books are gorgeous!

Karen said...

Hi JoAnn - thanks for that info. I had never thought of listening to Dickens before - I always thought it would be too complex for me to take in via my ears - but I might need to give it a go.

Hi Jackie - It sounds like a lot of us have the same problem! The books are pretty basic inside but the print and typeface are nice I think.

Hi Tara - drooling is definitely the right action for these books!

Hi Iliana - I think treating ourselves to books is the best way!

Anonymous said...

I love those editions of the classics. Everytime I see them, I want to buy them.

I've not bought any yet though....

Karen said...

Hi anothercookiecrumbles - you are so strong! I'm already thinking of buying another one...

claire said...

Gorgeous! I want to get both those editions too. If I stop feeling guilty enough haha.

Karen said...

Hi Claire - I know what you mean - my book buying guilt is at quite a high level at the moment!

Victoria said...

Don't you love those! I too received two of those beautiful editions after posting on my blog my book love for them :) I too received Jane Eyre and then Wuthering Heights, I can't wait to get the rest!