We decided to take a little drive yesterday – the trees are starting to leaf out and our very late spring is finally happening. (Of course, we’re going to hit 80 degrees later this week so it looks like a very short spring and then summer.) Anyway, we headed across the Hudson River to Rhinebeck for a visit to Oblong Books. Rhinebeck was packed with people – there was a Farmer’s Market happening, a big antique car show, and it was Mother’s Day. So we didn’t linger after visiting the shop.
I vowed to buy one book, but left the shop with three. Since Don didn’t buy a book as we had expected, I laid claim to his book…so really, just one extra, right?
Another Mick Herron – the next in the series, Real Tigers, The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, and one I’ve heard raves about, Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead.
It was a lovely drive and it was good to get out but, as usual these days, we were glad to get home.
Continuing with books, do you remember that I was collecting newer versions of Mary Stewart’s books issued by Hodder Stoughton in England? They have beautiful cover art and I wanted to have them in my library. Here is what I have so far:
Since Mary Stewart is one of my favorite authors, a writer that I was introduced to at about the age of 13, and since the few remaining paperbacks that I have from those days are very small and very worn, a new set with beautiful cover art seemed in order – and affordable, as well.
All went well until I ordered Nine Coaches Waiting – my all time favorite – and received a different edition with different artwork, not what was pictured in the listing. Instead of this,
which perfectly illustrates the time and place of the novel, I got this:
And I received it not once, but three times from three different sellers. I ordered from Book Depository. Their listing had the photo of the edition I wanted. Nope, I got the one you see here. Then I ordered from Blackwell’s in Oxford. Same thing – they showed the edition I wanted, but I got the other one. And the same with Thrift Books.
When I complained, they said that they pulled stock using the ISBN number on the book and that’s what I got. They had no way of examining the copy personally. But, I argued, the book cover you show is very different.
I didn’t get anywhere. Blackwell’s is now a smallish chain, Book Depository is an online giant, and even Thrift Books failed me.
Frustrating and maddening.
Since I’m not in England, I cannot go to independent book shops and look for the copy I want. If I order from Blackwell’s or John Daunt, they’ll pull the ISBN number.
Cue my scream.
So. I have two brand spanking new copies of Nine Coaches Waiting and they’re lovely – just not what I want. I’ve kept one of them as a place marker until I find the one I want and I’m determined to find it. I think a giveaway is in order. I’ll be happy to send a copy to you, if you’re interested. If you are interested, let me know in your comment today. In about a week, I’ll gather all the ‘interested’ comments and randomly select two winners.
In the meantime, if any of my British readers come across the edition below, could you buy it and I’ll reimburse you? It’s a paperback and not at all expensive. I’ll gladly pay for shipping as well.
I just checked again this morning and both Book Depository and Blackwell’s show the above cover, but I’ve been burned three times, so I don’t dare order it.
Beautiful day today, sunny and a bit warmer. No rain on the horizon for at least the next five days.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
