Sunday haul

I haven't published one of these look-at-all-my-new-books photographs for quite some time, but I've made an exception today for no other reason than I need to bump the last post -- The Iraqi -- from the top of my blog and I don't have the energy to write any of the reviews I'm behind in writing.

I purchased these four books during a let's-see-what's-on-offer trip to Waterstone's in Putney. I had never been to this store before, and was impressed with its easy-to-browse fiction section -- so much roomier than my normal haunt at the Kensington High Street branch. There's also the added benefit of a Costa Coffee outlet upstairs with plenty of seating, so I took the opportunity to  sit down for a bit with a pile of books and a cappuccino. All very relaxing.  In many ways, it felt like I was on holiday in a foreign city, because the shop was new to me, as indeed was Putney High Street (I very rarely go south of the river on the weekends).

But enough about the merits of my shopping expedition. Here's a rundown of what I bought:

The Islamist by Ed Husain -- a non-fiction book about a man who joined radical Islam in Britain when he was 16 and then left five years later. Ed Husain is a regular media commentator on all things Islamic, especially home-grown terrorism, so it will be interesting to read this one. The Times described it as "a real eye-opener".

Boy by James Hanley -- this is part of the Oneworld Classics series which promotes works that have been unjustly neglected. This particular book, written in 1931, was banned for 50 years on the basis of obscenity. According to the blurb it "charts the short and brutal life of a boy forced out of school and into the unforgiving adult world".

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid -- an international bestseller, this was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2007. According to the bookseller who rang up my purchases today, it's one of the store's most popular books at the moment. I didn't let on that I had seen the posters in the fiction section for the "Thursday Evening Book Club", which will be discussing the book next week as part of its monthly get together.

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee by Rebecca Miller -- I admit to buying this solely on the cover image, which is very striking. It's only now I realise that the author is the daughter of playwright Arthur Miller. But the story about the life of a happily married woman slowly unravelling sounds intriguing. "It brilliantly captures the challenges, confusion and excitement of modern life," says the blurb, "and all the possibility that it holds".

Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple -- this is part of Persephone's new Classic series (ie. the ones with the pictorial covers rather than the normal dovegrey ones) and, not having read anything by Whipple before, I thought this would be a good place to start.

Comments

[Andi]

The Islamist sounds amazing. I'm on a non-fiction kick, so I might add that one to my hulking pile of "to read" books. As for The Reluctant Fundamentalist, it's another book I've had my eyes on. Luckily, the library at the college where I teach has it in the collection. I can snatch it up any time the mood strikes. Yay for libraries!

[No Answers]

Sounds like a successful shopping trip! I always have to exercise special restraint when in London, since the philosophy sections always tempt me, and, wherever you go, it is never cheap ...

[Steerforth]

'Boy' is a one of the most depressing novels I've ever read, but it is so well written that I would still recommend it.

[Steerforth]

'Boy' is a one of the most depressing novels I've ever read, but it is so well written that I would still recommend it.