I was at my favorite local bookstore yesterday to buy the non-fiction book I’ll be using in my next season of Literary Masters book groups. I can’t tell you the title yet; you’ll have to wait until I announce my list of books! Suffice to say, it is so captivating, I am having a hard time putting it down. I think everyone will love it!

Anyway, the bookstore was having a sale in its used book annex. The already discounted prices were 50% off to benefit the local hospice. Well, the only thing better than a great used book store is one that is having a sale, so I decided my reading (lots of reading to get through so I can complete next season’s list) could wait and I went into the annex.

I came home with a pristine hardback copy of The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, some sort of riveting gothic tale. It was longlisted for the Orange Prize for fiction. I went on Sarah’s official website, and she has a page of “top ten” ghost stories. Check it out:
http://www.sarahwaters.com/top-tens.php

I also purchased for a few dollars Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones. I’ve been meaning to read this book for ages–it was published in 2006. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, it won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.

On my way out I picked up Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Everyone seems to love this book. Well, I’ll see…you all know what a literary snob I can be!

Anyway, I was happy with my purchases, the bookstore was happy that I bought a current hardback book, and the hospice was happy with the money from the used books I bought. Happiness all around. See what books can do for the world?