Certificate Redeemed

This is a follow-up to this post from last Thursday.

So I ended up going with the Jane Jacobs. Now I may have read your comment, Anonymous, before my purchase, but honestly it had no bearing on my decision. I swear. Won't you reveal yourself, oh mysterious one?... with your tantalizing personal details... I can't believe you cut off all your hair.

Also, I bought the Voltaire too. Because I hate myself. So I have a Dover Thrift edition of Candide that I'm giving away for free.

Now let us never mention books again.

Certificate for a Fix

Work has long been an enabler for my book addiction, but never quite so literally. On Tuesday, I received a gift certificate for Chapters Indigo worth 10 dollars as a goodbye present for my contributions to the team (generic contributions, we all got one).

What to buy? I want to spend it soon; it's burning a hole in my pocket as well as my soul.

Suggestions are absolutely welcome. Here's some candidates from my usual scope and loiter at the book shops:

Atrocity Exhibition by J.G. Ballard

Candide by Voltaire (which I already own in cheapo version-- but look an edition with Chris Ware cover and French flaps!-- meaning I'd have a copy to give away afterwards)

Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon

The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs (the current frontrunner)