I’ve been on a book-buying spree. I guess reading Infinite Jest has had something to do with that, but I couldn’t say exactly why that is. The week before last, I ordered The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han van Meegeren by Jonathan Lopez as a birthday gift for my mother. If I haven’t mentioned it before, my mother is Dutch, born and raised in Amsterdam, and she loves reading about history, and she loves art. I knew this book would be a winner.

And then I bought six books for myself. Dalkey Archive Press (@DalkeyArchive) had a great sale last week (which I mentioned on my twitter, so you missed out if you’re not following me!), so I got 5 books for $35, including shipping. I’m not exactly sure which five books I’ll be getting, since one of the books I requested is not due out until later this month and so might not be eligible for the sale. I listed an alternate just in case. Anyway, the books I requested:

Diary of a Blood Donor by Mati Unt
Brecht at Night by Mati Unt
Op Oloop by Juan Filloy
Europeana by Patrik Ouredník
Reader’s Block by David Markson

If Op Oloop is not available, I requested Vain Art of the Fugue by Dumitru Tsepeneag in its place.

I also ordered The Salt Smugglers by Gérard de Nerval from Archipelago Books. If you hadn’t heard, Archipelago (follow them @archipelagobks) is in trouble, so I wanted to do my part. Plus, The Salt Smugglers looks fantastic!

It will be a while before I actually get these books, since I’m shipping them to my parents’ address, but I’m hoping to see them in late September. I have plenty of books to keep me busy in the meantime.