I've Got Books!

Giddy, inaudibly humming I Got Rhythm, I pull out of the parking lot and glance down at the passenger seat where the source of my delight lies patiently.  New books.  The sound of that brief thought triggers a warmth through my muscles; my skin responding with a tingling chill.  Through determination (and devotion to my pocketbook) I've become so good at slinking out of the book shop without any new friends in tow, that the sight of the four sparkling beauties next to me seem at once a small reward and an overwhelming abundance.  I lightly touch the book covers, sharing the wonder with my other senses.  A small smile touches the corner of my mouth: the textures vary from rough to smooth in identical intervals: perfection.

Hm. Am I being dramatic? I can't help it--my apologies! I Have New Books!  I feel like I've just emerged from a drought into an Amazonian rainforest: I must sing from the treetops! :)  Look at my new goodies:

Somewhere, at some point, somebody mentioned that Heat Lightning was a delightful, (if out of print,) older book. Was it you? I wish I knew!

I have a soft spot for older fiction, especially when it's from the earlier part of the 20th century and has fallen, somewhat, into obscurity.  There's something about reading an older book--it carries more history than simply the age of the tale.

Anyhow, I found a copy via an Amazon Marketplace seller, and it arrived with a special surprise.  A postcard was tucked into the pages, the sender's name matching the name inscribed on the inside cover.  What a treat!

Even if I don't get around to reading this very soon, it will be a pleasure to have on my shelf.

My first Indiespensable package of 2012 arrived from Powell's this week.  Opening up all the goodies is so much fun.  This installment features Running the Rift, presented in a lovely coordinating slipcase.

Also from Powells: both of Brian Selznick's books (because they are beautiful, and exactly the kind of younger fiction that I want to offer a home on my shelf) as well as The Sense of an Ending (a treat from my wishlist) and The Frozen Thames (another blogger recommendation that I didn't make note of...was this one you?)  I've already read WonderStruck, but the rest are staying out on my end table in hopes that I'll get them read sooner rather than later.

Last but not least, the four books that inspired my silly little intro paragraph.  I went to Barnes and Noble to read the last page of an audiobook-gone-bad (more on that soon) and realized that I had a gift card left over from Christmas--free books!  The Great Gatsby is one I've read a couple of times but needed a copy for my shelf.  The other three I want to read now.  What can I say? It's been one of those months where the pleasure of reading feels new again.  

What do you think?  Aren't they wonderful?  Have you read any of these? Which should I give top priority?