Charity Shop Treasures
This Tuesday just gone me and a few of my house mates travelled into town for ‘CharityShopShopping!’ as I love to enthuse.
Of course, I found some clothes: 2 dresses, and 3 tops, but the major find was the books.
Here’s a little pic:
(As when I first pick them up off the shelves, I find it hard to stop hoarding them to my chest. I just can’t let go – partly ’cause it usually means they all fall to the floor with a thunk. Currently they’re in a haphazard pile on my bed, awaiting a read). Maybe someone with a good editing programme can turn this into an inspirational wallpaper of some sorts/illustrate over the top.
I think I found a good mix of crime and fantasy, even a great book on dream symbolism. Most people may think that a little odd, but it’s going to be really useful when I try to create worlds and new cultures. They have to have symbolism come from somewhere! The avenues open to us in books on the occult and fantasy are almost limitless. Then there’s real life to boot – superstitions, looks, fashion, taboos, food…
Here’s a list of the books and their authors. I think I picked most up for around £1.
- ‘The Lovely Bones’ – Alice Sebold (Have heard it’s a good book and intend to do my own research).
- ‘The Mermaids Singing’ – Val McDermid (A serial killer crime book. The blurb caught me: ‘You always remember the first time. Isn’t that what they say about sex? How much more true it is of murder…’)
- ‘The Calling’ – Inger Ash Wolfe (First found the author’s name interesting and the grimy cover pretty cool. Then I was interested by a handicapped detective and a body with a ‘mouth moulded into a strangely meaningful shape’).
- ‘Three Great Novels – The lost years – Let it Bleed, Black & Blue, The Hanging Garden’ – Ian Rankin. (Three novels in one. How could I resist? Also I’ve read Rankin’s books in a holiday destination’s bookcase and rather enjoyed them so needed more).
- ‘Blue Moon’ – Alyson Noel. (Looked familiar. Turns out I’ve probably read this particular novel in the series in ebook format but I don’t remember the plot that well so no worries. Onward reading!)
- ‘Ink Exchange’ – Melissa Marr. (Not going to lie – this really was a case of a stunning cover. Then I looked on the back and eyes and wings pulled me forward. It sounds like a dark tale full of mystery. Can’t wait to get to it!)
- ‘The Complete book of Dreams’ – Edwin Raphael. (A great reference book to add to my home library as I build my writer’s den. It looks good from what I’ve looked up so far although a skunk was woefully absent, as was sex. Interesting.)
- ‘Advent’ – James Treadwell. (Okay so I bought this book online but it WAS in the charity shop as well when I went out. This is the one I’m reading at the moment. Again, it has a great cover but, more than that, is represented by the Janklow and Nesbit agency and I met one of their agents at the London Book Fair. Also, it just sounded like my kind of read. Magic is on the loose, people see things that aren’t there and cannot conform to the modern day).
Needless to say, my backpack was rather heavy after buying all this! Very much worth it though.
Once I’ve given these a good read I’ll be sure to report back on their contents.
If you know of any great books then please message me, especially if these are great writing references. I need more of those!
Also, if you like fantasy or crime, I’m currently writing a novel which is a blend of both. I’m toying with the title ‘While I Slept’.
My next post will have snippets of the text and some character info most likely but if you want to keep on top of my progress then I’m recording it on twitter almost daily: https://twitter.com/Holly_emma_Ice
Hope you are all well and reading/writing to your heart’s content.
Holly Ice - The Unknown and Me 
You can’t beat charity shops for books, Holly! I’m glad to see The Lovely Bones there, and just ecstatic to see The Mermaids Singing, as Val McDermid is one of my favourite authors. I have every one of her books. That one is the book that began the Wire in the Blood series on TV. The Wire in the Blood itself is the second novel in the series.
Sounds like I should watch that series – never heard of it! Also sounds like I have some great stories ahead of me – thanks for the heads up.
WHAT? Never watched Wire in the Blood? Oh, you haven’t lived, Holly! Robson Greene is perfect as Tony Hill. It was made for ITV1 and ran for 6 seasons. They changedthe female lead character in it after a couple of seasons, but it’s still the original character in all of the books. There’s 7 of them, if i remember correctly, with another out soon. They’re not numbered, but it’s easy to find them all. I bet you can find all of them in charity shops! I suggest you read all of Kathy Reichs’ books too. Her books is what the TV series Bones is based on.
Sounds like a plan! Ooooh I looooove bones. Are the books better than the series?
They’re much better than the series, but the staff temperance Brennan has working for her in the series don’t exist in the books, and Temperance herself is a recovering alcoholic. She has a grown up daughter from her failed marriage and her relationship with Andrew Ryan is completely different than in the TV series. The books alternate between stints in Charlotte, North Carolina and Quebec.
There is also a spin-off series of YA books: Virals, written by Kathy Reichs and her son Brendan. The Virals books all about Temperance’s niece and her friends. They all have special powers, and in the latest book, Temperance Brennan herself makes an appearance.
In total, there are, i think, 15 Temperance Brennan novels and 3 Virals novels.