My First Happy Birthday to Me Book Haul

Back in July, I turned forty-one. Since I always buy myself a birthday gift, I decided this year I wanted to buy books. Because I love books, and also because I was on a bit of a book buying binge. But I didn’t just go out and buy any books for my birthday. I decided to get some really nice editions of a few classics I love to replace some older, not as pretty editions I already had. Being a student of English lit, I love the classics and I figured my was the prefect time to get some super nice editions of my favourite classics.

Now, you might be wondering, why you are only reading about this in September. Aren’t I way behind in publishing a birthday post if my birthday was in July? Well, yes I am. Because this wasn’t well planned on my part. I mean, first off my birthday was at the end of July and deciding to get these books was a bit last minute. Also, I was nine months pregnant at the time and living at my mom’s and life was kinda chaotic. Then, a few days after my birthday I had my baby and August has been super crazy. Also, my books didn’t arrive at my home until after both my birthday and the birth of my baby. So that’s why you are only reading about this book haul in September.

And now, onto the books.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I read this classic back in middle grade when the movie with Wiona Ryder came out. Back in the early 1990s. In fact, the edition I had was a movie edition, complete with black and white photos from the movie. And while I enjoyed the book, I remember being annoyed with it too, because I wanted Laurie and Jo to become a couple. I didn’t understand why Jo would marry a man so much older than her at the time. I mean, I was twelve so of course I didn’t really understand the story as a whole. And to be honest, I can’t remember how old I was when I re-read it, which I’m certain I did. I now want to read this classic again, and decided to get a really nice edition of the novel. Because why not. And also, these editions from World Cloud Classics are so beautiful. I mean, the soft leather covers. The cut out quotes. The lovely colours of these books. What is there not to love?

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

I also bought this from World Cloud Classics. Because again, just look at this edition. Just feast. your eyes on it. It’s stunning right? Wuthering Heights is a novel I first read in middle grade interestingly enough since that is when I read Little Women for the first time. I remember buying this book at the book store and the reason I was so keen to read it as a middle grader is because I had read other books that referenced Wuthering Heights. So I was intrigued. I remember being really confused by the Yorkshire dialect written in the book, and really let down by the romance between Cathy and Heathcliff. Again, why hadn’t Cathy married Heathcliff? Why did he marry her daughter? What the hell kind of a love story was this? I’ve since read this again a few times and of course, being older I have a much different perspective now. So I decided it was time to replace that old copy (which was a Penguin edition with a painting of the moors on it) with this far more fetching edition.

Related Post: My Latest Book Haul

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

I love Rebecca. It’s one of the best novels I’ve ever read, and I remember heading to the book store many years ago (probably like twenty or so) simply to buy this novel. The editions in stock were not very attractive, but I bought one anyway because it’s the story that counts. Later, newer editions of novels by Daphne du Maurier came into stock, and I bought other titles. They were an improvement over the edition I had for Rebecca, but not stunning. However, now I have a far nicer edition of Rebecca, my favourite of du Maurier’s novels, and love the way it looks on my bookshelf.

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

This was a novel I didn’t previously own, but I had read it in high school. I’m not really sure why we read this in a creative writing course, but I am glad I did read it. I remember liking the book, as it was quite atmospheric, and also because the ending thrilled me. There was a villain in the novel, and I remember being completely taken aback by discovering his true identity. I want to read this again, so buying a copy was necessary of course. Likely I was able to find an edition that was from the same publisher as the one I was purchasing for Rebecca, so they look really nice side by side.

The Birds and Others Stories by Daphne du Maurier

You might have heard of the old Hitchcock movie The Birds. I have known of it for many years, but I had no idea until I was searching for du Maurier titles that The Birds was a short story written by the same author who wrote Rebecca and so many other novels that I simply love. So of course, I had to buy it. I mean…it’s a classic movie and a classic piece of writing? How could I not buy it? I honestly don’t know much about the story as I only ever saw a clip of the movie and didn’t really bother researching much about this book. I mean, du Maurier wrote it so I can’t go wrong.

In Conclusion

I think it’ll be a while before I can haul any more books. I have so many on my shelves now that I haven’t even read that it would be silly to buy more. Though, if you are book lover and collector like me, you know I will be buying more. Eventually. I love having these lovely editions on my book shelves and am so glad I decided to replace the older editions that I never really liked anyway. It just makes my heart happy to hold these editions in my hands, and see them on my shelves. I bought all of these books from The Book Depository and am very happy with the books I got, though I do wish delivery had a been a little quicker. Three weeks from the UK to Canada but one week from the UK to US? I mean, Canada is just directly north of America, so what’s the hold up? But, the lovely editions arrived safe and sound and I love them and can’t wait to read and re-read some of these favourites.

What do you think of these editions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.