Nothing gives me greater pleasure than when am asked to find books that I enjoyed in my formative years ! and when a lovely clean copy, complete with dust jacket of a "Billy Bunter",and a first edition as well,appears before me I am really delighted.It will join my "Biggles" and "Just William" books to be found in my "Children and Just William' section on my web site, www.dougfindsbooks.com.
Just to complete my day a gorgeous copy, in great condition, of "Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame came into my possession.For me this is the most wonderful of children's books and the stories and their delightful illustrations of Toad, Badger, Rat and Mole take me back to the radio broadcasts of Uncle Mac.Oh Happy Days !
Saturday, January 28, 2012
BACK AT LAST !
After many months of forced inactivity due to a major ankle operation I find myself back at my keyboard !Never again he says ! And I mean it !
So much has happened in the world but books are still books despite what is said about what the future offers for the good old book whether hard or soft cover.There is nothing like a book !
However despite the financial mess the world's economies are in I have no doubt that the book business will survive. Unfortunately many of my colleagues with increasing rents and falling sales may disappear but I shall with your support continue to scour the remains of the trade to find those elusive books for you !
Yes, "Doug Finds Books !"
So much has happened in the world but books are still books despite what is said about what the future offers for the good old book whether hard or soft cover.There is nothing like a book !
However despite the financial mess the world's economies are in I have no doubt that the book business will survive. Unfortunately many of my colleagues with increasing rents and falling sales may disappear but I shall with your support continue to scour the remains of the trade to find those elusive books for you !
Yes, "Doug Finds Books !"
Monday, November 28, 2011
AFRICANA,COLLECTABLE BOOKS AND ALL THAT !
Probably the commonest questions I am asked about my blog and my website is "What is Africana ?"
and I always say(relative to books) "Any book about Southern Africa,whether old or new "
This of course covers a multitude of books ! Far more than I ever dreamed ! It is simply amazing !
I have learnt a great deal about Southern Africa,South Africa in particular by just handling the books;if only I had time to read them all.
In this blog I will try and talk about the authors and their subjects.I sincerely hope that I do reasonable justice to "Africana"
Books are bought,not only to read,but to collect, to give as gifts,and to re-sell and us booksellers do our best to satisfy those needs.
Times may be hard but books are stll great ! from all those points of view !
As the Great Bard himself could have said "Read on ! Read on ! Read on !"
and I always say(relative to books) "Any book about Southern Africa,whether old or new "
This of course covers a multitude of books ! Far more than I ever dreamed ! It is simply amazing !
I have learnt a great deal about Southern Africa,South Africa in particular by just handling the books;if only I had time to read them all.
In this blog I will try and talk about the authors and their subjects.I sincerely hope that I do reasonable justice to "Africana"
Books are bought,not only to read,but to collect, to give as gifts,and to re-sell and us booksellers do our best to satisfy those needs.
Times may be hard but books are stll great ! from all those points of view !
As the Great Bard himself could have said "Read on ! Read on ! Read on !"
Monday, October 10, 2011
ABOUT TIME TOO !
What with the very cold winter up here on the Highveld and with enforced hospitalisation for a long overdue ankle joint replacement operation I have been forced to neglect my blog ! Maybe I frightened many people away with my brief about "erotica" I would prefer to think not !
As always, despite the economy, interest in all things Southern African," Africana",continues to dominate sales and enquiries.Nothing wrong with that.Even overseas demand has increased and this is due in part to my installing "Pay Pal".
Once again, over the next few weeks.I shall be talking'Collectable Books' and I don't just mean Wilbur Smith, Lawrence Green, and T V Bulpin.For example I have just opened on my web site'www.dougfindsbooks.com(available direct and through "Bid or Buy"..."buy now") seperate categories for such as "Alistair MacLean" and" Alexander Kent". Many more are to come.If you would like to see a seperate listing for such as "John Grisham"," John Le Carre" or" Robert Ludlum" amongst others drop me an 'e'mail on colnic@telkomsa.net and I will be pleased to oblige.After alll. I do have the books. More Soon !
As always, despite the economy, interest in all things Southern African," Africana",continues to dominate sales and enquiries.Nothing wrong with that.Even overseas demand has increased and this is due in part to my installing "Pay Pal".
Once again, over the next few weeks.I shall be talking'Collectable Books' and I don't just mean Wilbur Smith, Lawrence Green, and T V Bulpin.For example I have just opened on my web site'www.dougfindsbooks.com(available direct and through "Bid or Buy"..."buy now") seperate categories for such as "Alistair MacLean" and" Alexander Kent". Many more are to come.If you would like to see a seperate listing for such as "John Grisham"," John Le Carre" or" Robert Ludlum" amongst others drop me an 'e'mail on colnic@telkomsa.net and I will be pleased to oblige.After alll. I do have the books. More Soon !
Friday, June 24, 2011
EROTICA !
You may not agree with me but I feel that no book selection should be without "Erotica".It has it's place in contemporary fiction and from one who is mature enough to remember the court actions over D H Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover" one cannot deny the right of the individual to read such literature.
I do have several books already on my shelves under this genre such as Boccaccio's "The Decameron" and Pauline Reage's "Story of O" I would be interested to hear of any suggestions or requirements for books in this category.
Incidenatally I do keep most of D H Lawrence's books in my "Classics" section !
I do have several books already on my shelves under this genre such as Boccaccio's "The Decameron" and Pauline Reage's "Story of O" I would be interested to hear of any suggestions or requirements for books in this category.
Incidenatally I do keep most of D H Lawrence's books in my "Classics" section !
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
ANGELIQUE TITLES...SERGEANNE GOLON ..... COLLECTABLE !
This series of books written in the early 1970's by a French couple,Serge and Anne Golon,were very popular at the time,some made into swashbuckling period pieces and in recent years serialised on TV.have long fascinated collectors of a genre sometimes referred to as 'bodice rippers'.
Situated in the period of the French Revolution,the heroine Angelique had many adventures and romantic interludes.
There are still copies of these books to be found and they are becoming more and more collectable.If the covers are intact they are very decorative.
Even younger people, not born when the books were first published, find the style and description very readable, no doubt influenced by the TV episodes.
Situated in the period of the French Revolution,the heroine Angelique had many adventures and romantic interludes.
There are still copies of these books to be found and they are becoming more and more collectable.If the covers are intact they are very decorative.
Even younger people, not born when the books were first published, find the style and description very readable, no doubt influenced by the TV episodes.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
HUNTING,FISHING AND CONSERVATION !
It always strikes me of the incongruity of grouping Conservation and Hunting together but of course they are related !
Having handled so many books on the lives of the great African hunters it comes as no surprise to me that so many of them eventually became game wardens and contributed so much to the preservation of animal life in Southern and Eastern Africa.They were very brave men and lived an often arduous life facing great dangers,.They did not have , in the earlier days, the high powered weapons equipped with telescopic sights and shooting from special vehicles but were generally on foot or at best on horseback armed with the rifles of the times !
I love the story of Harry Wolhuter the hunter who became the first game ranger in the original Kruger Park who was patrolling on horseback and was attacked by two full grown lions,knocked of his horse by the lioness and then trapped face down by the lion who began to maul him.He managed to reach back for his hunting knife and stab the lion twice, killing it ! Amazing but true.Don't believe me ? read his book, if you can find it ' Memoirs of a Game Ranger ' or read Piet Meiring's 'Kruger Park Saga. '
We are fortunate that we have our wonderful game reserves and owe so much to' Oom Paul' who battled for many years to get the priciple of conservation accepted and to all the hunters and game rangers who have made this a reality.
There is so much to learn and read about this subject. Long may we appreciate and protect it !
Having handled so many books on the lives of the great African hunters it comes as no surprise to me that so many of them eventually became game wardens and contributed so much to the preservation of animal life in Southern and Eastern Africa.They were very brave men and lived an often arduous life facing great dangers,.They did not have , in the earlier days, the high powered weapons equipped with telescopic sights and shooting from special vehicles but were generally on foot or at best on horseback armed with the rifles of the times !
I love the story of Harry Wolhuter the hunter who became the first game ranger in the original Kruger Park who was patrolling on horseback and was attacked by two full grown lions,knocked of his horse by the lioness and then trapped face down by the lion who began to maul him.He managed to reach back for his hunting knife and stab the lion twice, killing it ! Amazing but true.Don't believe me ? read his book, if you can find it ' Memoirs of a Game Ranger ' or read Piet Meiring's 'Kruger Park Saga. '
We are fortunate that we have our wonderful game reserves and owe so much to' Oom Paul' who battled for many years to get the priciple of conservation accepted and to all the hunters and game rangers who have made this a reality.
There is so much to learn and read about this subject. Long may we appreciate and protect it !
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)