Booking in Bristol

I spent the weekend with my brother in Bristol - of course I wanted to see him, but I also wanted to go to the Books for Amnesty shop. It has its own website, which is quite impressive for a charity bookshop, and I documented my first visit to it about a year ago. It's good quality, cheap, quick turnover, and for a good cause. Of the six books I bought there, all had been put on their shelves in the last month (they date them when they put them out) so the shop really does warrant frequent visits. And of course I also bought three books in another shop... these nine came, in total, to £8.40. A success, I think you'll agree. Keen eyes will spot 12 books in the Recent Acquisitions pile below... two came from the Albion Beatnik Bookshop in Oxford, one through the post after being recommended by my friend Barbara-from-Ludlow.

Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury
This is the one Barbara-from-Ludlow recommended, as being in the same sort of area as my dissertation.

English Short Stories of Today - ed. E. J. O'Brien
Includes a story by David Garnett, Edward Sackville-West, Antonia White etc. The 'Today' in question is 1934.

The Sandcastle - Iris Murdoch
I keep piling up the Murdochs that I *will* read one day... Someone recommended this to me once, I think.

Summer at the Haven - Katharine Moore
A friend of Joyce Grenfell, wrote some non-fiction (e.g. this on maiden aunts) - this slim novel is about an old people's home, and is apparently amusing and optimistic. Might make interesting reading alongside Elizabeth Taylor's Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont.

Howards End - EM Forster
Despite not having much luck with his novels so far, I thought I'd persevere. Mostly because of the beautifully inviting cover to this edition. I snapped this up before it even reached the shelves - the shop assistant was putting it out, and I took it from her very hands...


Family Money - Nina Bawden
Not read anything by her yet... but her name has always been on the peripheries of my reading. I've had Tortoise by Candlelight forever, though no idea from whence it came.

Family History - Vita Sackville-West
This rang a bell in my mind... I was reminded later that someone was going to send me their spare copy of this. Goops.

The Shutter of Snow - Emily Holmes Coleman
I know nothing about this author, would love to be enlightened. The 1930s novel is about madness, a theme I love reading about... will let you know.

Clash - Ellen Wilkinson
Another author about whom I know nothing, but a £1 Virago ought not be left.

Writing Lives: Conversations Between Women Writers
Newer Virago writers interview older Virago writers - what's not to like? I can give a full list of authors later, if anybody's interested?

Among You Taking Notes - The Wartime Diary of Naomi Mitchison
I thought I had other books by her... but apparently not. I always like to have letters or diaries on the go.

Behindlings - Nicola Baker
Sounds quirky and weird, and maybe my cup of tea... at 40p, I thought I could risk it.