I often go to the Save the Children Book Sales with a list of things I’m looking for, but what I like most about these book sales is the serendipity factor. I like not knowing what I’m going to come across. And I don’t particularly mind if I don’t find what I’m looking for.
Great finds from the South Perth Book Sale:
Japanese names: A comprehensive index by characters and readings by P.G. O’Neill. A very useful book. I occasionally read Japanese novels translated into Chinese, and having this book handy means I won’t have to read the Japanese names in their Chinese pronunications any longer. Thus I can confirm that 赤å·æ¬¡éƒŽ is Akagawa Jiro (Jiro Akagawa) and not Chichuan Cilang. And his characters are Harumi 晴美 and not Qingmei, Ishizu 石津 not Shijin, Katayama 片山 not Pianshan. Etc. (Makes me want to learn Japanese.)
Chinese calligraphy: An introduction to its aesthetic and technique by Chiang Yee. I’ve never had the opportunity to learn Chinese calligraphy. Maybe one of these days…
I always look for Maigret books by Georges Simenon. Usually I don’t find any, but this time I found Maigret en de bezoeker van zaterdag (Maigret et le client du samedi which has been translated into Maigret and the Saturday caller).
Can you tell that my favourite section is the foreign languages section?
Apparently, according to the flier they handed out at the sale, Save the Children will be opening a second hand bookshop in Tuart Hill (at 77 Wanneroo Road, to be exact) in mid-October. I’ll be interested to see what sorts of books they will sell there. If they’re creating a permanent venue for selling books, does this mean that the annual booksales will, over time, cease? I hope not.
One Comment
My best finds, I think, were two old dressmaking books – because I don’t think I would have found something like that anywhere else. My favourite section was the ‘old books’ section – I love those old-style hardcovers. I hope they don’t stop having these sales.. This was my first one and I loved it! Will definitely go again.