Book Haul #2

This post was supposed to go up this morning, but for some reason I scheduled it to go up on Wednesday and only noticed the mistake when I got home from school…oops.

So, I did it again…I bought more books. No, I have not read all the books from my previous book haul, but I had to go to the Goodwill to get some exercise clothes. And when you’re shopping for clothes, you have to buy at least twice as much books as clothes. Isn’t that a rule?

Anyway, I bought a bunch of books I’ve been wanting to read for years and, like my last book haul, most of them are classics. I bought a total nine books, which cost ten dollars. So, even though I bought way too many books, I hardly broke the bank (I love that cliche. I mean, can you actually imagine breaking a massive building?).

But here are the books I bought.

Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers

Original Publication: 1923

My Edition Publication: 1995

Genre: Classic, Mystery

Page Length: 212

This is the first book in the Lord Peter Wimsey series. I have read several of the later books which feature Harriet Vane, but I have never gone back to some of her earlier books. After finishing Gaudy Night recently and absolutely loving it, I’ve been anxious to digest more of her books, which is why I was so thrilled to happen upon this book for only 99 cents. The story is about a dead body found in a bathtub and the police are convinced they have the perpetrator. But Wimsey isn’t so sure, and sets out to solve the case himself.

The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel

Original Publication: 1998

My Edition Publication: 1998

Genre: Nonfiction, Christian

Page Length: 397

This book was made into a movie a few years ago, which looked interesting but a bit too dramatized for my taste. So I’m hoping the book will be more logical and rational. Lee Strobel was an atheist journalist who set out to prove the Jesus Christ did not exist and was not God. However, he ended up instead realizing the evidence was there, and extremely solid. He became Christian, and wrote this book about his journey and the evidence he uncovered. I am the type of Christian who is not touchy feely about my faith. I want rational and logical arguments, which is why I’m excited to read this book.

The Complete Plays of Sophocles

Original Publication: 1924

My Edition Publication: 1988

Genre: Classic, Plays

Page Length: 261

Sophocles was a Greek dramatist around 500 BC. He wrote many plays, though his most famous one is probably Oedipus the King (yes, the one where he marries his mother and thus was created the Oedipus Complex, which is such a creepy theory we can thank Freud for). Anyway, this book holds seven plays by Sophocles, one being Oedipus, I know absolutely nothing about any of them. However, I’m excited to read them.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Original Publication: 1939

My Edition Publication: 1986

Genre: Classic, Fiction

Page Length: 581

This is another book I’ve been meaning to read for years, but I don’t actually know much about it. My mother says it’s very serious, and I know it follows a group of people during the Great Depression, but that’s about all I know about it. There are so many other books I want to read by Steinback as well: Of Mice and Men, East of Eden, etc. He’s one of those authors I hear great things about, but yet I’ve never read one of his works.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Original Publication: 1954

My Edition Publication: 1997

Genre: Classics, Young Adult

Page Length: 208

This is a book I want to read, but I also don’t want to read. I mean, it’s pretty much about a group of young boys who kill each other after getting stranded on an island. Not exactly a pleasant plot, but I’ve heard it’s a beautiful, if not a bit disturbing, psychological read. Also, my cover just looks so weird and cool, with the giant fly and little schoolboy standing before it.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Original Publication: 2005

My Edition Publication: 2006

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Page Length: 377

As I’ve been a fan of Harry Potter for years, I don’t know why I’ve never picked up this series. So many people love this series, and yet I haven’t read a single book. So when I saw this book on the self, I thought that I might as well pick it up. If I own it, it will eventually force me to read it (I never get rid of a book without reading it first). Besides, it looks to be a light read, so I can finish it quickly.

Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche

Original Publication: 1886

My Edition Publication: 1997

Genre: Classic, Philosophy

Page Length: 150

This is the second book by Nietzsche I am buying after purchasing Thus Spoke Zarathustra in my last book haul. I probably shouldn’t have bought this book without even reading the last one I bought, but I’ve been hearing so many other authors talk about this book, and so I decided to get it. Besides, it’s much shorter than his other book, so maybe I will be less intimidated to read it.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Original Publication: 1989

My Edition Publication: 2007

Genre: Historical Fiction

Page Length: 973

This is definitely the longest book I purchased this haul, and I don’t know much about it. Set in the twelfth century England, it follows a monk as he builds a great Gothic cathedral, a mason who wishes to become an architect, and a mysterious lady haunted by a secret. I don’t know much more about it or if I will even enjoy it, but it looked interesting. I haven’t studied Medieval Europe that much, but with taking my West Civ class this semester, this book fits in perfectly.

The New Classic Chinese Cookbook by Mai Leung

Original Publication: 1998

My Edition Publication: 1998

Genre: Cookbook

Page Length: 348

Since I’m learning Chinese and I love Chinese food, I thought it was probably about time I started learning about Chinese cooking. I was thrilled to find this book. Not only is it autographed by the author, but it gives the basics of cooking Chinese food (like what oils to use, what to prepare first, how to follow recipes, what utensils to use, etc.). It also gives a bit information about how Chinese tradition looks at food differently. I look forward to reading this book and trying some of the recipes.

There you have my second book haul. None of these books I needed, but I just can’t pass up these good prices.

Have you read any of these books? If so, I’d love to hear what you thought of them. If not, did any of them 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