As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I have been on a bit of a book-buying bender since finishing Project 24.  It’s been a little insane, but I’ve decided to just strap myself in and enjoy the ride, since I’m sure it will even out eventually once the novelty of just being able to buy a book if I want it, wears off.  I’m particularly excited about the batch that trickled across my threshold over the course of January and February.  (Pictured above, with Valentine’s flowers from my boys and my girl.)

• The Real Mrs Miniver, by Ysenda Maxtone Graham (Slightly Foxed Editions) – I have a recent love for SFE, and couldn’t resist this addition to the collection because of (a) the gorgeous color, and (b) the subject.
• Look Back with Love, by Dodie Smith (Slightly Foxed Paperbacks) – Described as a delightful memoir of an Edwardian childhood by the author of I Capture the Castle, how could I possibly say no to this one?
• The Poisoned Chocolates Case, by Anthony Berkeley (British Library Crime Classics) – I’ve been slowly building up my collection of these forgotten mystery classics, and this seemed like a perfect addition for February.
• English Country Houses, by Vita Sackville-West – This keeps selling out on Amazon.  Sackville-West was best known for her garden, Sissinghurst, and for having an affair with Virginia Woolf, but she also contributed a few novels and reams of classic home and garden writing, including this WWII home front morale-booster.

• The English Air, by D.E. Stevenson – I saw this on a book blog (can’t recall which, now) and was intrigued by the story, and it came highly recommended as one of Stevenson’s best.
• Mrs Miniver, by Jan Struther – Again, how could I resist?  This is a gorgeous 1942 edition with a “new” Mrs Miniver story.  I can’t wait to read it against The Real Mrs Miniver.
• Laughter on the Stairs and Sunlight on the Lawn, by Beverly Nichols – Books two and three complete the Merry Hall trilogy (I already owned book one), a loosely factual chronicle of Nichols’ adventures fixing up an old Georgian house and garden.  Can’t wait to dig into these – I think they’ll be perfect spring reading.
• The Sunny Side, by A.A. Milne – Since no one has seen fit to grant my wish of a complete collection of Milne’s writing for Punch Magazine, I’ll have to be satisfied with this collection selected by Milne himself.

Yes, it’s been a good couple of months for book collecting.  I’m relishing the newfound purchasing freedom and gleefully anticipating some many hours spent with a big cup of tea and each of these books.

How about you – any good additions to your library lately?