History Haul
The local elementary school hosts a book fair once a year. They ask for donations all year long and then have a sale for several days in April. I believe the proceeds go toward college scholarships given out at the high school but they are continue to be vague about how much money they make and who actually benefits. Nevertheless, I have donated my fair share of books, after many futile attempts to make a connection with a needy school.
Because people donate these books, in a clear out the old kind of mentality, I'm always curious to see what people don't want to read anymore.
There were a surprising number of well-known kids authors who have books kids don't seem desperate to hold on to. There were plenty of Judy Blume, Madeline L'Engle, and hardcover Mark Twains. There were books I loved that I wanted to buy just so they didn't seem unwanted--Who would give away "The Watson's Go to Birmingham" or "Hatchet"? I picked up a copy of Theodore Taylor's "The Cay" and Jerry Spinelli's "Loser", for 10 cents each.
A lot of people also seem to have had their fill of some of my favorite history books. Need a copy of David McCullough's "Truman"? There must have been ten of them (I already own one). There were lots of books on military history, WW II, and Hitler, which, OK, I could see where one read through might be enough.
So any gems, you ask? Well, yes, for me there were quite a few. I bought two different books by Edmund Morris on Theodore Roosevelt (I just finished my Roosevelt manuscript in December). Yes, I probably won't be looking at these tomes again anytime soon but, for $1.00, if I do need to check a reference, I just saved myself some gas money to drive to the library. I found a two volume "The Historian's History of the United States" edited by one of my college history professors: $1.50. Also, "Undaunted Courage" which I haven't read, "Eleanor Roosevelt: The Later Years" (I love her) and Rats by Robert Sullivan (on some blog I read an editor was looking for children's NF in this vain. I think they did make a children's version so maybe I can find that too.)
My best find **drumroll please** The Roosevelt Family of Sagamore Hill. Yes,you're right, my favorite reference about the Roosevelt Family! I must have taken this book out of the library ten times and didn't want to return it. What, never heard of it? But it was a Book of the Month Club selection in 1954. What's happened to your memory?
I was literally jumping up and down over this one. Yep, history nerd.
I didn't find anything on the subject of my current WIP. You know, a book I might actually read now rather than just admire that I own. But that's OK. I couldn't carry anything more. And I know Teddy would be proud.
Because people donate these books, in a clear out the old kind of mentality, I'm always curious to see what people don't want to read anymore.
There were a surprising number of well-known kids authors who have books kids don't seem desperate to hold on to. There were plenty of Judy Blume, Madeline L'Engle, and hardcover Mark Twains. There were books I loved that I wanted to buy just so they didn't seem unwanted--Who would give away "The Watson's Go to Birmingham" or "Hatchet"? I picked up a copy of Theodore Taylor's "The Cay" and Jerry Spinelli's "Loser", for 10 cents each.
A lot of people also seem to have had their fill of some of my favorite history books. Need a copy of David McCullough's "Truman"? There must have been ten of them (I already own one). There were lots of books on military history, WW II, and Hitler, which, OK, I could see where one read through might be enough.
So any gems, you ask? Well, yes, for me there were quite a few. I bought two different books by Edmund Morris on Theodore Roosevelt (I just finished my Roosevelt manuscript in December). Yes, I probably won't be looking at these tomes again anytime soon but, for $1.00, if I do need to check a reference, I just saved myself some gas money to drive to the library. I found a two volume "The Historian's History of the United States" edited by one of my college history professors: $1.50. Also, "Undaunted Courage" which I haven't read, "Eleanor Roosevelt: The Later Years" (I love her) and Rats by Robert Sullivan (on some blog I read an editor was looking for children's NF in this vain. I think they did make a children's version so maybe I can find that too.)
My best find **drumroll please** The Roosevelt Family of Sagamore Hill. Yes,you're right, my favorite reference about the Roosevelt Family! I must have taken this book out of the library ten times and didn't want to return it. What, never heard of it? But it was a Book of the Month Club selection in 1954. What's happened to your memory?
I was literally jumping up and down over this one. Yep, history nerd.
I didn't find anything on the subject of my current WIP. You know, a book I might actually read now rather than just admire that I own. But that's OK. I couldn't carry anything more. And I know Teddy would be proud.