Contrary to earlier Twitter and Facebook reports, I didn’t actually buy 61 books at Powell’s late last month. John got about five books, so that means I only got 56 books. A much more reasonable number. For those of you who don’t know, Powell’s City of Books in Portland, Oregon is the largest bookstore in the U.S. and I think the best. One of my favorite parts is that they have used, new, and remainders all intermixed on their shelves. This makes for a very satisfying browsing experience. I also love that one will always find a hidden gem or two–even if you limit yourself to just one section.
On our most recent visit to Powell’s I focused combing the fiction from A to Z. On other trips I have looked for specific titles or authors and then also browsed other sections of the store. I’m glad I did A to Z fiction this time. But next time I think I need to go Z to A. By the time I got to the Ds, I already had 14 books in my basket. I could have spent more time in the store, but after three hours on one of the most beautiful days Portland could offer I thought it was time to get out and about. There were a few other times over the weekend where I thought about going back but I was too busy eating.
When you got to Powell’s try going on a weekday during the day. If you have to go on the weekend get there when they open to avoid most of the poseurs. You know the type, those that maybe buy one book that they are never going to read. Nothing bad about these folks, but do you really want them getting in the way? Having said that Powell’s is huge and never, ever feels cramped like Strands Books in NYC can.
You can scroll down to see the whole list of my haul, but I know that most of you appreciate a photo or two of book finds. So here it goes.
Acevedo, Chantel – The Distant Marvels
Ackerley, J.R. – My Father and Myself
Alcott, Louisa May – Behind a Mask (Her Unknown Thrillers)
Allen, Walter – All in a Lifetime
Ashton, Helen – The Half-Crown House
Atherton, Gertrude – American Wives & English Husbands
Auchincloss, Louis – The Rector of Justin
Bailey, Paul – The Prince’s Boy
Bates, H.E. – A Breath of French Air
Bates, H.E. – The Darling Buds of May
Benson, E.F. – An Autumn Sowing
Benson, E.F. – David Blaize
Benson, E.F. – Desirable Residences (A new Miss Mapp story)
Benson, E.F. – Mrs. Ames
Chase, Ilka – New York 22
Collins, Wilkie – Iolani; or, Tahiti as it was.
Cresswell, Helen – Ordinary Jack
Dumas, Alexandre – Louise de la Valliere
Gissing, George – In the Year of Jubilee
Grumbach, Doris – Chamber Music
Grumbach, Doris – Fifty Days of Solitude
Grumbach, Doris – The Ladies
Grumbach, Doris – The Pleasure of their Company
Hosain, Attia – Sunlight on a Broken Column
Hyland, M.J. – How the Light Gets In
Keyes, Frances Parkinson – Also the Hills
Larkin, Philip – A Girl in Winter
Larkin, Philip – Jill
Lively, Penelope – Spiderweb
Manning, Olivia – The Doves of Venus
Mendelson, Charlotte – When We Were Bad
Mendelson, Cheryl – Morningside Heights
McPherson, William – Testing the Current
Michaels, Leonard – The Men’s Club
Miller, Merle – A Day in Late September
Miller, Merle – That Winter
Monson, Ander – Letter to a Future Lover
O’Grady, Rohan – Let’s Kill Uncle
Priestley, J.B. – Bright Day
Roberts, Cecil – Victoria 4:30
Sackville-West, Edward – Simpson
Sackville-West, Vita – The Easter Party
Shute, Nevil – Beyond the Black Stump
Soseki, Natsume – The Gate
Spark, Muriel – Robinson
Trollope, Anthony – The American Senator
Trollope, Anthony – The Claverings
Trollope, Anthony – The Fixed Period
Trollope, Anthony – Kept in the Dark
Trollope, Anthony – Mr. Scarborough’s Family
Trollope, Anthony – Orley Farm
Trollope, Anthony – Ralph the Heir
Trollope, Anthony – The Tireless Traveller
Trollope, Anthony – Why Frau Frohmann Raised Her Prices and Other Stories
Waugh, Evelyn – The Complete Stories
hogglestock 
Yes, the question did spring to mind: is there anything left in that poor store…?
What a wonderful haul of books though – congratulations! How long are you planning to bury yourself somewhere to read all that?
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The store is so big if would hard to make a dent.
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What an incredibly beautiful pile of books! Well done!
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Off to browse the titles on Goodreads :-) Any idea which one you’ll read first?
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Whichever one I pick up at any given time is the one I think I will read first. I have since interfiled them in my library so I am going to have to rely on this post to remind myself what I bought.
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Having seen your library on Other People’s Bookshelves, I’m less overwhelmed at how much you bought! It looks like a great haul, are the Trollope books with the numbers a series of all his or is it a broader series?
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Geoff, I didn’t notice those numbers until I got the package at home. I believe they represent the entirety of Trollpe’s fiction. This, of course, triggers my OCD and the desire to have all of them. But I think I will refrain.
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I was hoping you were already filling blanks! Probably for the best as that orange can definitely be overwhelming in large doses.
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Can’t believe the first book pictured was “Half Crown House.” I purchased that book when I was about 13 years old (and that was a LONG time ago) at a used book store, also drawn in by the cover. Can’t remember if I ever read it!
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How funny is that. I probably would have wanted it at 13 as well. I will let you know how it is.
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Thanks so much for taking the time to present this most faaabulous book porn!
You scored some beautiful covers. I may have to forgo my London bkstore dream to Portland dream for a few days….many thanks…quinn
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The choices won’t be the same for sure, but Powell’s will be a lot cheaper than anywhere in London.
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Oh Powell’s, how I love you. On my last trip I got $164 in trade and spent $180 so a BUNCH of books for only $16! Great haul and how brilliant to have them shipped home. Oh, and, that just may be my former copy of Chamber Music. Hope you enjoy it!
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I am over halfway through Chamber Music and I am loving it. Such a lucky find.
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Any distinguishing marks in Chamber Music that might confirm your suspicion?
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A wonderful haul. Thanks so much for sharing the pictures.
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Wow, great haul! You have so many books that I own or want to read — I just checked out the complete Mapp & Lucia from the library, plus I own Desirable Residences, and two other books by Helen Ashton.
And nice Trollopes!! I loved The American Senator and you have some that I’ve never even heard of.
I really think I need an excuse to go to Portland!!!!
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What a great haul. Scott at Furrowed Middlebrow reviewed the Helen Ashton just a couple of weeks ago & it sounds wonderful.
http://tinyurl.com/okyw9xr
Ilka Chase was a great actress, she’s in one of my favourite movies, Now, Voyager. Didn’t know she wrote novels. I love Trollope so I’m envious of all those Penguins.
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This makes me want to pop down to Portland for the weekend – thank goodness it’s just a bit too far away to be that accessible! Powell’s is amazing and you certainly did it justice!
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At least you do not rave on about obscure books that only KINDLE owners can read.Thank you.
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What a great post, Thomas. As only you can do . . .
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Thank you for sharing your spoils with us, Thomas! It makes me wish I were book shopping with you again… And you found such gems. I’ve not read many of them, but The Easter Party was great fun.
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I really like Doris Grumbach’s nonfiction. As you will discover when you start to read it, her partner Sibyl Pike had a used book shop here in Maine, some years back. It was right next to their house and was truly wonderful. Large. Deeply literary. When she closed and moved we bought many bookcases from her, and the sign that was on the outside of her shop, to boot. I had it in my own bookshop for several years – “Wayward Books” – in the shape of an open book. (Still have it, in fact.) I am book-jealous of your visit to Powell’s. On my “someday” list!
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Sarah, now that I have finished and loved her novel Chamber Music, I reallllly wish Wayward Books still existed and am envious that you own the sign.
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I have to make it to Powell’s next summer. This has to happen.
It must be a hilarious sight to see someone stumble out of the store with those boxes piled up in front of their face!
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A lovely haul. The Larkin novels are fabulous and I love Charlotte Mendelson’s novels, too, in a different way. Happy reading!
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