Cox book on d4 may be leading to more active play but exactly those GM lines need high maintanance all the time a luxury I can't afford. With the time I have for chess I don't want to spend it in keeping up with the openings but more to develop also middlegame and endgames and of course to play - that is the only reason I am not keen on the Cox book on d4.

What variation on move 5 does Houska recommend? I know that the 5...g6 variation is under a cloud these days, but 5...e6 and 5...Nc6 seem solid enough for Black.

I think I finally got it right

Here is what is possibly my final decision:
 
Study first:

White:
Dynamic English - Kosten

Black:
Caro - Kann - Houska
Play the Slav - Vigus
Dealing with d4 deviations - Cox

For later:

Caro - Kann - Wells 
Slav and Semislav - Flear(also for the exchange line as suggested earlier in this thread)
Something on Albin for more active play against weaker players
Soltis book on pawn structures - especially the Caro - Slav pawn structure.

Is there anything else I should consider change or add to the list? What should be my next book for white if I want to play a bit more lines?

Did anyone  had the chance to study both books on slav? I am trying to decide on one of them for my initial study of the opening.

As for Reti vs d4 Cox my main concern are Cox  theoretical lines with fast development while on Reti I will probably know enough even against someone better prepared overall on the openings. I do agree that d4 leads to more active play.

further more research I found most of the books of interest are available in ebook format at the everymanchess website. i think that format is best as I can always have it on my laptop even when travelling plus easier to analyse and quick to learn. Further considering the ebooks available and my repertoire choices I seem to have below options:

White: 
- Dynamic reti or Starting out d4 of Cox

Black: 
- Houska book on Caro-Kann
- for slav: there is 
Starting Out: Slav and Semi-Slav 
160 pages, Author: Glenn Flear 
Play the Slav 
192 pages, Author: James Vigus 
- Cox book on deviations

Gambiteer 2 not yet available on ebook format but I can leave the Albin for later

LeeRoth thanks for the Soltis suggestion - in my list for after finishing the openings.

So Dynamic Reti vs Starting out d4 and which of the 2 on slav are now my main questions.

Thanks once more for all the advice.

If going for the slav which of them would you recommend the a6(cebacenko) or the "normal" lines with dxc4 at the right time without a6? are there any other options apart noteboom and semislav whom I think both are more tactical and don't resemble the caro.

Indeed is seems simpler to add Slav if I want a quick repertoire but non the less Benko is not that hard to learn either and might help my development as a player. I also think Benko is more unplesant for a d4 player to meet than slav as will stuck them in positions where they are supposed to be the defender. 

Now I am a bit torn with the latest advices.

Hi again,
Yes 1.d4 c5 isn't that good as white can play 2.d5 and 3.Nc3 and not c4.  Why do you shy away from the slav?  it is perfect with the caro...  benko is positionaly active but c5 is not a good way to play for it.  Also if you play 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 they can play Nf3 and you have to learn that also 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 you have to learn KID.  AND STRAtegic players should play the white side of the KID.  SOOOO I would play Caro and slav and get Kosten's book and later get Kahlifman's book on Kramnik if you still like 1.c4 or else try COx's book starting out 1.d4.  by the way even John Nunn in his book Practical play or something like that suggests the slav caro combo!!   So forget the Benko for now!!!!!  Play the slav!!!  that way you don't have to learn English stuff to much and you can play the ALbin versus player under 2100!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh to get up to date Buy Nigel Davies book Gambiteer 2 he has a whole section on the Albin (and some stuff on the English)...  there you go buy
1.Kosten's book the Dynamic English: Nigel Davies has a book on the Reti but Kosten's is more agressive!!!!  And if you don't like 1.c4 e5 and going into Botvinik system then pick up Davies book on the reti!!  And yes the Catalan is good no one as black like to face it!!!   

2. Starting out the slav and Semi slav by Glenn Flear Learn his lines vs the exchange slav!!!  (by the way few GM's will probably play the exchange lines and why try for the draw against players of simililar rating so your fear that everyone will play the exchange lines is not right I feel but you still have to learn what to do against them and you are a positional player so you can do it!!!

3. Pick up Houska's book Play the caro Kann to brush up on some caro stuff she recommends Bf5 versus the Main line   

4.Cox's book on how do deal with 1.d4 variations 

5.Nigel Davies book gambiteer 2 if you want to play the Albin versus people under 2100  that way you don't have to worry about Exchange lines but you may have to play 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 you must decide what to do play as in Nigel's book (the chigorin) or going into a slav!!   

For under 100 bucks you have a good repertoire up to about 2300  -2400 then you may have to add the Catalan and the Fianchetto KID ect....  (oh yeah and by playing 1.c4 you can avoid the Gruenfeld with 2Nc3 and e4!!)