Book haul Newcastle

I found this little secondhand bookstore in North Shields, England, where they had a magnificent copy of Alice in Wonderland that I just had to have. I also found Peter Pan and Wendy and The Borrowers there. I got Uncle Remus from a seller when we visited a market in Tynemouth - he hated to see that one go. I did well, I think - and my new treasures fit nicely into my collection!

My latest additions!

A drawing of Alice by Arthur Rackham

A signed copy of Uncle Remus

A close-up from Uncle Remus

Mr Toppit

I found this book interesting when I saw it in the store. The cover caught my eye, and the sentence on the front saying "Once upon a time a book broke a family" really got me curious. What was this book that broke a family? And how can a book break a family in the first place? Questions needed answers, so I brought it with me home.

Now, I have to say that it has taken me a small forever to read this book. Somehow it did not draw me in as well as I expected, although I quite like the writing and the story in themselves. It is simply a slow-paced book, I think. I have not read it through just yet, so I am very excited to see where it all ends. I can tell the story is building up for something revealing - it drops hints now and then, and more so lately.

Here is my teaser - albeit it is a little late (I did not quite make it for it being a Sunday teaser this time):

"After the first book, she needed me less and less. She had created the template and she spun Luke Hayseed off in a direction of her own, taking him away from me (taking me away from me) and creating the likeness of a boy who would stride manfully up the path to the Darkwood. He would always be eager to return to his quest to find Mr Toppit, to flush him out, even though - as Luke knew to his cost - Mr Toppit could be cruel and capricious, and never really did, despite the last sentence of the book, reveal himself, and even though the Darkwood, every leaf and branch and stone of which Mr T inhabited, was a dank, terrifying place. 

You wouldn't have caught me dead doing that."

Mr Toppit, p. 6

Mr Toppit by Charles Elton

I trust you all had a wonderful Sunday!



More teasers:
Flukten fra virkeligheten
Should Be Reading

The Merlin Dance always makes me smile

One cannot have too many books, right?

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Peter sure knew how to express himself..

I say, what a choice to give small boys and girls!

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Bed linen for book lovers!

I want one! I so want one!

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Book portrait

What do you think of this? I am rather impressed. I wonder if it really is possible to make such intricate pictures out of books, and nothing but books? Maybe that is an idea for how to sort our book collections!

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Summer, sun & festival

Strawberries and Mr. Toppit

Visitors - which postponed our swimming just a little..

Love the name of that boat - so clever!

Amazing concerts...

...and light shows!

Do you not just LOVE it being summer?