So after my thwarted attempt to have a no buying books for myself month in December (I swear, feminist tomes kept hurling themselves at my head, it was a moral imperative to take them home) and because my bank balance is looking somewhat sickly, I decided that I was going to refrain from buying books for the months of February AND March.

This is a very big deal.

What this means is nothing that gives me the ‘hit’ that comes from purchasing a book – which includes clicking pre-order buttons. So far what I have learned from the exercise is that yes, I am an addict.

I thought I would track the experiment (and keep myself from clicking ‘buy’ buttons) by keeping track of all the books I had more than a fleeting impulse to buy – ones that I definitely wanted for at least three moments. I should add that it is unlikely I would have bought all the books on the list without the pledge holding me back – at least, I really hope not.

So far I’m ten days in and I have 17 books on the list.

For interest’s sake:

2 Feb – Zombies v. Unicorns by Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier
The cover art for this one was doing the rounds and as I’ve been hearing about it around the traps for some time, and the list is awesome, I was keen enough to sign up for a pre-order. If not for this pesky exercise! Still, I have until September to get my pre-order on.
2 Feb – X6, by Keith Stevenson (ed)
I read this as an electronic review copy, but I really want my own copy so I can lend it out to people. Particularly for “Wives” by Paul Haines – my dad asked if he could read it!
2 Feb – Soulless, Gail Carriger
Norse Code, Greg van Eekhout
Imagination/Space: Essays and Talks on Fiction, Feminism, Technology and Politics, Gwyneth Jones (Aqueduct Press)
Spotted all three of these on the Locus Recommended Reading List. Soulless is one I’ve been thinking about buying for some time – the cover is striking and I’ve heard it talked about lots. Norse Code I heard about on Adventures in SciFi Publishing and promptly forgot about. The Jones I hadn’t heard about until I saw it on the list omg want!

3 Feb – Cheek by Jowl: Essays, Ursula K. Le Guin (Aqueduct Press)
The Women of Nell Gwynne’s, Kage Baker (Subterranean)
Looked at the Locus Recommended Reading List again.

4 Feb – Steamed by Katie McAlister
Read interview with author via Bibliophile Stalker
4 Feb – BLACKOUT & ALL CLEAR by Connie Willis
I have e-copy of the former but totally want it in hard copy too and then I found out about the gorgeous Subterranean editions for $75 each… gah, want want want.
4 Feb – Kate Constable – Cicada Summer
This one has been on my to read/to buy list as well as my Fishpond wishlist forever (ha, several months) I love Constable’s work in the A&U Girlfriend series, the cover is nice, I’ve seen it in the shop at least once, I think today’s impulse was mainly because I saw a reference to it and went *want* all over again.

5 Feb – Boy Meets Boy David Levithan
This is another that has been on my Fishpond wishlist for ages, but it came up again in the context of the #genderinYA discussion on Twitter.

6 Feb – High Wages, by Dorothy Whipple
I’ve wanted this since I read about it on Jane Brocket’s blog, and today’s impulse was because I saw the email from Book Depository letting me know it’s back in stock (it’s probably out of stock again now, damn it)

7 Feb – Madam Bovary, Popular Penguin Classics
Can I just say, sticking a dump bin of these shiny orange suckers in my post office is like chocolate bars at a supermarket checkout only MORE EXPENSIVE. (only $9.99, it’s a bargain, how can you possibly resist?)

8 Feb – Several Big Finish plays
It could be argued that these are not books. I found this a very persuasive argument. I then told myself that even if they’re not books, they would most definitely be purchased as a substitute for book buying, and I stopped myself before I went too far. (but my, these are more affordable than they used to be, especially now they sell them as downloads) Instead, I ordered all the Big Finish plays in my local library. (have not included these in my count of books Not Bought)

9 Feb – Persuasion, Jane Austen, Popular Penguin Classics
Damned post office. Seriously. Also, this is the only Austen I have never read and I hear it’s quite good.
9 Feb – Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman audio book (read by Lenny Henry)
This is Alan Davies’ fault. He and his dratted It’s Up For Grabs Now promotional deal sent me in the direction of Audible. (Yes even podcasts about Arsenal lead me towards bookbuyage) I have always wanted this audio book. But I didn’t acquire it even by means of signing up for 14 days free trial and getting it as my free gift. That’s how committed to Not Buying Books I am!

10 Feb – How I Live Now, Meg Rosoff & The Harp in the South, Ruth Park
FUCKING post office.

Possibly at this point, I should admit that, thanks to my dreadful pre-ordering and other online bookshopping habit, I have in fact had books mysteriously posted to me which are most awesome and excellent, but which do not count as this month’s purchases. Because the hit I had from purchasing them is lost in the mists of time. These books include Dear Swoosie by Penni Russon and Kate Constable, Fathom by Cherie Priest, Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson (omg I got this today, are you jealous, are you jealous?) and the new edition of The Writer’s Tale by Russell T Davies.

Ahem. But they do not count.

What books have you been buying? Let me live vicariously through you! What books have you Not Been Buying?

Tags: alan davies, big finish, bookbuying, booksnotbought, cherie priest, connie willis, david levithan, gail carriger, greg van eekhout, gwyneth jones, holly black, jane austen, jane brocket, justine larbalestier, kage baker, kate constable, katie mcalister, keith stevenson, maureen johnson, meg rosoff, paul haines, penguins, penni russon, russell t davies, ruth park, ursula leguin