I didn’t manage to get the shoes I wanted because they’ve run out of my size. So I decided to spend my budget on yet more books instead. Well, shoes and books both take me places, and books, unlike shoes, can take me places I can’t go. (Now that sounds rather philosophical). Also, Times Bookstore was having 30% discount for members, so what better time to buy all the recently published books? I don’t ever pay full prices for books; I always wait for discounts and sales, so I’m really happy for this sale! I’ve never seen a 30% off sale in bookstores, only warehouse sales where the books aren’t current. So, I went sort of overboard my purchase. :D
What I bought over the past week:
- The Painter of Shanghai, Jennifer Cody Epstein
- The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett
- Burning Bright, Tracy Chevalier
- Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- The Complete Grimm’s Fairy Tales
- Bloody Chamber, Angela Carter
- Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift
- Atomised, Michel Houellebecq
- To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
- Macbeth (Penguin thrift edition)
:D I am very proud of myself for NOT buying any grail-hunting novels. I have decided I can easily get those at the library, since they are about as mass-market as chicklit. My friend Angela called these “high literature”, well, what better things to adorn my bookshelf with? Surely, I’ll read them in time to come.
Anyway, I saved $35 because of the 30% discount (so you can simply calculate how much these books are worth; it’s the same price as that pair of Guess shoes on sale.) In retrospect, I would buy 10 books over a pair of expensive shoes any day. Heck, I’d rather be given 10 books over a pair of shoes too.
And this afternoon I was telling Andy that I’m going to get Ben books as a horribly horribly belated birthday present (or rather, horribly horribly early present for next year; depending on how you see it) and Andy made a comment about how books are the toughest things to choose for someone. I guess that’s partly true, but it also depends on how well you know the person’s reading habits (if any) and whether said person enjoys surprises. I’m one of surprises; even though I dish out a list of books I want for my birthday each year, I wouldn’t mind if I received books that are not within that list. Whether it is a title I wanted or not, a “surprise” gift like that would tell me what the giver thinks I would like. They may be horribly off target, but then again, as a person who reads just about anything, I wouldn’t cringe, unless if I’ve already read it, or if I already own it. So there. My point is, books are like any other presents; it should ideally represent my perceptions of the recipient.
Anyway, the 30% discount is over, but 20% for non-members will continue till 8 June. :D
wah, really shopping spree, but bookish kind. i want to read no. 4. you haven’t read no. 9?? if you haven’t, read it first!! it’s my favourite classic; i’ve just watched the movie, which is almost as good as the book, but it’s good for a movie nonetheless. as for no. 10, well… beats hamlet anytime. :P
Oh, no. 9 is to keep. I lost my previous editionS when I was moving house. Those were like at least 15-18 years old, hence were falling apart. Belonged to my older sister and cousins. Heh heh. I didn’t watch the movie though; even though we dramatised a couple of the scenes for a Lit class back in secondary school.