What did YOU buy today? February 2013

One ARC, another historical romance, Lady Vivian Defies a Duke by Samantha Grace. Ambivalent about this one.

One purchase, for an upcoming classics book group: Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell.

I stumbled into an old Borders that appears to have become a dumping ground for remaindered books. For $8 bucks and some change I got Empire by Steven Saylor, Conspirata by Robert Harris, Twain's Feast, Madison and Jefferson and The Greatest Show on Earth: the Evidence for Evolution.

Two ARCs today: _The Paris Affair_ by Teresa Grant (historical fiction set in the wake of Napoleon's defeat; on sale 4/13) and Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent (Victorian era historical mystery; on sale 3/13).

ETA: The Grant book has a horrible cover if it's really supposed to be post-Waterloo. The clothing of the person on the cover is all wrong. Looks about 50 years later, even down to what appears to be a bustled skirt.

The biography of Maria Callas. Though 'buying' may be too broad a word for 'picking out of a recycling bin'.

Met a friend for coffee in Waterstones (I have finally given up trying to convince myself that this does not mean I have to buy books) and came home with Them: Adventures with Extremists, The Land of Decoration, The Coroner, Mad, Bad and Sad and, a gift from said wonderful friend who shares my love of Daphne du Maurier and knows you can never have too many books, Daphne du Maurier's Cornwall.

Really shouldn't've spent any money, but bought a mass market paperback historical romance: Autumn Bride by Anne Gracie.

One purchase, which cost me all of $3.15 on sale: Fashion: A History from the 18th to the 20th Century from the collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute. Gorgeous, amazing, luscious photos of the most amazing clothes.

And several ARCs:
* _Harvest_ by Jim Crace (seems to be historical fiction though no explicit date; February '13)
* The Edge of the Earth by Christina Schwartz (also historical fiction; April '13)
* Child of Vengeance by David Kirk (yup, you guessed it: historical fiction; March '13)
* _The Spark Solution_ by Becky Hand with Stepfanie Romine (surprise: a diet/fitness title; May '13)

And two more ARCs: Here Is Where by Andrew Carroll (historical nonfiction about places in the US where events occurred) and _Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted_ by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (yup, a book about the Mary Tyler Moore show).

Just brought home Defending Jacob, The Uninvited Guests, Tuesday's Gone, The Vanishing Point and The Salem Witch Society. I only went out for milk. :(

Last weekend I was in Marquette visiting my son and hit the jackpot at Goodwill. I found The Cottage Gardener's Companion from the Cottage Garden Society, Borders by Penelope Hobhouse, A Garden For Cutting by Margaret Parke, The Gardens of Gertrude Jekyll by Richard Bisgrove, Color in Your Garden, On Gardening and Garden Style all by Penelope Hobhouse. The best part was that they were all 99 cents! I do already own the last 3 books but plan on giving them to fellow gardeners.

Trolling through an antique mall on Saturday I saw a cartoon/humor book called Baby San: A Private Look at the Japanese Occupation. Obviously some soldier had brought it back during the 50s. Even though it was beat up I'm glad I picked it up. The original owner must have been stationed in Germany too because he had penciled in simple German phrases on the back.

Back in a minute while I try to force this touchstone.

This seems to be the only way I can get to it. http://www.librarything.com/work/2206717/94181946