Library Book Sale

Every year my town has a library book sale of donated books, so early this morning I made my way down there to check out the offerings. I only took thirteen dollars because if given the chance I have no doubt I would blow all my savings on used books. I ended up with a selection of five paperback and one hardcover, all which I got for eight dollars.

The books I ended up with (there was much editing done before I got to the cashier) were:

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland

The Stillborn God by Mark Lilla

East of The Sun by Julia Gregson

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

The Accidental Masterpiece by Michael Kimmelman

"In the realm of psychological suspense, Thomas Harris stands alone. Exploring both the nature of human evil and the nerve-racking anatomy of a forensic investigation, Harris unleashes a frightening vision of the dark side of our well-lighted world. In this extraordinary novel , which proceeded The Silence of The Lambs and Hannibal, Harris introduced the unforgettable character Dr. Hannibal Lecter. And in it, Will Graham--the FBI man who hunted Lecter down-- risks his sanity and his life to duel a killer called...

The Red Dragon"

I'm not really into the whole FBI murder mystery type of book, but I've wanted to read this ever since NBC's Hannibal came out-- it's one of my favorite shows and I just think it was done so excruciatingly well. (To hear me gush more, click here) The plot and ideas in the show were great, especially the way Hannibal and Will Graham's relationship was portrayed, so I wonder if that's drawn from the book or Bryan Fuller's own genius. I'm excited to get through this so I can compare to the show.

(Excuse my dangly hair)

"A professor invites a colleague from the art department to his home to see a painting that he has kept secret for decades. The professor swears it is a Vermeer--why has he hidden the important work for so long? The reasons unfold in a series of stories that trace ownership of the painting back to World War 2 and Amsterdam, and still further back to the moment of the work's inspiration. As the painting moves through each owner's hands, what was long hidden quietly surfaces, illuminating poignant moments in human lives. Vreeland's characters remind us, through their love of the mysterious painting, how beauty transforms and why we reach for it, what lasts, and what in our lives is singular and unforgettable."

Even though people preach not to judge a book by it's cover, I couldn't help it with this one; I love the blue and the little picture window. I picked this book because of the art history aspect, but also because it seems to be the type of book I like best; not very dramatic, relaxed and contemplative, asking questions about human nature, life, beauty, but not necessarily answering them. And it involves a professor--- I have a weakness for any insight into the lives of professors *see: my obsession with The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies*

"The wish to bring political life under God's authority is nothing new, and it's clear that today religious passions are again driving world politics, confounding expectations of a secular future. In this major book, Mark Lilla reveals the sources of this age-old quest--and it's surprising role in shaping Western thought. Making us look deeper into our beliefs about religion, politics, and the fate of civilizations, Lilla reminds us of the modern West's unique trajectory and how to remain on it. Illuminating and challenging, The Stillborn God is a watershed in the history of ideas."

I really had trouble exercising self-control in the philosophy/religion section. I basically wanted to carry the whole table home-- but alas, my thirteen dollars. So I settled on this- combining religion, philosophy, and politics. I was remembering history class this year, learning how the Constitution and early government was built on Judeo-Christian ideas. I think it'll be a good read for when I'm not in the mood for fiction.

"As the Kaisar-i-Hind weighs anchor for Bombay in the autumn of 1928, it's passengers ponder their fate in a distant land. They are part of the "Fishing Fleet"-- the name given to the legions of Englishwomen who sail to India each year in search of husbands, heedless of the life that awaits them. The inexperienced chaperone Viva Holloway has been entrusted to watch over three unsettling charges. There's Rose, as beautiful as she is naive, who plans to marry a cavalry officer she has met a mere handful of times. Her bridesmaid, Victoria, is hell-bent on losing her virginity en route before finding a husband of her own. And shadowing them all is the malevolent presence of a disturbed schoolboy named Guy Glover. 

From the parties of the wealthy Bombay socialites to the poverty of Tamarind Street, from the sooty streets of London to the genteel conversation of the Bombay Yacht Club, East of The Sun  is graced with lavish detail and a penetrating sensitivity---historical fiction at it's greatest."

I originally picked up this book because the title reminded me of the story East of the Sun West of the Moon. I'm not sure if this book relates to that at all, but the story on the back cover sucked me in-- set in an interesting place in an interesting time with interesting people. I don't really expect this book to be all that deep or English-class material, but it sounds like the kind of book I could read just to relax and hear a great story. 

"Set at a boys' boarding school during the early years of World War 2, A Separate Peace  is a harrowing and luminous parable of the dark side of adolescence. Gene is a lonely, introverted intellectual. Phineas is a handsome, taunting, daredevil athlete. What happens between two friends one summer, like the war itself, banishes the innocence of these boys and their world."

I bought this one because I had heard a lot about and I'm also pretty sure I'll have to read it for school sometime in the future.