Christmas is Coming.....

Last year around this time I posted about the beautiful Penguin Classics. Oh, they are so beautiful. There are a few new ones so I thought I'd share some of my favorites. I also included a few of my favorites from last year as well.

The next books are not necessarily ones I'd like to own and read, I just thought they had beautiful covers. Nothing like judging a book by it's cover...oh come on, I know you guys do to. ;)

Aren't they beautiful? I would love to own the beautiful copy of Little Women. The pink scissors. Oh my! I also love the Dickens covers and of course all of Jane Austen. And isn't the Jane Eyre beautiful?

For as long as I can remember, books have been on my Christmas list. Old ones, new ones...I just love them. What's on your Christmas list this year?


♥Jane

New Old Books

I did it again. I went to a used bookstore. I caved. I bought books. Oh well, they are fabulous! See for yourself....

Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag by Louisa May Alcott

I couldn't believe it when I found this. I've never ever seen this in a book store. In fact I wasn't even aware that it existed. What kind of Alcott fan am I?? The funny thing is, Lizzie found the exact same book at another store just a few days after I found this copy!

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

I've been wanting to read this book so I was glad when I found it. Can anyone tell me if this is an abridged copy? It's a World's Classic edition. And it says it's edited by so and so (name escapes me). Does that mean it's abridged? Help! If I'm going to read a Dickens I don't want to read a stupid abridged copy. It was only a few dollars so I picked it up anyway.

The World of Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
I'm reading this right now. It's hilarious! If you ever find a P.G. Wodehouse book at a used book store...BUY IT!!!

Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott
Another Alcott book to add to my collection! Isn't this a beautiful copy?

Not pictured: Anne's House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery to add to my collection and a beat up copy of Martin Chuzzelwit by Charles Dickens.

Where am I going to put all of these books you ask? Ta-da!

My brother-in-law made me this awesome bookshelf! Each part is separate so that you can arrange it anyway you want. Sim designed it and built it himself. I love it so much and can't wait to fill it up with all my new old books.

I also got a lovely book from Lizzie!!! I need to take a picture of it so that I can show you.

Have you guys gotten new books lately?
♥ Jane

Happy ♥ Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Romantic books I love:

The Scottish Chiefs
North and South
Anne's House of Dreams
Sense and Sensibility
Little Women
Love Comes Softly series

Which books make you take them to your heart and sigh? Which chapters? I just read Under the Umbrella, a chapter from Little Women. *sigh* :) Go read it if you need a good sigh.


♥ Jane

I Asked for Books for Christmas...

And oh, did I get some lovely ones!

The Chronicles of Narnia

I got this beauty from my sis. It has the entire Chronicles of Narnia plus excerpts from Beyond the Wardrobe and notes about C.S. Lewis.

I love it that it includes all of the original illustrations from the beloved books. In spite of the recent movies, (which I love) I think that I still see the characters the way they are depicted in the imaginative illustrations. They were what first brought Narnia to life for me. That and C.S. Lewis' amazing knack for descriptions.

Isn't it beautiful? I am in love with the gold edged pages and ribbon bookmark. *sigh* Stories of Narnia will always hold a warm and secure place in my heart. My sister used to read them out loud to us while we drew pictures and paper dolls and we would BEG for "just one more chapter" after each and every one. We were insatiable!

A Girl of the Limberlost

Isn't this book gorgeous? My mom got me this one from a lovely little antique store. I had spied it there a few weeks before Christmas and must have gushed enough about it for her to decide to go back and get it for me. I love it because it's beautiful but also because it is the exact same edition that my mom owns herself and it's the same one that my mom remembers my grandma reading. I love it that books can be enjoyed by so many different generations. I plan to save this for my daughter.
I think that this will be my Summer read this year. I need to get a hold of a copy of Freckles as well...hmmm...

The Swiss Family Robinson

My dear friend Beck bought this for me for Christmas! Isn't it wonderful? Oh, I just love it and the illustrations are to die for! When she gave it to me she said that she saw it and thought immediately of me and she bought it right then. Yes, it IS the perfect gift for me. Don't you think she did well? :) And what's more, I've never read this classic (which is kind of strange). So, I'm very excited to read it! Have any of you read it before?

Jack and Jill

As most of you know, I collect Louisa May Alcott books. This is my second copy of Jack and Jill and I think it's a dandy. I love the colorful dust jacket. Jack and Jill is a sweet and innocent book about learning lessons and growing up.

This print was nestled inside. This is a picture of L.M. Alcott's home. Isn't it lovely? The quote says, "Housekeeping ain't no joke!" -Louisa May Alcott
Isn't it the truth?

Sense and Sensibility

And look, look! My sweet sisters got me this book! I suppose you remember my shameless hinting about these books awhile back... Heh heh. Well, they got one for me. And they really did good. They got me my favorite one. Sense and Sensibility has been my favorite Jane Austen ever since I first read it. And getting to read this edition makes it even more enjoyable. Isn't it beautiful? This edition is based on the very first edition that was printed. Most copies that are in print today are based on the second publication of this book. They say that Miss Austen was more influential in the first printing as opposed to the second printing which was overseen by one of her brothers and the publisher. They made a few minor changes but in doing so changed the original feeling of some of the paragraphs and sentences that were crafted with extreme care by the authoress.


I couldn't stop touching this book when I got it and smelling it. :) Don't you love the smell of new books? Ooh, and old books. Well, books for the matter.

"I never liked the smell of books." -Fannie Ferrars

Cranford and Other Stories

Lizzie gave this to me! Oh, I'm so exited to read these stories. I read Cranford and loved it. I've also seen the mini series that they came out with. In fact, we just finished watching "Return to Cranford" last night on Masterpiece Classic. As you probably know, the mini series is actually a jumble of books and stories by Elizabeth Gaskell. So, I am excited to see which stories are in the series and to see where they got their ideas for some of those hilarious characters. :)

Here's the list of content. Doesn't The Doom of the Griffith's sound thrilling? And I'm tempted to skip ahead to Curious, if True. :)

The Ne'er-Do-Well

Here's another beauty Mom picked up at the antique store. I love these old books with the picture pasted on the front. This book is dated 1911. It once belonged to a man with impeccable handwriting by the name of Charles Horne who lived at 912 E.D. Wondruff. Don't you love old books with inscriptions or just addresses? I love looking at their handwriting. People used to take pride in their handwriting skills. Now, we just jot stuff down regardless of neatness, order, legibility and spelling...

This book has gorgeous illustrations! I love the romantic Gibson Girl look of the women and the clean cut styles of the men. Lovely.


Did you get any interesting books for Christmas? Have you read any of the ones I've listed here? What did you think of them?

Love,
Jane

'Tis the season...

...to read Little Women again! As most of you readers know, it's my tradition to read Little Women every year. I always read the first chapter "Playing Pilgrims" on Thanksgiving night.

So, any of you that what to join me, please do! And I would love to know how you are coming along, what your favorite parts are and everything else. Leave comments! ;) My sister Aimee is going to read it at the same time. Yay!

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving day!

Love,

Jane

Eight Cousins

Well hello there! I'm Jane. Nice to meet you! I hope that you will enjoy this little book blog we have created. We will update it as often as we can with reviews and thought on the books we love or don't love. We hope that you will feel free to comment and let us know what you think of these books!

I found this wonderful old book (above) at a used book store recently for $1. Yay! When I go into used book stores I look for Louisa May Alcott books first. I would like to have a collection of them. So far I have Little Women (given to me by my very great friend, Lizzie. Thank yoooou!), Little Men, Jo's Boys and Eight Cousins. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for more.

Eight Cousins...one of my favorite books written by Louisa May Alcott. This cozy little read is about a little girl named Rose who has recently lost both her parents and goes to live with her extended family on "The Aunt Hill" where she meets her eight cousins who happen to be all boys. As you can imagine it is full of funny antics and mischief that can only be thought up by little boys, great capers and scrapes and boatings that make you wish you had grown up at the Aunt Hill. Oh, let's not forget the aunts! They are as funny as the cousins. Each one different but strangely similar (reminds me of me and my sisters....). Aunt Plenty is the Homemaking hero. She's happiest when she's feeding a brood..reminds me of my older sister. :) Aunt Jessie who has four of the boys and loves every ounce of her rowdy boys and the strange things they bring home for her to see. Aunt Peace is peaceful, in spite of her romantic disappointment early in her life, and a wonderful seamstress. She encourages everyone with her peaceful and patient ways. Then there's Dolly, a hilarious little girl who tries to tag along with the big boys. There are many more equally entertaining characters but I will let you get to know them for yourself. So, pick it up and read it. You will not be disappointed. :)