Little blue book

I own a little blue book in which I write all the books I would like to buy. That can be extremely practical when standing in a bookstore, or not… Sometimes I forget my little blue book. And then it so happens that I buy a book (or two) I already own. There was a time I knew exactly which books I had. But with over 1600 books and an aging brain, I can’t remember. Hence… the little blue book. Which of course only helps when it is in your bag. The last two holidays we spent in England, it was at home. Lying lonely in one of the drawers of my desk. England for me is always an excuse to buy books. As much as possible, or as much as can be fitted in the trunk of our car (alongside the model kits dear hubby buys). So, at the beginning of this year I made a sort of resolution: I would put the little blue book in my bag and it wouldn’t leave my bag ever again. No sooner said than done.

Last Friday we were in Haarlem, visiting – among others – the local second hand book store. And I found use for my little blue book. I checked the book I wanted to buy and… yes… I hadn’t bought it. So happy as I was, I paid. Coming home, I checked again. Mm, it seemed like a new series from one of my favorite authors. Or was it? Looking onto the bookshelves I found the books by the author I thought I had bought. Only instead of Michael Connelly, this one was named John Connolly. Or the other way around. I can’t remember (which is exactly why I need that little blue book).

What went wrong? I think I know. Generally I only write down the books I want to buy. In Connolly case, I only wrote down the books in the Charlie Parker series. But sometimes authors writes books outside of their series. And I thought this was one of them. If I had read the back cover, I would have noticed that it stated ‘Harry Bosch nr. 13’.  Alas.

Do I regret spending my money on the wrong author? No, not really. The book is now on my bedside table. Great reading before going to sleep. A serial killer and Harry Bosch is the detective who wants to capture him. No gruesome details yet. So for now, it stays where it is.

And next time, I check, check, double check.