If you’ve read our Ultimate Guide to Saving Money, you might remember my mentioning ThriftBooks. Since that post, I’ve put my own tip to good use and purchased books that I can’t find at our local library on the site! With that in mind, a ThriftBooks haul seemed appropriate. However, I ended up picking up quite a few other books from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and a used book sale, so an overall summer 2018 book haul took precedence. Enjoy the latest additions to my bookshelf!
Below, I’ll include the book’s title and author, my reasons for buying, and the ThriftBooks, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble links to the book (or a similar copy). I’ve separated them by my purchase location, too.
If you enjoy our summer 2018 book haul, let us know—we’d love to make this a regular occurrence!
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure for more information!
Note: If you access ThriftBooks through our link (it’s hyperlinked to each instance of the word “ThriftBooks” [not the individual book links] throughout the post!) and place an order within 14 days, you’ll get 15% off and I receive a coupon too!
ThriftBooks:
Mash: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, Richard Hooker
I’ve talked before on the blog about my love of the TV show (and Alan Alda!), so this book has been on my TBR list for ages. Now it’s finally joined the TBR pile!
20 Something, 20 Everything: A Quarter-Life Woman’s Guide to Balance and Direction, Christine Hassler
This book and Present over Perfect were recommended in a Facebook group when a member asked about feeling overwhelmed by wanting to have her life together in her early 20s. This really hit home for me, so I ordered them myself!
Thriftbooks link – 20 Something 20 Everything
Thriftbooks link – Present over Perfect
Amazon link – 20 Something 20 Everything
Amazon link – Present over Perfect
Barnes & Noble link – 20 Something 20 Everything
Barnes & Noble link – Present over Perfect
Circles on the Water, Marge Piercy
I read Piercy’s He, She, and It in college but had no idea she wrote poetry, too. I actually found this book through a Read It Forward recommendation, then added it to my Goodreads “Want to Read” list.
Thriftbooks link – Circles on the Water
Thriftbooks link – He, She, and It
Amazon link – Circles on the Water
Amazon link – He, She, and It
Barnes and Noble – Circles on the Water
Barnes and Noble – He, She, and It
Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I’ve Learned, Alan Alda
If you didn’t catch it above or in earlier posts, I’ve had a life-long crush on Alan Alda thanks to M*A*S*H. When I found out he’s an author as well, I couldn’t get his books into Goodreads quickly enough! This will be the first of his I read and I couldn’t be more excited.
The Collected Writings of Zelda Fitzgerald
I’ve always been a fan of Scott’s (Fitz is named after him, for crying out loud!) and I finished up my English degree with a focus on him. I grew more interested in Zelda as time went on and put Save Me the Waltz on the infamous TBR list years ago. After watching Amazon’s Z: The Beginning of Everything (and mourning the lack of a second season ever since) and picking up Therese Anne Fowler’s Z, there was no denying I needed to read Zelda’s writing (her potential contributions to Scott’s works aside). ThriftBooks was out of her novel at the time of this order, but they offered it in conjunction with the collected works here. Works for me!
Thriftbooks link – Collected Writings
Thriftbooks link – Save Me the Waltz
Thriftbooks link – Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
Amazon link – Collected Writings
Amazon link – Save Me the Waltz
Amazon link – Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
Barnes and Noble link – Collected Writings
Barnes and Noble link – Save Me the Waltz
Barnes and Noble link – Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics, Joe Biden
I absolutely adore Joe Biden (there may or may not be a promotional flyer of him hung on the wall of my bedroom) so, again, his books are a must-have for my TBR list. Just like Alan Alda’s, this will be the first of many I’ll read, I’m sure!
Why Not Me?, Mindy Kaling
A friend lent me Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? a few years back and I immediately purchased a copy of my own at the next used book sale I attended. And that was before watching The Office (which I’ve seen at least six times through now…shh.)! I’ve been on a bit of an essay kick the past year or so, so I’m excited to read what will undoubtedly be an excellent collection.
Thriftbooks link – Why Not Me?
Thriftbooks link – Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
Amazon link – Why Not Me?
Amazon link – Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
Barnes and Noble link – Why Not Me?
Barnes and Noble link – Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
Amazon
peluda, Melissa Lozada-Oliva
I’ve been a fan of Melissa’s for ages now, but I’d put off purchasing peluda for far too long. After picking it up, I only wish I’d done so sooner!
It took me a matter of an hour to read the book through, even with rereading sections, because I simply couldn’t put it down. Long story short? I cannot recommend this book enough.
Poems & Songs, Robert Burns
My undergraduate advisor (and one of my closest friends throughout college) introduced me to “Address to a Haggis,” and then I studied Wordsworth’s “To the Sons of Burns” as part of my Early Romantics class at the end of my senior year. I enjoyed these instances enough to pick up a whole book of his works!
Barnes & Noble
The Swans of Fifth Avenue, Melanie Benjamin
If you know me in real life, you probably know I adore both Tiffany and Co. and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (both book and movie!). That novel and In Cold Blood turned me into a Capote fan years ago and this fictionalised account has been on my TBR list for ages.
ThriftBooks link – The Swans of Fifth Avenue
ThriftBooks link – Breakfast at Tiffany’s
ThriftBooks link – In Cold Blood
Amazon link – The Swans of Fifth Avenue
Amazon link – Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Amazon link – In Cold Blood
Barnes and Noble link – The Swans of Fifth Avenue
Barnes and Noble link – Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Barnes and Noble link – In Cold Blood
The Hamilton Affair, Elizabeth Cobbs
I’m only a casual fan of Hamilton, but the scandal surrounding the Reynolds pamphlet has interested me for years. This book was an easy decision!
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson
In contrast to The Hamilton Affair, I fell in love with the musical Jekyll and Hyde before the book. This copy was too gorgeous to pass up!
Don’t be fooled by the low reviews on the B&N website – every negative comment is about the binding not being leather! Personally, I love the Flexibound alternative – I wouldn’t have purchased if it were leatherbound. It’s not an accurate representation of the book if people are complaining about their $10 purchase not reflecting too-high expectations.
The Other Tudors, Philippa Jones
The Tudor dynasty is my favourite period in British history and I pick up every bit of material, fiction or nonfiction, book or film, that I can on the family. This one was a perfect addition to my collection!
Used Book Sale
First, some background. A local newspaper has hosted an annual book sale for years now, and my grandparents and I have gone to nearly every one. On the final day of the sale, they offer a special: for $6 (a recent increase from $5), you can fill a large brown paper bag with as many books as can fit. I only got to that final day this year, so the entire list of books below only cost me $6! Not too bad, if I do say so myself.
Bat: The Story of a Bull Terrier, Stephen Meader
My grandfather actually picked this one up to show me. How could I turn down a dog, even in print form?
Could not find on Barnes and Noble’s site
Selected Poems, Emily Dickinson
I’ve liked what I’ve read by Dickinson before (could I call myself a poet otherwise?), but I haven’t read enough of her poems to call myself a fan. This small selection will remedy that!
Jane Boleyn: The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford, Julia Fox
If you haven’t caught on from previous mentions, I love the Tudor era. I saw this one in a pile completely by chance. Jane is probably the Boleyn I know the least about, so it was only fair I give her story a chance.
The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell
I definitely lucked out with Malcolm Gladwell books! I’ve yet to read any of his work, but I’ve heard such good things that I didn’t mind adding several to my bag.
Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell
This is the book I wanted the most to read of Gladwell’s!
What the Dog Saw, Malcolm Gladwell
Like his other books, this was a matter of hearing great things about the author.
Troilus and Cressida, William Shakespeare
It’s been about a decade since I first read this one and I didn’t have a copy of my own – time to fix both issues!
Winesburg, Ohio, Sherwood Anderson
Confession: 90% of my first inkling to read this came from Ezra gifting it to Aria in Pretty Little Liars. I purchased a copy a few months ago, but the text was far too small to read comfortably. This copy is much more legible! Now I’ll be able to donate the other copy, too.
Hershey’s 1934 Cookbook
Growing up just a few miles from Hershey, the company’s been a recurring presence in my life. I’m looking forward to veganizing some of these recipes!
Evangeline and Other Poems, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This is yet another classic poet that I’ve somehow gotten a degree in English without studying. Again, a situation to be remedied!
The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway
Alongside my adoration of the Fitzgeralds, I’ve grown to have an appreciation for Hemingway as a writer. I had neither owned nor read this one, but I’ll give it a chance at some point!
Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
I read this one while living in Bath (cue heart eyes!), but couldn’t remember if I had a copy here in the States. As it turns out, it’s one of a few particularly pretty hardcovers I’ve got on the shelf already – I haven’t decided if I’ll keep this one as a copy to read rather than look pretty, but until I decide, a second copy still can’t hurt!
Persuasion, Jane Austen
I technically read this one in Bath, too, but it didn’t get the attention it deserved. A re-read is in order!
Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas, James Patterson
I read a few of James Patterson’s less intense books (like Sundays at Tiffany’s, below!) years ago, but not this one. Like all too many in this haul, I’d heard good things but had yet to read!
Sundays at Tiffany’s, James Patterson
I really enjoyed this book when I read it ages ago (I mean, it’s Tiffany’s!) but my copy disappeared years ago. It was about time I snag a new one!
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Other Poems, Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Honestly, I can’t stand Coleridge. But I hope to give him another chance someday with this slim volume.
The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien
Despite my incessant nerdery, I hadn’t watched the Lord of the Rings movies until college (and only the original trilogy at that!), much less read the books. I’ve read other works by Tolkien that I enjoyed, so it’s about time I get myself a copy to eventually catch up.
ThriftBooks link – The Hobbit
ThriftBooks link – The Fellowship of the Ring
ThriftBooks link – The Two Towers
ThriftBooks link – The Return of the King
Amazon link – The Hobbit
Amazon link – The Fellowship of the Ring
Amazon link – The Two Towers
Amazon link – The Return of the King
Barnes and Noble link – The Hobbit
Barnes and Noble link – The Fellowship of the Ring
Barnes and Noble link – The Two Towers
Barnes and Noble link – The Return of the King
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
This one has been on my TBR list for forever! I’ve been a lifelong fan of Steve Martin’s acting (Father of the Bride I & II are my personal favourites!) and I’ve heard excellent things about his writing. Especially looking forward to this one!
Contemporary American Poetry, A. Poulin
Some backstory: when I went through the interview process with Bath Spa, the top recommendation they had for me was to study more contemporary poets. While I’m not attending this year, I’m still taking this advice to heart! Granted, this book isn’t necessarily contemporary at this point in time, but it’s a start! I’m happy to broaden my horizons regardless.
Could not find on Barnes and Noble’s site
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, James Joyce
Yet again, a classic that I’ve somehow yet to read or own.
‘Tis and Teacher Man, Frank McCourt
I’ve only read excerpts from Angela’s Ashes, but from that much, I know I’ll enjoy the full book when I finally get around to it. When I saw multiple copies of both of these, I had to snag one of each.
ThriftBooks link – ‘Tis
ThriftBooks link – Teacher Man
Amazon link – ‘Tis
Amazon link – Teacher Man
Barnes and Noble link – ‘Tis
Barnes and Noble link – Teacher Man
Totally Coffee Cookbook, Helene Siegel and Karen Gillingham
Coffee and books are pretty much my favourite things. This book is filled with AND SHAPED LIKE coffee. Yes, please!
The Kings and Queens of England, Nicholas Best
I saw this one on top of a pile as I walked by the self-help section of all places. I’m not sure I could say no to Henry VIII staring at me from the cover if I’d wanted to.
Zelda: A Biography, Nancy Milford
As a Zelda fan, this one’s been on my TBR for ages. The gorgeous cover design was just a bonus!
I’m considering sharing some book reviews featuring some of my favourites from this summer 2018 book haul as I read them – what do you think? Would you prefer individual posts or another long one? Let me know in the comments!
