I went out with such good intentions this afternoon. I needed to make a proper dent in my Christmas shopping and I headed into St Albans with just that intention. I did intend to head into the local branch of Waterstones for a few things, including a travel guide for a weekend away we've got planned in January, but it was supposed to be a trip in which I shopped for other people.
Having now come home and looked at the pile of things on my desk I realise just how wrong I got it!
Firstly, the Cancer Research shop is the only charity shop in the centre of town that's open on a Sunday – so I just had to pop in. Recently they haven't had all that many books in there, but today I was spoilt for choice. I did restrain myself – honestly, but have still managed to come home with copies of Anita Shreve's Sea Glass, James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Ian McEwan's Atonement (which I've always wanted to read) and a copy of Alexander McCall Smith's The Right Attitude to Rain that looks like it hasn't been read.
Now I really should have stopped at this stage, but I just couldn't help myself. I headed into Waterstones and something just came over me! I've been trying so hard recently not to buy new books and I had been doing so well. I'm certainly not short of things to read, but there were just so many books that I can only dream of arriving in a charity shop soon.
After reading today's dovegreyreader post I just had to get my hands on a copy of Imran Ahmad's Unimagined. His story on doyegreyreader's blog of the Unimagined Path to Publication was just so well written that I'm itching to read more.
Last night Mr C and I ended up having dinner with our friends A and P. We got chatting and it turns out P is also a great reader and reads many of the same book related blogs that I do (and we're both dovegreyreader fans!) She recommended I try Sadie Jones' The Outcast so off I went to find a copy. Now as I was in Waterstones I found the Outcast complete with one of their famous "3 for 2" stickers on it. I should have stopped there I really should, but I just couldn't help myself and found myself looking on the tables at the front of the store for others to make up the three (Yes i know i could have just stopped at this stage, but the urge was just too great.
(which I'm sure I've read about on 
both ended up in the pile as I dragged myself and my haul towards the checkout. Now I really must stop myself in future. That and look up "Book Buyers Anonymous" so I can get myself along to their next meeting for help!
It is possible you read about The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society on my blog. I tracked it down whilst I was back on the island in the summer when they were just gearing up for the launch. I loved it, partly because it is about my home!
http://auntiedoris.wibsite.com/?s=potato+peel&x=&y=
Auntie Doris is spot on – apologies for not having a good enough memory to credit you straight off!