New Words, New Books

Reading has a variety of benefits, not the least of which is the discovery of new words with which to expand ones lexicon. My recent acquisitions have included: Twee, belletristic, and tarn.

As I love the non-sequitur, I'll now move into talking about new books.

Bookstores are, for me, something closely akin to Kryptonite. Or perhaps an Achilles' Heel. I walk in and I cannot escape without a backpack full of new books. This last trip, I went in to get one specific book for my dear mother, and lo and behold, out I come with that plus three bags more for myself.

I blame geography. The bargain book shelves stood between me and the atlas I was seeking. Me walking through the bargain shelves with hardcovers for less than the cost of a softcover novel is a lot like a serial philanderer passing down a side street in the red light district with an ungainly wad of currency.... it can only end one way....

This time, my 'waiting to read' list acquired:

• Tales of the Grand Tour (Ben Bova), trade paperback, $4.99
• Lord Stanley, the Man Behind The Cup (Kevin Shea and John J. Wilson), hardcover, $4.99
• Great Tastes: Chicken (Bay Books), softcover, $7.99
• High Seas (anthology, editor Clint Willis), $5.99, trade paperback
• Stanley: The Impossible Life of Africa's Greatest Explorer (Tim Jeal), hardcover, $7.99
• Dragon Harper (Ann and Todd McCaffrey), hardcover, $5.99
• Hell and High Water: Canada and the Italian Campaign (Lance Goddard), softcover, $6.99
• Halting State (Charles Stross), hardcover, $6.99
• The Curious Case of the Misplaced Modifier (Bonnie Trenga), paperback, $10.99
• The Power of Point of View (Alicia Rasley), trade paperback, $18.75
• Crock Pot: Chicken (Pil Publications), ringed hardcover, $12.99
• Empires of the Sea: The Final Battle for the Mediterranean, 1521-1580 (Roger Crowley), trade paperback, $20.00

I contemplated two related biographies from the 'full price' section - one on Ghenghis Khan and one on Kublai Khan. I decided I wasn't yet into the Mongol phase to the tune of $23 per book. But someday....

So, we have two cookbooks, two books on writing, 4 history books, 2 sci-fi books, 1 fantasy book, and perhaps a book of historical fiction (or perhaps a 5th history book - not quite sure yet). We've got coverage of WWII, Mediterranean history leading up to and including the battle of Lepanto, the story of Lord Stanley and his cup and the early days of Canada, some age of sail reading, and Colonial Africa, as well as a number of worlds that weren't.

It's a good thing my interests aren't any more eclectic than they are... I eyeballed a bunch of books on heiroglyphics, egyptian history, the Canadian Navy, further books on food (particular meats), books on photography, philosophy, and Javascript.

The only reason I want to live to a very old age is to finish reading (or having read to me) all of my many books.... then I could probably die a happy man......