Friday, August 8, 2008

Birthday books

My birthday's in less than a month, and that means it's high time to use the gift cards I was given for my last birthday. Before Sept. 3 I'll be splurging with other people's money at Bath & Bodyworks, Pier 1 and Belk. I'll also be getting a pedicure.

Yesterday after lunch Matt and I kicked things off with a little used-book shopping at the Given Book Store.

I couldn't believe my high-quality bounty for $20:


- My two favorite Anne Tyler books, "Ladder of Years" and "Breathing Lessons." I already own both of these but I'm always giving them away so I buy them whenever I find them cheap.

- "On Agate Hill," Lee Smith's newest novel and her only one I haven't read and don't own.

- "The Stone Diaries" by Carol Shields, my favorite book of the moment. I wanted to run out and buy it as soon as I finished it at the beach (I had borrowed it from the library) but I knew I'd eventually run across it used, and I was right. I did a little dance when I spotted it.

- Three more books by Carol Shields that I can't wait to read. One, "Happenstance: Two Novels in One About a Marriage in Transition," seems especially enticing. It's the story of a marriage told twice -- from the wife's perspective and then from the husband's perspective. Or vice versa (I don't know which order I'll read it in).

- A Strong's Bible dictionary (Matt wanted it).

THANK YOU, Mom and Dad!

P.S. I would like to clarify that just because I'm only now redeeming last year's gift certificates does NOT mean I don't like getting them as gifts. In fact, they're one of my favorite things to receive (click here)! But I always seem to take forever using them because I don't keep them in my wallet, so they aren't with me on an everyday basis.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Girl!!!!When is your birthday and how old will you be?

Jennifer Kirby said...

My birthday is Sept. 3 and I will be (drumroll) 29!