Times Colonist Annual Book Sale Haul
It’s that special time of year again. Christmas, you ask? No, much better than that. This weekend was the 19th annual used book here in Victoria. Every year they receive thousands of books by donation and sell them for one to three dollars. The proceeds go towards local literacy programs, and any remaining books are then made available for schools to pick up for free.
This means guilt-free book shopping! I also donated about nine of my own books, so I don’t even really have to worry about space.
The only book I really had in mind going in was Tooth & Nail by Ian Rankin, as his books are always easy to find and I’m still undecided on the series, but I actually wasn’t able to find it. I think I came across every other book he’s written, but this one was nowhere to be found. I find that’s often the case with this sale. I never find what I’m specifically looking for, but I always still come home with a full box.
- The Sentimentalists by Johanna Skibsrud
- Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon
- Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
- The Massacre Of Glencoe by John Buchan
- I’m a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson
- The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
- So, Anyway… by John Cleese
- The Salzburg Connection by Helen MacInnes
- The Tenth Man by Graham Greene
- Congo by Michael Crichton
- Microserfs by Douglas Coupland
- Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
- When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
- Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
All this for $34, and that’s actually more expensive than usual, but I picked up more hardcovers this year. I nearly bought John Cleese’s autobiography last month and then waited, so I was happy to pick that one up for $3. I’m also quite exited to get to The Salzburg Connection, as I love early to mid 20th century espionage and detective fiction, and I spent half a year in Salzburg during university. I plan to start with Gentlemen of the Road first, though, as I’ve been meaning to read a Michael Chabon novel for ages now.
Let the countdown for next year’s sale start now!
You May Also Like
5 Comments
Hamlette
What a great haul! I haven’t read John Cleese’s book, but I read MIchael Palin’s diary of the Monty Python years a while back, and it was adorable.
Rob
Oh I’ve been meaning to read his diary collection, although I have been put off a bit by the sheer size. I’ll have to keep an eye out.
Hamlette
It reads REALLY fast. I know it’s enormous, but I chowed through it in less than a month, and I had a newborn baby on my hands at the time.
Geoff W
Oh I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Atwoods! I loved it even though it was the most “literary” of her works.
Rob
I find the length of that book a bit daunting, to be honest, but it was such a good edition to find used.