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Friday, January 30, 2015

My Vintage Haul


Over the past month or so, I've scored a nice bunch of vintage books online (and not as I would have preferred, digging around in the back room of an old and musty bookstore), STILL, it's better than not having them at all. 

Shall I set aside what I'm currently reading and dive into my new stash?

How do you handle a new onslaught of books in the mail? It's so hard to stop the hankering to drop everything. 

I mean, look what I have sitting here, simmering and waiting:

THE FOUR FALSE WEAPONS (1937) by John Dickson Carr. 
A Henri Bencolin mystery. This is only my second Bencolin book. The creepy-crawly CASTLE SKULL is still the one and only of this French sleuth's adventures I've ever read so I'm really looking forward to my second sojourn with the suavely eccentric Parisian. For some odd reason I've always thought that CASTLE SKULL was the one and only Bencolin book - link to my review.

DEATH IN THE FOG (1933) by Mignon G. Eberhart
Ooooh, this one sounds all dark and spooky and as we know, Eberhart loves things that go bump in the night. I remember reading this author years ago but for the life of me I can't remember what books of hers I actually read - this was in the time before I kept a reading record. (If I'd known that my memory was going to go bust, I certainly would have begun recording my reads much earlier.) I did read WHILE THE PATIENT SLEPT (that much I do remember) a while back and wrote about it on the blog. Link to my review.

Next: A lethal anthology: LETHAL LADIES featuring three novels, two of which I've NEVER read and one which is long overdue to be re-read: 

THE LADY VANISHES (1936) by Ethel Lina White (the novel upon which my second favorite classic Hitchcock film is based). I've never read any of White's books so this will be a double pleasure I'm sure.

LAURA (1942) by Vera Caspary I've never read any books by this author but of course I love and am very familiar with the Otto Preminger film starring Clifton Webb, Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney. Very eager to read the source material of one of my  favorite films.

REBECCA (1938) by Daphne du Maurier Read this many, MANY years ago, love the film with Olivier and Fontaine and well, it's just time for a re-read. A good book for a cold winter night.

Next: An Alistair Maclean Anthology: 

H.M.S. ULYSSES (1955) 
THE GUNS OF NAVARONE (1957)
WHERE EAGLES DARE (1967)
FORCE TEN FROM NAVARONE (1968)

Am I in heaven or what?

Oh, mustn't forget to mention: HUNTINGTOWER (1922) by John Buchan -  It arrived early, a few weeks ago - my review will be up and running just as soon as I can manage it. Hint: I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
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41 comments:

  1. Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)January 30, 2015 at 3:20 AM

    Well done Yvette - what a great crop!

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    1. YvetteJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:34 PM

      Thanks, Sergio. I'm feeling mighty pleased. :)

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  2. Jane and Lance HattattJanuary 30, 2015 at 3:20 AM

    Hello Yvette,

    This is a most intriguing selection which you have managed to acquire.

    As always you introduce us to new sleuths....this time, Bencolin. We shall now have to seek out John Dickson Carr to see how we get on with this Parisian.

    Rebecca is, if course, a classic. How right you are that it seems to be made for wintry nights in, although whether one sleeps as easily after reading it is another question!

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    1. YvetteJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:37 PM

      Hi Jane and Lance, I'm glad you both are back from your many travels. The truth is I'm never very far away from a vintage book or two. Henri Bencolin is such an intriguing and over the top character - well worth looking for this lesser known series by John Dickson Carr.

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  3. RosemaryJanuary 30, 2015 at 5:15 AM

    Dear Yvette - you are going to be so busy reading, reading, and a bit more reading.
    I have just received a 1p copy of Life After Life that you recommended, I only had to pay for the postage!

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    1. YvetteJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:39 PM

      Rosemary, I'm so happy you have a copy of LIFE AFTER LIFE ready and waiting. Let us know how you get on with it. Not the easiest book to delve into, but once you're in, you'll be fascinated. An amazing book. Not like anything else you've ever read I'll bet. I will definitely be re-reading it at some point.

      Delete
  4. GramJanuary 30, 2015 at 7:24 AM

    Wow!

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  5. Peggy AnnJanuary 30, 2015 at 7:51 AM

    Yvette what a wonderful haul! My daughter in law just sent me a small bag (cosmetic?) with the Alcott quote on it for my birthday!

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    1. YvetteJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:41 PM

      Oh, lucky you. It's a great quote. Happy Birthday Peggy Ann - belated - just in case I missed it the first time around which I usually do. I'm so behind the times these days.

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  6. Natalie~Coffee and a Book ChickJanuary 30, 2015 at 10:11 AM

    Ooh, these books all sound fantastic! And, you are right. Rebecca is always good for a re-read, especially on that cold and wintery night.

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    1. YvetteJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:44 PM

      I know - right? Hi, Natalie! I'm in the middle of a book by Angela Thirkell (another vintage amazement) right at the moment - not a mystery - hard to put down. What to do. What to do. :)

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  7. tinpotJanuary 30, 2015 at 11:48 AM

    These all look intriguing; especially the ones I've never heard of. Looking forward to your reviews.
    Came across the following this morning and thought immediately of you, Yvette. Of course you probably know all about her, but she's new to me.
    http://www.popmatters.com/column/189217-perilous-discoveries-the-feminist-murder-mysteries-of-charlotte-arms/

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    1. YvetteJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:46 PM

      Hi Tinny! Never heard of Charlotte Arms - I can't know EVERYONE! Ha! I'll check her out. Thanks for the tip.

      Delete
  8. FredJanuary 30, 2015 at 11:53 AM

    Acording to the wikipedia entry, there are five Bencolin books.

    It Walks By Night (detective Henri Bencolin) - 1930
    The Lost Gallows (Bencolin) - 1931
    Castle Skull (Bencolin) - 1931
    The Four False Weapons, Being the Return of Bencolin (Bencolin) - 1938
    The Waxworks Murder (Bencolin) - 1932 (US title: The Corpse In The Waxworks)

    I must admit I've read very few, if any, books by him--a few short stories, I think, is all. Just what I need--another name on my TBR list.

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    1. YvetteJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:50 PM

      So hard to remain in control of one's reading. Fred, I'm flummoxed. What to read next??? I'm busy sorting all this, mixing and matching with what I have home from the library. Oh yes, there's a bunch here from the library as well. That's usually where I get my more current authors.

      Thanks for the list of the Bencolin books. I know John reviewed one of these at his blog a while back and that gave me the idea that there were more Bencolin books and why hadn't I read them - but then I got busy with other ideas and well, you know how that is. :)

      I will definitely be trying to get my hands on the these three:
      IT WALKS BY NIGHT
      THE LOST GALLOWS
      THE CORPSE IN THE WAXWORKS (Gotta' LOVE that title!)

      Delete
  9. Debbie RodgersJanuary 30, 2015 at 2:17 PM

    Fantastic vintage mysteries! I'm envious

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  10. J F NorrisJanuary 30, 2015 at 3:03 PM

    Cool books! I've only read LAURA in LETHAL LADIES and got to it just last year. But I know all three movies very well having seen them multiple times. FOUR FALSE WEAPONS is lined up for my Bingo Challenge this year. We'll see who get to it first, shall we? :^D

    I always have to open the books I order online and read at least the plot blurb and the table of contents. One book I ordered recently began with a letter from the author to a friend explaining how the novel came to be written. That was followed by a publisher's note pointing out how the book was "breaking new ground" in mystery novels in 1934. You know I have to read that one next!

    Love old books. But you know that already. Especially love getting them in the mail. Though you're right about not really being a very good substitute for visiting a real used bookstore crammed with treasures.

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    1. YvetteJanuary 30, 2015 at 9:32 PM

      It is less fatiguing online, John, but not as much fun. Oh well, I'm happy enough to have the books. I read the first page when a book comes in just to see what's what. :) I'm really looking forward to this batch. But have to wait just a bit to finish up what I'm reading now. Though maybe I can figure out a plan that won't drive me nuts. :)

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  11. FredJanuary 30, 2015 at 3:44 PM

    Yvette,

    I know the problem. I've been trying to juggle a number of series (older ones from the past) by alternating through them. Once I went through the list, I would then start over again. That's not working, so maybe I will just settle down to working my way through a series and then moving on to another when I finish it.


    .

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    1. YvetteJanuary 30, 2015 at 9:34 PM

      I think that causes too much stress for me, Fred. Reading through a series while other books are waiting, I mean. Alternating is what I try to do. Unless I go bonkers like I did with Ngaio Marsh's books one year. I sat down and read them all in one fell swoop. But that's something that hardly ever happens.

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    2. FredJanuary 31, 2015 at 9:29 PM

      Yvette,

      I've tried juggling but I find I keep wandering off the schedule and dragging in other works. I'm hoping that concentrating on one series will keep me focused enough that I will ignore the numerous distractions.

      Actually I suspect, fear, that the only way I can keep concentrated on a schedule is to drop all discussion groups and blogs, pay no attention to friends comments, ignore library recommendations, avoid all lists and commentaries. . .
      I fear that's my only hope.

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    3. YvetteFebruary 2, 2015 at 12:51 PM

      Mine too, Fred. But that just ain't gonna' happen. :)

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    4. FredFebruary 2, 2015 at 1:06 PM

      Yvette,

      sigh

      Books--the curse of the reading class

      Delete
  12. neerJanuary 30, 2015 at 5:25 PM

    Wow! What a haul Yvette!

    Looking forwrd to your reviews.

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    1. YvetteJanuary 30, 2015 at 9:36 PM

      Yes, I was lucky to find these for very little money. Now if I can just control myself from picking up a few more. Abe Books is SO tempting. :)

      Delete
  13. Bev HankinsJanuary 30, 2015 at 8:38 PM

    Great looking list of books, Yvette! I'm with you--it's not the same as scouring the shelves of a good used bookstore....but shopping online will do when you just "need" to get some more!

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    1. YvetteJanuary 30, 2015 at 9:37 PM

      I'm becoming a vintage fiend, Bev. HA!! Will I ever get any sleep ever again? Not at the rate I'm going. :)

      Delete
  14. joan.kylerJanuary 31, 2015 at 8:15 AM

    Don't you sometimes wish we could read by osmosis? Just covering ourselves with books and letting them sink in? The only John Dickson Carr Henri Bencolin I've read in The Corpse in the Waxworks. I read that in 1984, so I don't remember anything about it. I've also read The Lady Vanishes, but I have no record of reading Eberhart, but it seems I did. My record keeping and memory seem to be much like yours! Nice to read your post!

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    1. YvetteJanuary 31, 2015 at 1:54 PM

      Thanks, Joan. I do wish I could read by osmosis - definitely. I always feel that I'm just on the cusp of figuring out a way to do it. Ha! I will be reading the other three Bencolin books just as soon as I can get my hands on them. You should read CASTLE SKULL, it's SO creepily good. :) Perfect for Halloween, I'd say.

      It's difficult to think just how many books I've read and forgotten over the years. Know what I mean?

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  15. Prashant C. TrikannadJanuary 31, 2015 at 12:50 PM

    Hi Yvette! Nice to have you back in the blogging space. I was happy to see a few Alistair MacLeans, an author I have never tired of reading. In fact, I read two of his novels over the past few months and will be reviewing the second one shortly. Happy reading!

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    1. YvetteJanuary 31, 2015 at 1:57 PM

      Thanks to you, Prashant, and you're enthusiasm for MacLean, I finally decided to pick up a bunch. Lucky for me, I saw the anthology online and snapped it up. I did take the H.M.S. Ulysses book out of the library, but never got around to reading it and had to return it. That's what happens sometimes when other things/books take priority, but this time out I can take as much time as I need since the book is mine, mine, mine! Ha.

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  16. pattinase (abbott)January 31, 2015 at 3:48 PM

    Great haul. I used to read Eberhart a lot.

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    1. YvetteFebruary 1, 2015 at 3:19 PM

      Me too, Patti, but of course, forgot it all. :) That seems to be the way of things, these days.

      Delete
  17. AnonymousJanuary 31, 2015 at 5:10 PM

    Quite a collection there, Yvette. You remind me that it has been many years since I read any of Carr's Bencolin books. Sigh. Time to dig through my collection again; I know I have some of them here...

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    1. YvetteFebruary 1, 2015 at 3:20 PM

      I didn't have any except CASTLE SKULL, so I've decided to begin my John Dickson Carr rereads with old Henri. Luckily they seem to be readily available online.

      Delete
  18. AnonymousJanuary 31, 2015 at 11:19 PM

    What a wonderful haul! You'll be quite busy for awhile.
    Can't wait for your reviews.

    I'm not the most keen on Golden Age mysteries, but I have Life after Life high up on my TBR stack, and so many others. I want to dig into my stacks so I can use my dining room table and make a dent in my piles around here.

    I do love the films Laura and The Lady Vanishes -- one of my favorite movies of all-time. I've seen it five times. It's wonderful.

    I'm trying to find some A.D. Scott books to read about Scotland, so that's my next project while I tackle Atkinson's book and attempt to cull the TBR stacks. I have to put on blinders about more book titles until I've made a dent.

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    1. YvetteFebruary 1, 2015 at 3:23 PM

      Blinders! Great idea!!! :) I need a pair of those myself. Ha.
      I hope you'll enjoy LIFE AFTER LIFE as much as I did, Kathy. Let me know what you think. It's a bit hard to get into, but keep going. What an amazing book.

      I'm thinking of adding LAURA to my film library so I can watch it whenever I like. I already have THE LADY VANISHES and watch it all the time. :)

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  19. SueHFebruary 1, 2015 at 12:18 PM

    Yvette, if you ever make it across the 'pond' I'll take you to Hay-on-Wye - the town of bokshops! You can ferret away in dusty backrooms and basements to your heart's content....! (and many a gem I've found there myself!)
    http://www.hay-on-wye.co.uk/

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    1. YvetteFebruary 1, 2015 at 3:25 PM

      I'll hold you to that promise, Sue!! I still have hope that one day I'll return. I've heard and read about Hay-on-Wye - a book-maven's dream town. :)

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