Hi Anna, Anita here. Yes, your reviews are always interesting and great to read. You make excellent choices, too. I find they are a good way of keeping up to speed with what's out there, and what's new. I can tell you spend a great deal of time writing them, and I wish I knew how to make them translate to sales! That would be the magic bullet. All I would say that, as someone who likes to buy books, I tend to know in advance what I want, and rarely make impulsive decisions. I credit you with sparking an interest in me for Deborah Levy—I have not bought or read any of her yet, although I do intend to in the future. However, I have enough books to keep me occupied for the time being, so I will hold off until I'm ready to devote myself to Deborah, which I am looking forward to. That tends to be how I buy books. Breaking the Amazon habit also means that I buy fewer, and more wisely. I used to be a sucker for the 3 for 2 deals that were popular in the big-name stores a few years back, too. But that doesn't appeal to me any more. And if I develop a new obsession, as I have done for Maria Enriquez, I will buy ALL her output, no matter what—from you, of course!
Oh thank you for taking the time to reply, Anita. Yes, the amazon thing is so interesting, I found that once I gave up my Amazon habit, I actually spent less but read more because I valued the books I’d bought rather than just hoarding them because they were a bargain. I intend to write a column on this soon. But, thanks for your feedback and just a word of warning, Deborah Levy’s new novel is out soon and so expect me to be obsessing about her in the coming weeks!!
Thank you for all your support and your custom orders — so much appreciated! X
Hi Anna, I enjoy your reviews and your writing style is terrific but I'm not so fond of modern novels and so rarely buy any. I realise this is a sweeping dismissal and must seem extremely prudish but I just don't like to come across profanity or crudeness, nor supernatural themes or modern attitudes to morality, and as time is precious so I stick to what I feel I can trust will not lead to disappointment, which tend to be older titles. I guess that in reading I am looking to be transported in some way, to be moved or caught up in a story, the places and the characters. Not sure this helps or encourages but in my 65th year I increasingly feel I'm from another time myself and I guess that as the landscape becomes less recognisable so the bygone will go on increasing in charm.
Hi Alex, thank you for taking the time to reply. Yes, you have told me before that you like to stick to what you know and trust, and of course this is not prudish, it's just your taste. There are many books that I think you would enjoy, so do feel free to ask me for recommendations if you ever want to expand your reading appetite. I think you bought one book from me a few months ago, did you end up enjoying that?
Yes, "The Man Who Planted Trees" Enjoyed it thanks. Thing is, I have more than 50 books here I plan to read so I'm not looking to add to them at present but will make an exception now and then if something really takes my fancy.
Hi Anna, Anita here. Yes, your reviews are always interesting and great to read. You make excellent choices, too. I find they are a good way of keeping up to speed with what's out there, and what's new. I can tell you spend a great deal of time writing them, and I wish I knew how to make them translate to sales! That would be the magic bullet. All I would say that, as someone who likes to buy books, I tend to know in advance what I want, and rarely make impulsive decisions. I credit you with sparking an interest in me for Deborah Levy—I have not bought or read any of her yet, although I do intend to in the future. However, I have enough books to keep me occupied for the time being, so I will hold off until I'm ready to devote myself to Deborah, which I am looking forward to. That tends to be how I buy books. Breaking the Amazon habit also means that I buy fewer, and more wisely. I used to be a sucker for the 3 for 2 deals that were popular in the big-name stores a few years back, too. But that doesn't appeal to me any more. And if I develop a new obsession, as I have done for Maria Enriquez, I will buy ALL her output, no matter what—from you, of course!
Oh thank you for taking the time to reply, Anita. Yes, the amazon thing is so interesting, I found that once I gave up my Amazon habit, I actually spent less but read more because I valued the books I’d bought rather than just hoarding them because they were a bargain. I intend to write a column on this soon. But, thanks for your feedback and just a word of warning, Deborah Levy’s new novel is out soon and so expect me to be obsessing about her in the coming weeks!!
Thank you for all your support and your custom orders — so much appreciated! X
Yes, that's exactly the thing with Amazon. I'm looking forward to your column about it, as well as more on Deborah Levy!
Hi Anna, I enjoy your reviews and your writing style is terrific but I'm not so fond of modern novels and so rarely buy any. I realise this is a sweeping dismissal and must seem extremely prudish but I just don't like to come across profanity or crudeness, nor supernatural themes or modern attitudes to morality, and as time is precious so I stick to what I feel I can trust will not lead to disappointment, which tend to be older titles. I guess that in reading I am looking to be transported in some way, to be moved or caught up in a story, the places and the characters. Not sure this helps or encourages but in my 65th year I increasingly feel I'm from another time myself and I guess that as the landscape becomes less recognisable so the bygone will go on increasing in charm.
Hi Alex, thank you for taking the time to reply. Yes, you have told me before that you like to stick to what you know and trust, and of course this is not prudish, it's just your taste. There are many books that I think you would enjoy, so do feel free to ask me for recommendations if you ever want to expand your reading appetite. I think you bought one book from me a few months ago, did you end up enjoying that?
Yes, "The Man Who Planted Trees" Enjoyed it thanks. Thing is, I have more than 50 books here I plan to read so I'm not looking to add to them at present but will make an exception now and then if something really takes my fancy.
Wishing you well in all your endeavours.
Ah that was it! I'm glad you enjoyed it, it's a really special book! Thank you for the good wishes, Alex!