I collect antique books, but only if they interest me. I found a fun series by an author called "Josiah Allen's wife". She wrote in the mid and late 1800s. Hers are comedy books, but she writes as a woman who takes everything literally. I adored the first one I read, "My Opinion and Betsey Bobbitts". I now have four, all antique, all from different sources. Beverley Nichols looks interesting, let me know how you like him.

Discovering a new author is great! I like picking up something I've never heard of at the bookstore and reading the first few lines. If it grabs me, I get it. If not I move on. And I love it when it turns out to be a good indication that it was worth it! I'm reading Seven Deadly Wonders now - it was mentioned here recently and I was stuck in an airport. Everything else seemed sappy and/or mindless. So far so good!!! I'm starting to have faith in the NY Times bestseller lists.