I don't buy many new books as firstly I find them outside my budget (I'm not saying they are expensive, the author will have put a lot of work in so needs to get a reasonable return, plus production costs etc). but secondly as most of the subject material I am interested in is so long ago there is little that hasn't already been written.
But I was sucked in by Strathwood's 3 for 2 offer and the first of two ordered arrived today, very well packaged so in perfect condition.
One thing I was pleased to find with the books I bought is that only one has a dust jacket. I don't see the point of these and they get torn very easily. A glossy hardcover is in my opinion much better.
The first one that arrived today is by David Maidment entitled "LNER 4-6-0 locomotives - their design, operation and performance" (Pen & Sword). My area of interest is the former GER line in the 1930s so plenty of "B" classifications there. At 380 pages it's going to take a long time to get through.
Next up is Simon AC Martin's "Edward Thompson Wartime CME" (Strathwood). I first came across Simon in "The Biggest Little Railway" program (an interesting watch). Then I saw some of his Youtube videos and then of course The Great Model Railway Challenge. My interest is purely pre-war LNER so Thompson in theory is outside of this. However, he was in charge of Stratford for a while which IS my area, and I have also read one or two other books which put him down. For the LNER to select him as CME there must have been something, so when I saw that Simon was researching a new book it was a must for me.
Finally David Larkin's "The Acquired Wagons of British Railways" volumes 1-3 (Crecy). Again in theory outside my area of interest but the whole subject is pre-nationalisation wagons so should be a good reference for me. These three books were a combined set with a very healthy discount.
Curiously the order that arrived today was placed 9 days after the first one which is still showing as awaiting despatch. Not worried, it's a busy time of year and I'm in no great rush. It's great to see that new books are being written in this age of the internet, and they are being supported by publishers such as Strathwood.