For the love of books.
I didn’t realize that my “to read” pile was getting low, but in the past few days I’ve been working on adding to it, and am very excited with some of my new finds. The other day, I was in a shopping center that has one of those Paperbook Exchange used book stores, I stopped in to see if they had my Book Club Choice, even though it isn’t their style of book to carry, and while they didn’t, they were having a buy two get one free for their 3.00 books – so SCORE. Plus I had some credit at the store (not usable on the sale books, natch), so I got 5 books for quite a reasonable price.
I ultimately did find my book club book, When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro(who wrote Remains of the Day , which I did not know), at my favorite local used book store . I read it over the weekend – it’s not my usual style, but it was really engaging and a very interesting story. I can’t wait for Book Club, because there were several layers that I think will be good to discuss.
One of the books I picked up at the Exchange was One Hundred Years of Solitude. I know that Christina mentioned it the other day, and it came up in a list I recently saw of 1001 Books You should Read (I’ve read about 50. I’m not clear on what the requirements were, or who wrote the list) I’m about 180 pages into it and enjoying it. The genre is Magical Realism – I think this may be my first venture into that realm.
And, Lorna asked me the other day:
... curious about your comment on my blog , what do you do with the books you have read Mimi?
I have to admit, in a bit of unfrugalness, I’m not a huge fan of the library. It’s hard to read books in their time frame, so I’m a big believer in borrowing and used book stores.
I don’t have a lot of book storage, and while I think that a house full of books is a house well decorated, I do try to honestly ask myself if I *need* to keep a book after I read it. If I plan on re-reading it, think someone else in the family will read it, want to keep it for reference, or think it will make me look erudite (grin) I will keep it. Otherwise, I keep a basket of books on my stairs to send on their way – I give to friends, sell back to used book stores, put in garage sales, send along to family members, or even donate them to Goodwill. Next time you are over, feel free to peruse the basket.
So, what are you reading? And, what do you do with books when you are done? Oh, and how many of the 1001 books have you read?
The Painting is
Bookshelves
c. 1725
Oil on canvas
Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale, Bologna
posted by Mimi @ 6/27/2006 03:00:00 PM
16 Comments
16 Comments:
I've tried "100 years of solitude" a couple of times. I find it really difficult to get through. And I do like magical realism, but for some reason, gabriel garcia marquez's books are just too much for me. I was also given "Love in a time of cholera", and couldn't make it through that one either. I've no doubt they're marvelous books, but they're just not for me.
I loved "like water for chocolate". I can't remember who wrote it, but it was the same genre, and it really drew me in. I think maybe it was the heavy culinary aspect to it. Hmmm, maybe worth a re-read.
How are you able to discipline yourself to read something that may be of no interest to you?
There are books I would like to read (or maybe it would be good if I read), but I just can't get into them.
Mimi,
I counted 26 or something on that list. There were lots I could think of that weren't even on the list, so who put it together? I've read a lot of books. I keep some, give to people, or donate. Have you ever tried BookCrossing.com? It's a really cool idea.
We recently packed up all the books we don't read anymore and took them to Powell's, where we sold about 3/4 of them--we had to go to two different locations to get that many sold back. We got about $125 for them, which we put directly on our Powell's gift card, so now we have more book money. :-)
Off to look at that list....geez, I've only read about 15 of them. I've got one in transit from the library, though. I do use the library a lot, but one thing I've noticed that I do that I wish I didn't....when I have a library book and a book of my own to read, I'll usually choose the library book because I feel like I should, in order to get it back. I figure I've got plenty of time to read the one I own. But that usually means it sits there and never gets read.
Anyway, I'm off to the library to get overdue books back!
I've read about 120, give or take. Sometimes I'm not sure, I know I read something like that but . . . Some of them were through your loans! I'll have to check another version of the listology and see if I can do better. This was fun! "100 years of solitude" stays in my memory clearly - I'll be interested in your thoughts after you've finished it. Strange and haunting book.
ah books. then there is me: i have a hard time getting rid of any book; perhaps it is something i need to work on; yesterday i wacthed the BBC version of Sayer's Unpleasentness at the Bellona Club, and i love when she has Wimsy say that books are like lobstershells that we drag with us, and that the books we outgrow tell a lot about us and our past... i guess i really value my books because they remind me where i have been; and i dream of writing more and using tons of books to do so... not that i never give books away--a good friend of mine has one of my old cookbooks--for example... and i use the public library here a lot! mystery books! though when i was in ottawa and working i found the library too out of the way from where i lived and i sadly did not visit it much. and i am in library school! :) (though i do not know if i will ever work in a public library; probably medical or goverment at this time) ... i always enjoy your posts, though i do not ususally comment much! thanks... :)
I've read about 100 of these books, but I noted that the list is heavily weighted with books less than 50 years old. I wonder why?
Its really an interesting list, and I'll probably pick up a couple of the more modern ones this summer.
That painting is gorgeous!
I really enjoyed reading this entry, Mimi. As you know, I am a bibliophile myself and I love to find out what my friends are reading, what they like, where they get their best deals, etc.
To answer your questions:
What are you reading?
I would have to come across this question when I am reading a really light (i.e. silly) book: The third installment of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series - Girls in Pants. I waited a long time for the third book to come out in paperback because I wanted the copy I purchased to match my copies of the first two books. The paperback was finally released a few weeks ago and I bought it right away. Its intended audience is teens, so it's just fun summer reading.
What do you do with books when you are done?
I keep pretty much every book I buy, and I buy a lot of books. I have some (though not all, sadly) of my books from my childhood, I have my college text books (many of which were novels anyway) and I have hundreds upon hundreds of other books that I've purchased since those years. My shelves are overflowing, but that won't stop me from buying books.
How many of the 1001 books have you read?
I scanned through a version of the list this evening and spotted 53 books that I can recall reading. I also counted about 70 additional titles that I own but haven't read yet.
I used to be someone who never stopped reading, but now that I'm a book dealer, I sometimes just don't want to deal with a book anymore, which is really sad. I know I'm missing out on so many good reads. Right now, I'm reading "Fast Food Nation" which is really compelling. I thought it was just an expose' of how fast food is bad for you, but it's so much more. Very good book...
I am currently reading nothing... but that won't be for long. I usually read two or three books at the same time. I used to buy lots of books but now we don't have a lot of extra money so I do request books from the library a lot. But most books that I have bought, I keep. And sometimes if I read a really good book from the library, I will go buy it. My mom, sister, and I are always sharing books (I have my mom's copy of the Time Traveler's Wife on my shelf right now).
Oh, and I counted 57 books on that list that I have read. I was surprised at what was on the list and what was not on the list. My sister used to have a list from the library of 100 books to read before you die... that list was much more classical oriented. Hope you enjoy 100 Years of Solitude (I did enjoy it, but I like Love in the Time of Cholera better:)
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
woops... i double posted:)
I love the idea of your book basket. I've done mail lending and borrowing with online friends a few times.
What an overwhelming list! I just don't have the time or energy anymore to put away books like I used to.
At the moment all I read is People. Best bathroom reading that I have. Most of my books are still packetd away in storage waiting for my bookshelves to go up or be built.
As for the list I haven't read any of them. Sad but true. I have seen movies of a few. Does that count?
I just finished The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd on my mom's recommendation. Because DH works at a bookstore we sometimes get advance copies, so right now I'm reading a book by Kevin Clash (the voice behind Elmo) about his life and what he's learned from being Elmo.
One of my very favorite books is The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan. This book changed my life! I also recently read her latest book, Saving Fish from Drowning, which was very interesting.
Have you ever checked out bookcrossing.com? I think you would enjoy it!
Ishiguro's "The Unconsoled" is my favourite of his...
But then again, I loved "Love in the Time of Cholera."
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