Unlike all my previous book hauls, this one is kind of an accumulation of new books I got in the last few months since October, when I posted my last book haul. Some of these books I purchased myself, and others I received for Christmas and my birthday (which is early in January). I’ve been meaning to do a post like this for a while, but I’ve just been too busy and thus I accumulated a lot of books. So let’s get into it.
Self-purchases
Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian
Original publication: 1989
My Edition Publication: 2001
Genre: Chinese fiction
Page Length: 510
This is a fictionalized book documenting the journey Gao took across China. It sounds like it is a beautiful, lyrical prose story of self-discovery and the beauty of China. I haven’t read it yet, but it sounds really interesting. Though I’ve been avoiding reading it just because it’s so long.
The Omnibus of Crime edited by Dorothy L. Sayers
Original Publication: 1929
My Edition Publication: 1929
Genre: Short stories, Mystery
Page Length: 1177
This book is a collection of short mystery stories, including authors like Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allan Poe, G. K. Chesterton, Aldous Huxley, Charles Dickens, Joseph Conrad, Bram Stoker, and H. G. Wells (and those are just the ones I know). It’s divided into different sections, focusing on madness, ghosts, magic, detectives, etc. I was so thrilled to find it!
Tutankhamun: The Untold Story by Thomas Hoving
Original Publication: 1978
My Edition Publication: 1978
Genre: History, Nonfiction
Page Length: 384
This is a thoroughly researched book of the founding of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1924. There are so much myth and rumors around this find, and I appreciate that Hoving determines to use journals and eye-witness testaments to talk of the realities of the tomb’s discovery.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Original Publication: 2016
My Edition Publication: 2016
Genre: Historical, African fiction
Page Length: 320
This book follows a hundred years of history in Ghana, following two half-sisters. I honestly don’t know much about African history, especially of Ghana, so I’m excited to read it. I don’t know much about it besides that, but I’ve seen a lot of positive reviews for it too.
Lost by Gregory Maguire
Original Publication: 2001
My Edition Publication: 2002
Genre: Fanstasy, retelling
Page Length: 352
This book apparently mixing elements from Peter Pan, A Christmas Carol, and Jack the Ripper into one haunting tale. When I got it, I thought it was just a retelling of A Christmas Carol, but after reading into it more, I discovered it was so much more. I remember reading and enjoying Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister (Cinderella from the perspective of one of the stepsisters), so I really want to give this book a read too. Besides that, I honestly don’t know much about it.
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters
Original publication: 2009
My edition publication: 2009
Genre: Fantasy, historical, retelling
Page length: 340
I have loved Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for years, and I’m surprised I never read this one. It was published after PPZ, probably to capitalize on it’s popularity. I’ve heard it’s not as good as the first one, but I also really want to read it to see for myself. Plus, apparently Colonel Brandon is literally a sea monster in it…that sounds fun.
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Edward Fitzgerald
Original Publication: 1859
My Edition Publication: 1947
Genre: Classics, poetry
Page Length: 150
Omar Khayyam was a 12th century Persian poet. This book Edward Fitzgerald claimed was English translations of Omar’s poems. The authenticity of the poetry is still in question, but I found this and thought it looked interesting. The art is also extremely beautiful, styled after Persian art.
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Original publication: c. -2100 BC.
My Edition Publication: 1988
Genre: Classics, poetry
Page length: 128
This is perhaps the oldest writing we still have, written during Mesopotamian king Gilgamesh’s reign. I’ve heard excellent things about it, and especially considering I love classic poets like Homer, I am really excited to read it.
Gifts
G.K. Chesterton Collected Works: Volume 36 (the picture is for 37, but I couldn’t find a picture for the previous volume)
Original Publication: 1935-1936
My Edition Publication: 2011
Genre: Nonfiction essays
Page Length: 611
I’ve mentioned Chesterton a couple times on my blog before, but I absolutely love his writing. My mother is a member of the Chesterton Society and they sent her a couple books around Christmas. One of them she already owned, so she gave it to me instead. I’m certainly not complaining.
American Gothic Short Stories
Original publication: May, 2019
My Edition Publication: 2019
Genre: Short stories, fantasy, horror
Page Length: 479
The picture for the cover of this book cannot fully encompass just how gorgeous it is! A friend got me this book for Christmas and I know I’ll enjoy the stories too, but I cannot get over just how pretty this book it. It’s a collection of scary short stories, including those by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Washington Irving, Shirley Jackson, H. P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, and many more.
Korean Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in Korean and English by Julie Damron and EunSun You
Original publication: 2018
My Edition Publication: 2018
Genre: Language learning, fairytales.
Page Length: 222
My sister’s friend gave this to me for Christmas and immediately I fell in love. It contains short stories in both Korean and English of traditional Korean folktales, but then it also breaks down the words used in the Korean to help you learn the language. Although I’m focusing on Chinese right now, the two languages I really want to speak are Chinese and Korean, so I’m extremely thrilled to have gotten this book!
The Adventures of Tintin: The Complete Collection by Herge
Original Publication: 1929-1976
My Edition Publication: 2019
Genre: Comic, classics, comedy
Page Count: 1648 (total, 8 books)
I grew up reading this comic series, and I’ve been waiting to get the complete collection for years. My mother found it on sale and got it for me for Christmas. It’s so wonderful and I can’t wait to reread these!
Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict
Original Publication: Jan. 7, 2020
My Edition Publication: 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Page Count: 336
I’ve mentioned this book before on my blog, and how it’s one of the few books coming out in 2020 which I’m looking forward to reading. Well, for my birthday this year, my boyfriend gave it to me. I’m so excited to have gotten it! As of right now, I haven’t had time to read it yet. It’s a fictional novel following the life of Clementine, the wife of Winston Churchill.
The Wizard of Oz (Chinese version) by L. Frank Baum
Original Publication: 1900
My Edition Publication: 2012
Genre: Classic, Chinese Language
Page Count: 359
For my birthday, my sister gave me two classic books in Chinese, including this one. I definitely am not proficient enough in reading Chinese characters to read this book entirely yet, but it is interesting to look through it and pick out characters I know. Maybe someday I’ll be able to read it entirely. It also reminds me I should reread The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in English. I haven’t read it in years.
Pride and Prejudice (Chinese version) by Jane Austen
Original Publication: 1813
My Edition Publication: 2012
Genre: Classic, Chinese Language
Page count: 294
This is the second Chinese book my sister gave me for my birthday, and I cannot wait to be able to read it! For those who have followed my blog for a while, you’ve probably noticed how often I’ve mentioned loving this book so much. It’s one of my favorite classics, and even in this Chinese copy, there are beautiful illustrations.
D&D Player’s Handbook by James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, and Bruce R. Cordell
Original publication: 2014
My Edition publication: 2014
Genre: Fantasy, Role Playing Games
Page Count: 320
Recently, I’ve began playing Dungeons and Dragons with some friends. It’s pretty much a role playing game where you go on fantasy adventures. It’s a fun game, but I find I don’t actually know that much, which is why I was thrilled that my mother gave me this book for my birthday to learn more.
Did you get any good books recently? Do any of these books look interesting? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments, follow my blog for more musings and, as always,
Best wishes in your life full of adventure,
Madame Writer