book gluttons, unite!

Some people hit the mall after Christmas, trying to score that amazing deal.

Not us.  J and I, we hit the used bookstores.

(Twice.  I decided to sell some books the next day so I'd have an excuse to bring more home).

Here are some of my finds:



The Little Prince -- Antoine De Saint-Exupery

I can't accurately describe to you how excited I am to have this book in my home!!! 

A story about a boy and his rose!  My first exposure to The Little Prince was last quarter in my Writing About Lit course.  I had never heard the story until my prof Michael beautifully read a portion of it to us in class.  One of the genius aspects of the class: every day starts with a reading, anyone from Annie Dillard to Shel Silverstein to Stephen King.  Those readings were among some of my favorite moments last quarter.

If you've ever read The Little Prince, the conversation between the boy and the fox about what it means to "tame" something... phew.  I nearly cried in class.  And now I have a copy for my very own.  :)



Corrections to My Memoirs -- Michael Kun

I have never heard of this author, but bought the book because of the cover, which I thought was pretty damn funny.  I gobbled up James Frey's Million Little Pieces, and a few months later watched Oprah devour him live in front of a studio TV audience for taking what some circles deemed, shall we say, inappropriate creative license.  We'll see.



Bodies in Motion and at Rest: On Metaphor and Mortality -- Thomas Lynch

Found this one randomly in the essay section at Michael's Bookstore downtown, and loved the title.  Once I got home and started reading it, I realized there was much more to it than a neat title.  This guy is an undertaker/poet/essayist.  Undertaker.  Poet.  Essayist.  Need I say more?  I'm only a few essays in, and I'm completely hooked.  If anyone has a solid perspective on death, I think someone working in a funeral home for over 25 years would.  And the writing.  Augh!  Lovely.

 

Where the Sidewalk Ends -- Shel Silverstein

I've meant to own this book (and A Light in the Attic) for a long time now.  My lit class gave me just the inspiration I needed.  I think it nearly impossible to read a few of the poems and not walk away in a better mood.  I dare someone to try!

PS...  Justin tells me Shel Silverstein wrote Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue."  Pretty rad.



The Gift of Asher Lev -- Chaim Potok

When I love a book as much as I do My Name Is Asher Lev, I'm a little hesitant to read its sequel, in fear that the sequel will be far inferior to its predecessor and will leave me with sadness in my heart and a regret that I didn't leave well enough alone with the first novel (some of those crappy rip-off sequels to Pride and Prejudice come to mind, although it doesn't take a genius to stay away from the sacrilege that is someone writing a sequel to another person's novel.  I refuse!).  My Name Is Asher Lev was mind-blowingly powerful to me; a treatise on the dark places artists must journey to fulfill their God-given calling.  Even following their gift away from what their own community and family would approve of.

I stepped out on a limb this time, read some reviews, and if this book turns out to be crap, I'll never heed another book review again.  Probably.  In the meantime, I have high hopes that Mr. Potok wouldn't let such an amazing character falter. 

I also filled in some holes in my Harry Potter collection, although I accidentally bought a duplicate of Book 4 and sheepishly had to return it to exchange it for 5 the next day.

Hooray for books!  We need new bookshelves already.  Sigh.