London Book Haul

Sooo…. How to start this post. I’ve only been gone for a little over two weeks, but it kind of feels like an eternity to me! This was the longest time I haven’t written a blogpost since I started this blog, and I felt really uncomfortable with it, but I just didn’t have the time.

As those of you who follow me on Twitter or Instagram might know, I’ve been working on my bachelor thesis pretty much non stop since I got back from London (which was AWESOME by the way). Whenever I called it quits for the day, I was just too exhausted to even think straight, let alone write a (somewhat) coherent blogpost.

But… I handed in my first draft yesterday, so while I’m waiting for feedback I’ve got all the time in the world to blog my little heart out! And I’ve missed it, you guys. It felt SO strange not to put up a post at least twice a week, and not to read and comment on other blogs. I’m so ready to get back into the swing of things, so when you look at it that way this break has actually been a pretty good thing, since it’s gotten me all enthusiastic again!

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Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about books! I went to London and accidentally came home with eleven books. Oops…

Now, to be fair, “accidentally” isn’t really the right word here. I was fully aware of what I was doing when I bought all these books, but do you guys have any idea how hard it is to be in London and not go a little bit nuts buying books?! I mean, I honestly restrained myself, and that was just because we only had carry on luggage and I didn’t want to pay for an extra suitcase. I only bought books that were on sale or second hand (and therefore cheap), although this was a pretty tough decision to make since books are quite a lot cheaper in the UK than they are in the Netherlands, generally speaking. In the end, though, I’m glad I instated this policy, and so is my bank account…

So, let’s go through this stack together, shall we?

Okay, I lied. This one wasn’t on sale, but I say it doesn’t count because it’s not a novel. That’s some watertight logic right there, my friend.

I kind of fell in love with 642 Things to Write About the moment I saw it, because it’s just what I need. I love creative writing, but I haven’t written anything besides my blogposts for a long time now. This book is basically what the title says it is: 642 prompts to get your creative juices flowing again. I haven’t had time to try it out yet, but I’m really looking forward to playing around with it!

These two I bought on our very first day, in a WHSmith at Victoria Station… I’ve never read either of them (*gasp* I KNOW) and it was buy 1 get 1 half price, so, you know, I had to. Plus, have you seen those covers? They’re gorgeous! I hope to read To Kill a Mockingbird soon, because it’s been on my To Read list for quite some time now.

Hmm, I just realised that “The Night is Darkening Round Me” wasn’t technically on sale either, but I mean, it’s 80p, so that doesn’t count either. Also, it’s teeny tiny. I came across The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and The Brontës, A Life in Letters in a second hand bookstore on Charing Cross Road. As you might know, Wuthering Heights is my favourite novel, and I also loved Jane Eyre, so I’m looking forward to reading another Brontë sister’s work. They were definitely an interesting bunch, which I why I also bought the Life in Letters book.

I found these two in a second hand bookstore as well, but they’re completely new, and were only 2 pounds each! I’ve been wanting to read The Great Gatsby for a very long time now, and Sense & Sensibility has been on the list for quite some time as well.

I bought Us in a gorgeous Waterstones (oh, Waterstones, how I love thee) for half price. I’m really excited about this book because One Day is one of my favourite novels (it nearly killed me, but it’s so good). I found N-W in a second hand bookstore, and decided to pick it up since it got me very curious. I’ve heard good things about Zadie Smith, so I think it’ll be pretty good!

Timbuktu is the last book in this haul. I’m writing my thesis about Paul Auster’s The New York Trilogy, but that’s the only thing I’ve read of his. This is a story told from a dog’s perspective, which had me intrigued straightaway. Plus, it’s Paul Auster. The man’s a genius.

And that’s it! My first blog post in over two weeks. It’s good to be back, my friends!

Have you read any of these books? Are they any good? Let me know!