Booooks

I opened my email yesterday morning to find that late on Friday I'd been sent a message with a list of "Recommended Reading" and a note suggesting one book be started reading before the course starts. So less recommended and more silently mandatory. At the start of the summer I bought a set of books that are the token  mandatory items for one subject (and I'm glad I did so then since they've increased in price in this run up to the start of term), which cost me 60£ (and that's it being a bargain :-s *), and one other book that will hopefully help me with something I know I'm going to struggle with.

So given that it was suggested to start reading beforehand I decided to start book hunting:
Amazon-edition on list not in stock and new and used started at "oh my god" leading to "that's half my mortgage".
Amazon-edition not on list but same edition (how to make monies, become textbook publisher), 3-4 weeks. I start in a fortnight so no good.
Blackwells-Ten pounds more than Amazon, 1-3 weeks, unless I wanted to go to Oxford or Liverpool to collect said book. Er no.
Waterstones online-Same price as Blackwells and same time period. The stock checker said none anywhere.
WHSmith-I worked for them long enough that I should have known looking was pointless. But over four weeks and ten pounds more than Blackwells and Waterstones.

Since I was in Nottingham yesterday I decided to check in Waterstones (because I believe online stock checkers not a jot), they didn't have any and the assistant checked the university branch, who also didn't have any (and the Waterstones man seemed as baffled by this as I am). So I've ordered it, and am now crossing every crossable bit of my body that a) it arrives on time and; b) that I did give the right email address.

It would be nice though if books on reading lists (and this is hardly a light bedtime reading thing, unless you are unhinged) were a) in enough print volume that shops can stock them and; b) in bloody stock before university starts.


*The on campus branch of a large chain has a leaflet advertising said book set at fifteen pounds more expensive than I bought it and described as a bargain. Yeah I think you and I Mr Bookshop, have very different concepts of bargain.