Newberry Library Book Sale: July 24 - 28, 2019

Just got back from Preview Night.

I did some damage, but not as much as I thought I would. I'm very happy that someone apparently rid their library of Anthony Trollope, because I got a bunch that I haven't read. (One could probably spend one's entire life reading Trollope, so prolific was he!)

Apart from Trollope, any particular titles that stand out: university presses, verse, anything not typical of our many good used bookshops?

I've never made it down for the annual sale, difficult to justify when (a) I don't need more unread books, and (b) there are loads of good places closer to home. But somehow I want to hear that there's a trove just for me ....

I found a couple of good art books, though generally I thought that section was thinner than usual. I picked up a couple of books on Rome, as I'm headed there in the fall. Some books about/by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright (there was a fair bit of FLW in the architecture section). Two Judge Dee mysteries, and I could have gotten a lot more, but chose not to. A couple of small things in Italian, for practice.

I'll likely go back on Sunday for half-price day.

>1 lilithcat: Oh no!! That's what I get for waiting until THURSDAY. Did you leave any obscure Trollopes for me?? I have my list all prepared, but maybe to no avail...well good for you for snagging them.

>4 kac522:

I did see Harry Heathcote of Gangoil, The Vicar of Bullhampton, and An Old Man's Love, all of which I left because I've read them, but mostly it was the usual Barchester and Parliamentary novels.

>5 lilithcat: Oh OK, thanks, I don't have Harry, but I have the others. I'll be on my way around noon.

And if you're interested, during July there's currently a group read of The Three Clerks led by Liz, who provides wonderful background and insights into the book: https://www.librarything.com/topic/308796

>6 kac522:

Thanks for the tip!

>7 lilithcat: and thanks for Harry tip--found him, and also found 2 others I did not have: John Caldigate and Cousin Henry! Also got a collection of Elizabeth Bowen short stories, some Edith Wharton novellas in one volume, and several Virago editions with new-to-me authors Sylvia Townsend Warner and Rose Macaulay. I'm a happy camper.

There were lots of people there today and they kept bringing out more books. It seemed better organized than last year, but I still don't like that Room 1 (with the mysteries, sci-fi and fiction). Too claustrophobic for me and too many poles.

>8 kac522:

Are you me? I snagged an Elizabeth Bowen, too!

>9 lilithcat: I also got Death of the Heart, which happens to be the one major novel of hers I didn't have.

I have just discovered (as I'm entering my books into LT), that I already have Cousin Henry; so into the donation box it goes. But I consider myself doing great when I only have one duplicate after a major shopping spree like this. The prices seemed lower this year, or maybe I just haven't been paying attention.

After having read the Barchester and Palliser novels, I decided to read all the other novels in date order. Since I read The Three Clerks a few months ago, I'm not very far. Next up is The Bertrams--maybe next month. The really irritating thing about this is that my mother was a HUGE Trollope fan, and she had lots of his books. I had never read a single book, and when she died in 2005, I gave away most of her books. Among the couple of boxes I kept was one Trollope which looked the shortest, The Warden, so that I could say that I'd read Trollope. When I finally got around to reading it, I loved it! I could kick myself every time I think about all those Trollopes donated away, many probably bought in Britain on her annual trips to London.

Do you go to the Oak Park sale? Of course, nothing on the scale of Newberry (takes up the gym in OPRF high school), but for a smaller sale they usually have a pretty good classics selection. It's next weekend (Aug 2&3): Friday night is $5 and Saturday is free; they don't do Sunday.

>10 kac522:

But I consider myself doing great when I only have one duplicate after a major shopping spree like this.

Y'know, I thought the LT app would save me from getting duplicates, and it has. But you have to actually use it, as I have discovered!

I have not done the Oak Park sale, and, oh, dear, I have Saturday free. Could be dangerous! I always go to the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference book sale at the HP Shopping Center, every Columbus Day weekend. It's in my blood. Somewhere there's a photo of my father sorting books, decades ago! I particularly enjoy Monday, because it's $5 box day, and it's way too easy to fill a box.

>11 lilithcat: I don't have the app, but a couple of years ago I made a little list that I put in my wallet of the Trollopes I wanted, and cross off when I get them. Too bad I forgot to cross off Cousin Henry on my list, when in fact it's been on my shelf for a couple of years.

I usually go to the HP-K sale on Saturday or Sunday; the last year I went, I think it was raining, which made it sort of messy (lifting up plastic sheets, etc.). But I always find great stuff there. In fact, that's where I bought Cousin Henry!