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February, 2012

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BUY ALL THE BOOKS.

Monday, February 6th, 2012

Okay, I didn’t really, but you guys – it has been a disgusting amount of time since I’ve purchased a book. Like, months. And more than just a couple of months. I hadn’t even browsed a bookstore in longer than I could remember. And it wasn’t because I didn’t want to! My wish list was still growing every bit as rapidly as ever. I just couldn’t justify it financially, especially with the literally hundreds of books I own and have not read.

I fixed it.

K and I went to the new Books a Million yesterday, where I did buy a few discounted books, but also made a list of books to purchase at cover price from my favorite indies. I primarily buy from local shops, but am guilty of getting suckered into the bargain shelves at big box bookstores, and the buy-two-get-one-free thing is hard to skip out on when the books are ones I really want.

My book-buying desire wasn’t sated yesterday, though. Oh, no. Today, I called Casablanca Comics as soon as they opened and reserved a copy of Craig Thompson’s Habibi, which K had lovingly paged through at BaM and I knew she really wanted. The look on her face when I gave it to her today – and when I pointed out that it had a signed bookplate – was absolutely without equal. I also swung by Annie’s Bookstop, where I always find gems from my childhood that I’d either forgotten about or had trouble locating when I’ve thought of them. So, here’s the list, in no particular order, of the books that made their way into my home this weekend:

The Reluctant Dragon, Kenneth Grahame. I knew I’d read this as a kid; I read it tonight and I just love it. I had no idea it was the same author as the Wind in the Willows books. His prose is fabulous.

I Am the Cheese, Robert Cormier. I’ve never read this, or anything of his, to my knowledge, but I’ve always heard stellar things.

The Year Without Michael, Susan Beth Pfeffer. I remembered this whole story all in a rush as soon as I saw the title – I imagine I probably read it multiple times as a child. I’m interested to see if it’s as powerful to me now.

Babyface, Norma Fox Mazer. Another one I knew instantly by name, though the story is a little fuzzier. I remember wishing I looked like the girl on the cover when I was young. Hell, I still do.

A Summer to Die, Lois Lowry. I never read this one, but my best friend has mentioned it on several occasions, and it’s of the same ilk as many I did read – who can get enough of depressing death-by-disease-impacts-girl-my-age’s-whole-world stories?

Alanna, Tamora Pierce. I had been thinking when browsing new YA at BaM that I still hadn’t picked up one of her books despite the huge following she has in one of my favorite genres. Found this one at Annie’s and, as it’s the first in a series, thought I’d give her a go.

Belong to Me, Marisa de los Santos. I’d read an interview with the author as part of the TLC book tour (I think) when this one came out, and it really stuck with me; I’m excited to read it.

Dooby Dooby Moo, Doreen Cronin and Besty Lewin. You can’t go wrong with any of their books, and I think the only other one I own is Duck for President. They are hilarious and cute and just plain fun.

City of Bones, Cassandra Clare. My friend Kathleen pointed this series out years ago and I’ve just always had some other book ahead of it on the wish list. It was one of the few b2g2 YA titles I felt confident I would enjoy enough to justify buying.

Crank, Ellen Hopkins. I was psyched to find this one in the b2g2 – I’ve wanted to read it since… banned books week in 2010, at least.

And the find about which I am most excited…

Pathfinder, Orson Scott Card. I will always read him, regardless of our differing moral, ethical, or political views. (I talk about this some here). I had no idea this series even existed, so when my eyes slid over the cover and I saw his name, I got all kinds of bouncy and excited and probably squeed out loud. I know Rigg can never be what Ender is to me, but I haven’t been let down by any of Card’s work yet, and this is proving to be another testament to his incredible skill at storytelling, world building, and clever, witty dialogue.

So, yeah, I’m back on the reading bandwagon thanks to a bit of a buying spree. I haven’t not been reading, I just haven’t felt truly compelled by anything in a while – nothing was so engaging that I had my nose in the book when walking from room to room, carried it in my purse whenever I left home, or picked it up to sneak a few pages while waiting in line at the car wash (totally did that today).

It feels good to be back :)