It has been almost three months since my last book haul (in July) and since then I have accumulated more books (is anyone surprised, because I’m not). It is partially because I have no self-control when it comes to buying cheap books, but also partially because I have discovered a vintage bookshop near my house with so many amazing books! I almost bought an old copy of The Tale of Genji but I stopped myself (it was like $375, for the record).
Anyway, I have collected another 13 books in three months, so let’s get into them. Also, the majority of these are old copies of classics, so my editions may be difficult to find pictures for.

Title: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
Original Publication: 1915
My Edition Publication: 1968
Pages: 309
Considered one of the best novels of all time, this book tells the story of Philip Carey, a man consumed by his love for a woman who will never return his feelings and held in bondage by human weakness. It is a brilliant examination of humanity, or so I’ve heard.
I’ve heard good things about this book, and so I picked it up, especially after I heard Maugham’s writing compared to Dostoevsky’s.

(No cover for my copy because it is so old!)
Title: Victorian Poets by Edmund Clarence Stedman (eighteenth edition)
Original publication: 1875
My edition: 1890
Pages: 521
This is a collection of essays which gives information about Victorian poets like Browning and Tennyson. This was a chance find for me, as it was only $1.99, and exactly 130 years old. I love finding books this old, especially those which discuss the era in which they were written because I do love the Victorian era.

Title: The White Mirror (Li Du #2) by Elsa Hart
Original Publication: 2016
My Publication: 2016
Pages: 310
I got the first book of this series earlier this year from the library, and I absolutely adored it. It’s a murder mystery series set in 18th century China, a time when foreigners were beginning to enter the Middle Kingdom. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the second book at my library, but my boyfriend surprised me by giving it to me recently. I cannot wait to read it!

Title: Angels and Demons (Robert Langdon #1) by Dan Brown
Original Publication: 2000
My edition: 2001
Pages: 572
I bought The Da Vinci Code a while ago, only to learn like an idiot that it was the second book of the series. After deliberating on whether I should read that one first, I decided to get this one and read them in order. And that’s all I know about this book, though I’ve heard a lot of people say this one is not as good as it’s sequel. But who knows.

Title: The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (Lord Peter Wimsey #4) by Dorothy L. Sayers
Original publication: 1928
My edition: 1978
Pages: 192
I love the Peter Wimsey series, and I usually buy every book I see about him that’s cheap, because I would someday love to own the entire series. In this one, old General Fentiman dies at an uncertain time, which leaves his inheritance also uncertain. Thus, Wimsey enters the case.

Title: C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity (Shepherd’s Notes) by Terry L. Miethe
Original Publication: 1999
My edition: 1999
Pages: 86
This is kind of a Spark Notes version of Mere Christianity, which summarizes Lewis’s book. I tend to have difficulty understanding some of his more theological works, so this might be an interesting read for me. Since my family already owns a copy of Mere Christianity, I intend to look over this book as I read that one. I used a lot of books like these when I was studying Shakespeare’s plays, so I’m curious to see how much this will help me.

Title: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Milennium #1) by Stieg Larsson
Original publication: 2005
My edition: 2008
Pages: 465
I finally succumbed to buying this book. I have been recommended this thriller series for years, but have avoided it mostly because it is considered to be a pretty dark book which deals with horrific topics. This book follows a journalist and a tattooed prodigy as they attempt to solve the murder of a wealthy man in Sweden. I haven’t seen any movie of it either.

Title: The Girl Who Played with Fire (Milennium #2) by Stieg Larsson
Original publication: 2006
My edition: 2009
Pages: 630
This is the second book of the series, and I probably took a chance by buying this one along with the first one (because who knows if I’ll even like the first book), but I decided to take the chance and buy both in case I enjoyed the first book. Only then I’ll worry about buying the third book if I like the first two.

Title: The Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault
Original publication: 1966
My edition: 1966
Pages: 371
This is a historical novel set during ancient Greece, following the life of a Greek actor who travels with a mask of Apollo. It is considered an amazing in-depth look into ancient Greece. I got it on impulse, but I am interested in reading more books set during ancient eras.

Title: Imperial Woman by Pearl S. Buck
Original publication: 1956
My edition: 1956
Pages: 402
Since I read The Good Earth by Buck, I’ve been hoping to read more of her books. So I felt really excited when I saw this one, which is apparently a fictionalized story of Ci-Xi, who went from a poor concubine to the empress of China. I’ve watched several documentaries of Ci-Xi (pronounced similar to “tsi-shi”) and I’m really interested in her. She was a brutal but intelligent woman, and I’m curious to see how Buck presents her.

Title: Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Perth #1) by Anne McCaffrey
Original publication: 1968
My edition: 1991
Pages: 303
This series is considered a fantasy classic, and my family speaks highly of it. It is the first book of a long series, and I am a little bit nervous reading this. That’s mostly because a lot of people grew up with this series and I will feel super bad if I don’t like it. But I’ve wanted to read it for years, so I bought at least the first book.

Title: An Outline of Russian Literature by Marc Slonim
Original publication: 1958
My edition: 1959
Pages: 175
This is a historical analysis of the history of Russian literature, from the Middle Ages to 1950s. Since I’ve gotten to love Russia literature in the last couple of years, I was really excited to find this book. It’s especially fitting as I’m writing this, I’m currently reading Tolstoy’s War and Peace (it is a massive tome and it’s slowly draining my sanity).

(not my copy’s cover, but this edition came out the same year as mine, so I’m using it)
Title: Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
Original Publication: 1837
My edition: 1964
Pages: 888
I have loved every book I’ve read by Charles Dickins, and I’ve heard good things about this one. It is also a whopper of a length at nearly 900 pages. It is Dickins’s “satirical masterpiece,” according to Goodreads and I look forward to tackling it!
So there is my haul. Have you read any of these books? Or do any look interesting to you? 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
I liked both Angels & Demons and the Da Vinci Code. Both were entertaining read. Didn’t like Dragonflight as much. I had a lot of issues with book. Will look out for your thoughts on it.
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I’m really excited to read all three books. I’ve heard good things about Dragonflight, so it’s a pity you didn’t like it. I’ll have to see what I think when I read it.
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Interesting haul 😀 I have read a few Anne McCaffrey books. They’re not exactly great literature but they’re fun if you like dragons and quests etc.
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I don’t see myself getting it into Anne McCaffrey because I’m not a big fantasy reader, but I look forward to at least trying her books.
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I remember reading and liking ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ trilogy. If I were to reread it, I may feel differently now, but I look forward to your review if you do decide to do one.
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I’m excited to read it, even if I’ve heard it’s pretty dark.
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Yay! Enjoy yoir haul!
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Thank you! I will!
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Lucky you! Enjoy.
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Thank you!
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I have Dragonflight but still haven’t read it!
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I’ve heard it’s really good! I look forward to reading it.
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C.S. Lewis ROCKS!!!
Nice post! Looks like you’ve found some great books. Your taste in old books is so cool! You’re gonna be reviewing these though, right?
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I do love old books! And I will review them, when I eventually read them (which may take a while). And Lewis does rock!
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Okay, good! Heck yeah!
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Oh my goodness, I love the book, Of Human Bondage by Maugham. I read the book many years ago but it is a favorite. I hope you enjoy. I have read the first couple of books (years ago) in the Larsson books. I’ve read Mere Christianity by Lewis-also a favorite. All of the books you’ve shown look like ones I’d pick up too. Enjoy!
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I’m really excited to read Of Human Bondage! I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. And I love Lewis, so I’m looking forward to reading Mere Christianity too! Thank you!
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Well, not- however have read a LOT of Dickens- never once disliked a single one.
In terms of buying books recently (which includes August and September)- that was when I bough Little Women, Mayor of Casterbirdge, the last 2/3 of Shades of Magic, and the entire His Dark Materials series.
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I haven’t disliked a single Dickens either yet! And my boyfriend just read Shades of Magic and really liked it. I really should read it!
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You really should- if you didn’t read my overall opinion, then maybe you should
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I didn’t read it. I’ll have to check your blog for it.
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Hi, I loved Of Human Bondage when I read it in college. I also loved The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – the whole series was excellent! I read The Da Vinci Code first – and then I read Angels and Demons. I think he wrote Angels and Demons after that. Great haul!
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Thank you! I’m excited to read all these books. I didn’t know Angels and Demons was written later. That’s interesting And I’m definitely most excited for Of Human Bondage!
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I just checked and I’m wrong about Angels and Demons. He wrote it first, but the movie was made second. Sorry to give you misinformation!
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Oh, that’s totally fine. Either way, Angels and Demons does take place before the second one, and I prefer reading series in chronological order.
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