New book

I think I'm in a book-buying slump--this is the only thing I bought at Baker Street Books last weekend. But I'm excited about it, so that's all right. I've been meaning to read E.F. Benson for ages and ages. I think I first heard of it when I encountered the miniseries (which I haven't really watched), and I've heard it recommended  by various people in blogland. I gather these books are reminiscent both of P.G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh, which is a great recommendation for me. Plus, Nancy Mitford wrote the foreword. The bookstore had a bunch of these books, and two different editions of this one, but of course I had to pick the one involving a Mitford.

Hopefully I'll get to read this soon!

Baker Street Books

Last weekend my parents and I visited Baker Street Books in Black Diamond, Washington. The town is tiny enough that if you go there you should have no trouble finding the place, and I'm not joking when I say it's worth a day trip just for the bookstore if you're close enough. It's large and cosy and full of good used (and some new) books. The building was apparently built in 1885, which certainly adds to its charm. And complementary coffee, which I hear was actually really good (I don't drink coffee). The "literature" section, though it didn't take up much space, had a great selection. You'll see what I bought tomorrow. 

Couth Buzzard: Version Two

About a year and a half ago, I wrote a post about Couth Buzzard, the bookshop in my neighbourhood that was going out of business. It was a place I'd spent my childhood in, dusty, with stacks and boxes of books all over the floor; they had a canary when I was little. I was sad to see them go.

However, not that long ago a sign went up in the empty store front just around the corner from my house. Yes, Couth Buzzard is back. Not only back, but back and better than ever. Though not as charmingly haphazard and dusty as it used to be, it's better organized and the selection is better. They've got better lighting, and a little cafe sort of thing, replacing, I suppose, the bakery that used to be a couple doors down from the old location. Wednesday night is an open mic, Thursday is game night. You can walk buy at any time of the day and see people in there, now; it's cheerful and comfortable. And, a plus for me, they're honoring the old credit accounts, still in the same old binder on rather faded yellow paper.

I wasn't really intending to buy anything when I went in, but I did find another Barbara Pym novel (one I've been looking for specifically, though I don't remember why), No Fond Return of Love. And I got it for less than two dollars, too (that with my credit, which pays for half). So I'm thoroughly pleased with this turn of events, and so glad to see one of my favourite bookstores back in business.

Bookstore by chance

The best bookshops are often the ones you find by accident. I was wandering down Broadway on the way to the bead shop, saw a sign on the sidewalk for Pilot Books, and had to go into the building, up the stairs, and into the shop, just to see what it was. I'm quite well acquainted with Broadway, so this shop must be pretty new, though I haven't really been in the neighbourhood in a while. Pilot Books' main point is that it sells nothing but books by independent publishers.

It's a tiny little place, pleasant and calm with music playing in the background. The shelves are hung from the ceiling on wires, just an odd little detail that added to the charm. There's not a lot of stock, shelves for fiction, nonfiction, essays, poetry, and graphic novels, but absolutely all of it looks fascinating and I would have bought all kinds of things were I not a penniless college student. Lots of the books have little cards in them that say something about what makes the book interesting, such as "local author," "haha," "GLBTQ," or "hot damn," (the last of which I can only assume just means it's a very impressive book), which is a nice touch.

I love that there are bookshops like this opening even in unfortunate financial times, standing up for the little guys in publishing and selling all the quirky, "unsellable" books. I know most people who pass by this blog probably don't live in Seattle and won't have the chance to visit this shop, but I thought I'd mention it all the same and get it out into the world a little more. Next time I have some money I don't feel guilty spending unnecessarily, I'll definitely be stopping by Pilot Books.

Update

So, I made one last trip to Couth Buzzard yesterday, since they were having a bit of a closing party. Bought Edda (Snorri Sturluson), The Girl at the Lion D'Or (Sebastian Faulks), and Costume Throughout the Ages (Mary Evans).

Friday we're leaving on a road trip to Oregon and California, and I don't imagine I'll be doing much reading while there, so it'll be a while before I post again.

Books purchased

So, a day later than intended, here are my purchases yesterday at Couth Buzzard.

Smith of Wootton Major & Farmer Giles of Ham (J.R.R. Tolkien), The Pursuit of Love & Love in a Cold Climate (Nancy Mitford), The Enchanted April (Elizabeth von Armin), Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell), Stories (Katherine Mansfield), Villette (Charlotte Bronte).

The Nancy Mitford one has been on my to read list for a while, as was Katherine Mansfield, and partially The Enchanted April (I was looking for Elizabeth and her German Garden, but I saw the film of this one a while ago and have been vaguely meaning to read it). I already own Farmer Giles, but not Smith, and it's such a neat little copy of it. Wives and Daughters I've read already and just thought I ought to have, and Villette I definitely want to read, since I love Jane Eyre and I think I've heard people say they like this one even better.

I'm almost done with The English Patient (and loving it), so once I'm finished with it I'll head on to this lot.

In other news, I finished my novel today.

Couth Buzzard

Well, as the much-loved Couth Buzzard Used Book shop up the street is going out of business and has things on sale, I have plans today of taking a trip up there and seeing what's for sale. We've had trade there for years, and are slowly pecking away at it (there was more than 100 dollars there to begin with, now I think we're down to about 40), although I don't think we'll have got through it all by the time they close. It's a bookshop I spent my childhood in, and slowly I have progressed from the children's book section through the fantasy section, onto the classics, poetry, litcrit, and fiction sections. They used to have a pet canary. I'm very sad they're leaving.

Anyway, I intend to write up my To Read list and take that up there, although it's the sort of bookstore that's better for unexpected gems than for specific goals.

I shall post a record of my purchases when I return.