My husband and I have joined our insanity in historical thriller fiction. As soon as he read the outline of this book, he deemed it must be his. The only problem with that is he only reads audio books, or rather listens to audio books. We will happily collect donations of audio books, should anyone take pity on our plight. The constitution itself has sprouted many rebellions, beliefs,and debates...but what if another draft or section was suddenly found...buried away waiting for discovery? Would it unify a nation,divide it? How far would someone go to leave history either unchanged, or blow it wide open in patriotic fervor? What would the highest bidder do with an item of such magnitude? As you contemplate that question, I shall contemplate picking up a copy of this for my husband, so we can debate it's ramifications together. It may be fiction, but were it to happen....just imagine the possibilities, the least of which...what if we had it wrong all this time? The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Click on the title to buy it from Amazon.com
July 17, 2007 The cover says " The fusion of bibliomania and romantic comedy is appealingly offbeat" ( a review by Janet Maslin, New york Times.)
Literacy and Longing in L.A
All it took for me to buy this was the word 'Bibliomania' on the cover. Pathetic, sort of, in an obsessive compulsive collectors way that only other biliophiles would understand. I think I may die one day by having my bookcases collapse in on me. Somehow, that would seem a rather poetic and ironic way to go. Just an FYI: Costco can deplete your bank account if you don't watch your book spending...lol
July 17, 2007 I adopted "The thirteenth tale" after all, aren't all books adopted? The two others are lovely gifts from my husband, who for some strange reason, loves me and supports my book addiction. I cannot find any information on the book " A conference of govenors" though.
July 13, 2007 http://www.shelfari.com/weeza/shelf Now, this book sharing site is deceptive: upload your current books and share your library with others, sounds safe, right? WRONG!It is the devil incarnate to your wallet! As if I didn't have enough books to read, I can now browse thousands of other users bookcases. Do you see the simplistic "you must buy this book" lullabye that this can inspire? Just click on a page,and similar books on user pages across the world pop up.It recommends books, it finds like minded collectors, it inspires a need to show off every book you have ever read. Why? I'm not sure, but those shelves call to me....no really, they do! See the cleverly hidden message? Network your books with others...share the joy of books...BUY THIS BOOK! You MUST have it! I am either a schmuck or supportive, as this deceptively simple tool lulled me into posting my book collection. The true evil lies in the conflict within, when it shows you other users pages, with book tastes similar to yours, yet somehow you are expected to resist temptation. I think not, my willpower dissolved after 10 books. It is simplistic, effective and addicting. You are warned! Click on the arrow on the "shelf" images below to peruse my section...but go no further. Other pages will entice you with books you MUST have, and sucker you in to buying them in a sense of solidarity with other readers. I love this site, all kidding aside, but it is strangely addictive.
May 29, 2007 I have started collecting books about books,( I mentioned this before) which of course is a self perpetuating vicious cycle that makes me lust over other books...and the cycle continues.
Within these pages are destinations, or for true bibliophiles, meccas.
I have watched this movie a dozen times since I purchased it a month ago, on a recommendation of a friend, and I'm so glad I stumbled across it. 40 years of friendship through the pages of books are chronicled in its scenes, spanning two continents, and numerous references are made to great ( and not so great) literature. Helen Hanff, a lovely New Yorker and avid antiquarian book lover, contacts Frank Doel, a book dealer in London, to inquire about the availability of cheap yet worthwhile volumes to fill her collection. Thus a friendship is borne through letters, book orders, gifts and a love of English literature.
To paraphrase a lovely scene, where Helene describes the beauty of a first edition volume in contrast to her utilitarian apartment:
********************************************************************************* " Take a look at this...isn't that beautiful" Helene hands her friend a lovely brown leather book, and her friend runs her hands over the book, examining the spine.
"It's beautiful".
Smiling ruefully Helene explains " It's a first edition my dear,one HUNDRED years old" as she irons her clothing carefully.
"It's beautiful" repeats her friend, now turning the pages with curiosity.
"I feel guilty about owning it, all that gleaming leather and gold stamping.It belongs in a pine paneled library in some old English country home, you know what I mean?" shrugs Helene. A wistful look overtakes her face "It should be read by the fire in a gentlemens easy chair,not in some second hand overstuffed seat in a broken down brownstone front" she declares, as her face changes from wistful to lamenting.
"Oh now, if I were this book, I want to live RIGHT HERE," her friend gestures solidly, smiling.
"You're Right" smiles Helene broadly, pausing her ironing to soak in the thought.
I can only hope my gold gilded books would feel the same way, in our modest house, filled with not so real antiques, and chain store furnishings. I would hope they would want to be on my shelves...right here, out of anywhere else.
Were I so lucky as to know an antiquarian book dealer, I am certain I would have them on speed dial.Since I am not that lucky yet in life, I shall make do with the wonders of the internet. Now, if I could just afford that $2,000 edition of Jane Austens' works....
Confession: after watching this again, I went back and wrote down all the book names I could make out and attempted to track them all down. So far in my quest, four of them are readily available, only 2 of which are affordable...in keeping with Helene's own search for affordable literature, I shall continue the search. Though I think I may skip the Latin bible this time around...unless one seems like it would want to "live right here"
I grew up the youngest of four kids in a suburb of Seattle. I also grew up being disabled and partially deaf, and all the challenges that went with that set of circumstances. My books provided not just an adventure, but a way to try out lives. I will never ski, but I can read about the thrills of streaking down a glistening slope in Austria. I will not travel much, but through books I can almost smell the spices in the markets of India, see the Elephants crossing the lowlands of Africa, and I can imagine 5th Avenue in NYC...with the wide boulevards, honking horns, and the sea of yellow taxis as far as the eye can see. I have seen all these places and more. I have flown, swam, fought, created peace...all through the lives of characters. Where will I go tomorrow, and what will my name be? Will I be a hero, villian, or ambitious nobody?
Books are my escape and my destination rolled into one, and for that I thank the authors. I am whatever I want to be in their pages.
I know I am a book addict. I embrace it, accept it, feed it and wallow in my book addiction. I have ordered my books by EXACT height and subject on my bookcases, and then decided it should be divided by antique and modern versions, so of course I had to start over again. Now, this addiction takes on yet another level when you find yourself buying books on how others display their prized books. Just yesterday I was watching a movie about a book collector while shopping for 1850's volumes online, while thumbing through this book. I cannot decide if that's insanity, immersion, or just dedication. I can however heartily recommend this beautifully photographed book that displays quite adequately the libraries of owners across the globe. I found myself jealous of many collections, shaking my head at a few others that seemed to not display their books with reverence, and feeling inspired to continue building my own library. Just skip the resources section at the back of the book, or you'll find yourself at the airport, on the way to far off libraries and gorgeous stores. After all, only they will understand your addiction to the written word....right?
