Secondhand Fiction Bargain Book Box DSH1028

Secondhand Fiction Bargain Book Box

This box offers a deep dive into compelling narratives from globally acclaimed authors, spanning intricate historical epics, beloved contemporary character studies, genre-bending fantasy, and gripping modern thrillers. Featuring monumental works by Ken Follett, Neil Gaiman, Vikram Seth, and multiple titles from the late Colleen McCullough, this collection promises hours of immersive reading that challenges the intellect and warms the heart. Each book is secondhand and may show signs of wear.

1. The Road to San Giovanni by Italo Calvino
   This collection of evocative essays and memoir pieces acts as a profound meditation on Calvino’s early life, exploring the landscapes, books, and memories that shaped his unique artistic vision. Through richly detailed personal reflections, Calvino examines his relationship with nature, literature, and the complexities of his family history in Italy. It provides a rare and intimate glimpse into the mind of one of the 20th century's most imaginative writers.

2. Impossible by Nancy Werlin
   Lucy discovers she is bound by a centuries-old curse that demands she complete three seemingly impossible tasks before her eighteenth birthday, or face utter madness. If she fails, the curse will pass to her mother, trapping Lucy in a desperate, race-against-time quest that blends contemporary life with ancient mythology. This is a thrilling and romantic YA novel that reinterprets the classic ballad of Tam Lin.

3. Trickery by Roald Dahl
   A collection of Dahl's darkest, most unexpected short stories, showcasing his mastery of macabre humor and surprise endings. These tales delve into the sinister side of human nature, where petty grievances escalate into shocking acts of revenge and ordinary people find themselves trapped in bizarre circumstances. Perfect for readers who enjoy wicked wit and narratives that keep you unnervingly off-balance.

4. About a Boy by Nick Hornby
   Will Freeman is a wealthy, thirty-something Londoner who avoids commitment and responsibility by pretending he has a son to attend single parent meetings. His carefully constructed life of isolation is disrupted when he meets the earnest, unusual 12-year-old Marcus, forcing Will to finally grow up and confront the emotional connections he has always evaded. A witty and touching exploration of modern male inadequacy and unlikely friendship.

5. Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce
   Set in WWII London during the Blitz, young Emmy Lake dreams of becoming a Lady War Correspondent but instead finds herself working as a typist for a women’s magazine advice column run by the fearsome Mrs. Bird. When Mrs. Bird refuses to answer any "unpleasant" letters, Emmy secretly begins writing back to the desperate women, offering hope and advice amidst the chaos of war. A charming and moving tale of friendship and civilian courage.

6. The Family Frying Pan by Bryce Courtenay
   A story of three generations of the Fry family, whose lives are irrevocably linked to the harsh landscape and the burgeoning industrialization of South Africa. It traces their struggles, successes, and failures against the backdrop of historical change, exploring the complex bonds of family and the search for belonging in a difficult land. Courtenay delivers a sweeping saga marked by resilience and deep emotional resonance.

7. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
   Richard Mayhew, an ordinary young businessman, finds his life irrevocably altered after he stops to help an injured girl, Door, on the street. He is immediately plunged into the hidden, fantastical realm of London Below, a subterranean world inhabited by mythical creatures, angels, and murderers. Richard must now navigate this perilous, magical mirror-city to find his way back home—if he even wants to anymore.

8. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
   Rachel, reeling from a devastating divorce, spends her daily commute obsessively watching a seemingly perfect couple from her train window. When the woman she observes suddenly goes missing, Rachel believes she saw something crucial and inserts herself into the police investigation. However, her heavy drinking and unreliable memory cast doubt on her claims, leading to a dark, twist-filled psychological thriller.

9. The Time We Have Taken by Steven Carroll
   This novel delves into the seemingly ordinary lives of several families in the Melbourne suburbs during the 1960s, capturing the subtle, profound moments of change and connection. Through detailed, interconnected vignettes, Carroll explores themes of loss, memory, and the slow erosion of innocence against the backdrop of a quiet, transforming Australian landscape. A beautifully observed piece of literary realism.

10. Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall Smith
    This delightful serial novel introduces the eccentric, interconnected residents of a fictional mansion block in London’s Pimlico district, each grappling with their own small dramas and unexpected discoveries. From a struggling private investigator to a man trying to launch a magazine dedicated to the single-bar heater, the narrative is filled with McCall Smith's signature gentle wit and warmth. A charming and engaging look at the human condition.

11. The Lost Daughter by Lucretia Grindle
    In the wake of her father’s death, London artist Ella must travel to a remote, decaying villa in Tuscany to confront the estranged side of her family and resolve matters of inheritance. She soon uncovers a long-buried secret concerning a lost baby girl and a wartime tragedy that connects her family to the dark history of the villa. A mystery-shrouded novel steeped in the haunting beauty of the Italian landscape.

12. Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
    The first installment of the Century Trilogy, this epic novel follows five interrelated families—American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh—through the tumultuous years leading up to and including World War I. Their individual stories weave through the major historical events of the era, from the suffragettes' movement to the Russian Revolution and the devastating trench warfare. A massive, compelling narrative of love, ambition, and global conflict.

13. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
    Set in a small, remote island community in the Pacific Northwest shortly after World War II, a Japanese-American fisherman stands trial for murder, a charge laced with racial prejudice and lingering wartime hatred. The trial unravels the hidden connections and tragic history between the island's white and Japanese inhabitants, exploring themes of justice, love, and the price of intolerance. A poignant, atmospheric literary mystery.

14. Borderliners by Peter Høeg
    A young boy named Peter is brought to a mysterious, repressive school where all the students share a history of being "borderliners," children with complex backgrounds. Peter and his two companions attempt to piece together the school’s strange rules and the secret experiments being conducted, engaging in a dangerous fight for intellectual freedom. A compelling and philosophical thriller that questions the very nature of time and learning.

15. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
    A monumental novel set in post-independence India, focusing on the efforts of Mrs. Rupa Mehra to find a suitable husband for her twenty-year-old daughter, Lata. The narrative sweeps across the subcontinent, chronicling the lives of four interconnected families as they navigate political upheaval, religious tension, and the conflicting demands of tradition and modernity. A vast, panoramic work of social realism and intricate character development.

16. Morgan's Run by Colleen McCullough
    This powerful historical novel tells the story of Richard Morgan, a respectable English cabinetmaker unjustly transported to the harsh penal colony of New South Wales in 1791. Facing brutal conditions and forced labor, Richard uses his resilience and skills to survive, attempting to establish a new life on the edge of the known world. A gripping tale of injustice, enduring love, and the genesis of modern Australia.

17. Angel Puss by Colleen McCullough
    Set in a small, isolated Australian town, this novel delves into the life of the beautiful, charismatic Harriet, who seems destined for tragedy despite her charm and intelligence. The story explores the complexities of small-town life, family secrets, and the inevitable consequences of reckless passion and social repression. A bittersweet and intensely character-driven literary drama.

18. Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje
    Anil Tissera, a forensic anthropologist working for a human rights organization, returns to her native Sri Lanka during its devastating civil war to investigate suspected government atrocities. Working with a local archaeologist, she attempts to identify a skeleton found in an ancient burial site, risking her life to reveal the truth behind a wave of political violence and disappearances. A lyrical yet chilling novel about memory and truth in wartime.

19. The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris
    Vianne Rocher, having settled into a quiet life in a Parisian market square, finds her hard-won peace shattered by the arrival of a mysterious woman who seems determined to unearth Vianne’s past secrets. As Vianne and her daughter Anouk struggle to maintain their anonymity, the magic, mischief, and irresistible temptations of chocolate return to disrupt their ordinary existence. A delicious and darkly enchanting sequel to Chocolat.

20. The Touch by Colleen McCullough
    Dr. Alexander Kinross, a shrewd and ambitious Scot, arrives in the Australian gold fields of the late 19th century determined to seek his fortune through commerce rather than digging. After marrying a wealthy English heiress for her connections, he unexpectedly falls passionately in love with a young, unconventional Chinese woman. This expansive novel is a vivid story of ambition, forbidden love, and colonial-era class conflict.