As I sit on my couch reading a book and considering a trip out to the bookstore, I reflect upon the fact that there are three great book experiences I missing this weekend… it is by choice (I was in need restful weekend and the price I spend just to get to any one of these - gas, parking, tickets, etc - equals quite a few books I can now justify buying due the money I "saved"), but I do wish I could've attended at least one of them.
First - Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. This is an absolutely awesome event! If you have any interest in poetry, it is something you should go to at least once. It is probably the best place to hear, meet, and get books signed by some of the greatest and welll known poets in the country (and world). This is the first festival I have missed in 12 years (being biennial, this isn’t as big of a feat as it sounds) and is the one place, of the three, I’d be at if I were to be at any of them.
Second - The National Book Festival. I have attended this once before and it is a nice place to see authors talk and get books signed. Located in DC on the National Mall, it is a good day spent in our nation’s capital for a book lover.
Third - The Baltimore Comic Con. A fun convention for the comic book lovers amongst you. I have also attended this once and it is a good place to meet creators and do some shopping (I typically attend comic book conventions looking for deals on graphic novels).
As this post does little to really describe and expound upon these events, I promise more info on at least the first two in future posts.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
some post sale thoughts
Here you go - Friends of the Lancaster Public Library 2008 Fall Book Sale - my thoughts…
As mentioned in my previous post, this sale is a favorite of mine, due to the sheer number of books and its spacious location. I arrived just over an hour before the sale started, enabling me to get a decent spot near the front of the line which, by the time the sale started, was quite long. As with pretty much any book sale, things can be hit or miss depending on your expectations and what you are looking for. For me, I honestly just have a good time going through all the books and tend to have fun in that aspect whether I spend $20 on crap or $80 on rare first editions. With 150,000 books, the three and half hours I spent at the sale only enabled me to see a portion of what was there (time flies when you are having fun, and I could easily have spent another three and a half hours going through books if not for other obligations), but from what I saw the selection was very good - or, at least, it was for the first hour or so of the sale... this is a sale that has "no buyer restrictions" which is a dealer and book scout's dream, but certainly not the best situation for a reader/collector who just wants to buy books and be on an equal footing as everyone else in the room - "no buyer restrictions" means buyers can grab as many books as possible and hoard them to go through later before purchasing - in my opinion, if you put a book in your bag or box you should be doing so with the intention of buying it, not just keeping it out of the hands of other people while you decide if it is worth it (I dislike this activity more than I do scanners at book sales, and there are plenty of them at every sale getting in your way). Yes, I could do the same thing, but for some reason I just wouldn’t feel right doing it, so I don’t - maybe I should, but then I’d be creeping into hypocrite territory, which I try to avoid. OK, this is getting off topic, so I am going to leave my general thoughts on book sales, and the various people (scanners included) who attend them, for a future post.
Back to the sale... the sale takes place in a roller rink, split in the middle to distinguish between the individually priced books (ranging mostly between $1 to $4, penciled on the first page) and everything else ($1 hardbacks, $.50 paperback - with no discrimination between tpb's and mmpb's, which is nice)... many times I would pick up a book in one section and think it belonged in the other, so I do wonder what attributes they use to place a book in one area over the other. Each area is then broken out into broad categories (current fiction, current nonfiction, paperback fiction, mystery, history, etc.). All books are neatly organized, spine up, on tables. The sale is well staffed with volunteers restocking from boxes under the tables and answering questions. There are also plenty of cashiers to limit the time standing in line to pay for your books. Most all necessities have been thought of, including the roller rink's snack stand being open for refreshments.
As far as acquisitions go - it was mainly a reader sale for me, with one or two shelf worthy purchases. Although I do describe myself as a "collector", I am also a "reader" (and sometimes "hoarder"), so I can enjoy myself on many levels when books are close at hand. I did get approximately 40 books, spending right around $40 to do so - side note, this sale charges PA state sales tax of 6%, which I am at loss to fully understand - being a charitable organization who is receiving the items for sale through donations, I am not sure if sales tax is required.
I realized I forgot my camera once I was 20 minutes away from home (on a 50 minute drive), so no pictures this time - don't worry, the Friends of the Lancaster Public Library Spring Book Sale is right around the corner, so I'll promise pictures then... Man, I can't wait till I buy my newfangled cell phone, with an actual 3.2mp camera in it, worthy of taking actual pictures (reviewed well across the internet). Only little over a month until my Verizon new phone every 2 years deal is here! I look forward to snapping and sharing pictures of every bookstore I go to (without having to remember to bring my wife's camera with me).
And since I mentioned the Friends of the Lancaster Public Library Spring Book Sale - there is one noticeable difference between the Fall and Spring sales which is worth mentioning... Fall sales open on a Monday at 9:00 and Spring sales begin at 7:00 AM, that's right 7:00 in the morning! Certainly something to for anyone who needs to drive any distance should take note of.
As mentioned in my previous post, this sale is a favorite of mine, due to the sheer number of books and its spacious location. I arrived just over an hour before the sale started, enabling me to get a decent spot near the front of the line which, by the time the sale started, was quite long. As with pretty much any book sale, things can be hit or miss depending on your expectations and what you are looking for. For me, I honestly just have a good time going through all the books and tend to have fun in that aspect whether I spend $20 on crap or $80 on rare first editions. With 150,000 books, the three and half hours I spent at the sale only enabled me to see a portion of what was there (time flies when you are having fun, and I could easily have spent another three and a half hours going through books if not for other obligations), but from what I saw the selection was very good - or, at least, it was for the first hour or so of the sale... this is a sale that has "no buyer restrictions" which is a dealer and book scout's dream, but certainly not the best situation for a reader/collector who just wants to buy books and be on an equal footing as everyone else in the room - "no buyer restrictions" means buyers can grab as many books as possible and hoard them to go through later before purchasing - in my opinion, if you put a book in your bag or box you should be doing so with the intention of buying it, not just keeping it out of the hands of other people while you decide if it is worth it (I dislike this activity more than I do scanners at book sales, and there are plenty of them at every sale getting in your way). Yes, I could do the same thing, but for some reason I just wouldn’t feel right doing it, so I don’t - maybe I should, but then I’d be creeping into hypocrite territory, which I try to avoid. OK, this is getting off topic, so I am going to leave my general thoughts on book sales, and the various people (scanners included) who attend them, for a future post.
Back to the sale... the sale takes place in a roller rink, split in the middle to distinguish between the individually priced books (ranging mostly between $1 to $4, penciled on the first page) and everything else ($1 hardbacks, $.50 paperback - with no discrimination between tpb's and mmpb's, which is nice)... many times I would pick up a book in one section and think it belonged in the other, so I do wonder what attributes they use to place a book in one area over the other. Each area is then broken out into broad categories (current fiction, current nonfiction, paperback fiction, mystery, history, etc.). All books are neatly organized, spine up, on tables. The sale is well staffed with volunteers restocking from boxes under the tables and answering questions. There are also plenty of cashiers to limit the time standing in line to pay for your books. Most all necessities have been thought of, including the roller rink's snack stand being open for refreshments.
As far as acquisitions go - it was mainly a reader sale for me, with one or two shelf worthy purchases. Although I do describe myself as a "collector", I am also a "reader" (and sometimes "hoarder"), so I can enjoy myself on many levels when books are close at hand. I did get approximately 40 books, spending right around $40 to do so - side note, this sale charges PA state sales tax of 6%, which I am at loss to fully understand - being a charitable organization who is receiving the items for sale through donations, I am not sure if sales tax is required.
I realized I forgot my camera once I was 20 minutes away from home (on a 50 minute drive), so no pictures this time - don't worry, the Friends of the Lancaster Public Library Spring Book Sale is right around the corner, so I'll promise pictures then... Man, I can't wait till I buy my newfangled cell phone, with an actual 3.2mp camera in it, worthy of taking actual pictures (reviewed well across the internet). Only little over a month until my Verizon new phone every 2 years deal is here! I look forward to snapping and sharing pictures of every bookstore I go to (without having to remember to bring my wife's camera with me).
And since I mentioned the Friends of the Lancaster Public Library Spring Book Sale - there is one noticeable difference between the Fall and Spring sales which is worth mentioning... Fall sales open on a Monday at 9:00 and Spring sales begin at 7:00 AM, that's right 7:00 in the morning! Certainly something to for anyone who needs to drive any distance should take note of.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Book Sale Alert
Calling all central PA booklovers - I recommend you call in sick to work this Monday… the Friends of the Lancaster Public Library Fall Book Sale begins Monday at 9:00. This is a BIG book sale and well worth attending if you have the time. The FotLPL put on two sales per year (spring and fall) and both are excellent examples of what a book sale should/can be - a large selection (advertised at over 150,000 books!), sorted by subject, no pre-sale activity that I am aware of, books are priced reasonably (most hardbacks are a $1 and paperbacks are $.50 each), and they take place in the Overlook Activities Center, a roller skating rink, which provides decent space and limits the crowding… the only real downfall to these two sales is they tend to start on Mondays, which requires me to use a personal day from work (I don’t usually call in sick to go book shopping - not that I never have such a thing).Man, I can’t wait! 150,000 books will surely provide a few keepers… and if not, the fun of the hunt is worth it by itself, sometimes.
To find out how it goes, check back later in the week for a review of sorts.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
what hasn't been said
Over the past few days I have read quite a bit about a truly wonderful writer, David Foster Wallace, and his unfortunate death. There really is not much I can add to all that is out there concerning David Foster Wallace… but since the spine of one his books is hiding up there in the madness abides bookshelf picture (which is an actual picture from one of my bookshelves) I figure a word or two would not be amiss.
I discovered Wallace’s writing in college and was instantly attracted to it - not only was Infinite Jest “the” book to read for a wannabe modern literature snob (and I was every bit of a wannabe as I could be), but it was a book that had the ability to speak to me, move me, make me laugh and think - a book to get lost in. His other works were all pretty damn great as well - I cannot count the amount of times I have recommended Oblivion to anyone who would listen. And more than just his writing, he was of “my” generation (or close enough) and, from the publicity photos, had that certain intellectual stoner look I had been striving to cultivate in myself for some time… simply put, he could write like a virtuoso wordsmith, yet seemed like a guy to hang out with.
My wife broke the news of his passing, and manner of death, to me on Saturday from a news article she saw online, and since then I have been thinking of the time I spent with his words as company… good times. I wish him a safe journey on into the unknown and hope he finds peace there.
I was hoping I would come up with some profound insight in the writing of this, but it is not to be… “I enjoyed your words and your books will always have a place on my shelf” is about the best I can do.
....
Fiction's about what it is to be a human being. ~David Foster Wallace
I discovered Wallace’s writing in college and was instantly attracted to it - not only was Infinite Jest “the” book to read for a wannabe modern literature snob (and I was every bit of a wannabe as I could be), but it was a book that had the ability to speak to me, move me, make me laugh and think - a book to get lost in. His other works were all pretty damn great as well - I cannot count the amount of times I have recommended Oblivion to anyone who would listen. And more than just his writing, he was of “my” generation (or close enough) and, from the publicity photos, had that certain intellectual stoner look I had been striving to cultivate in myself for some time… simply put, he could write like a virtuoso wordsmith, yet seemed like a guy to hang out with.
My wife broke the news of his passing, and manner of death, to me on Saturday from a news article she saw online, and since then I have been thinking of the time I spent with his words as company… good times. I wish him a safe journey on into the unknown and hope he finds peace there.
I was hoping I would come up with some profound insight in the writing of this, but it is not to be… “I enjoyed your words and your books will always have a place on my shelf” is about the best I can do.
....
Fiction's about what it is to be a human being. ~David Foster Wallace
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Oh, borrowed book, I love thee…
Is it madness?
On rare occasions books are lent to me (a quick note to my brother-in-law is appropriate here - thanks, man, your tastes in literature are exquisite) which I somehow forget to return until I own a copy of my own. I know this is a small character flaw of sorts, but it is a fact I can deal quite adequately with.
On even rarer occasions I lend books to friends (the ones who have demonstrated the ability, I lack, to return them) and during their absence I long for them. I sometimes envision a lent book as a lost child in the middle of all sorts of horrible trouble and I am quietly ecstatic when it finally finds its way home to me.
So, I freely admit that there are books in my collection which I am not, technically, the owner of. This may be the case for many people, but I rationalize it well - for God’s sake, I did not steal these books, they were given to me - ok, lent to me - and the person lending them wants me to read them, and damn it I plan to, eventually - just in case, I have all sorts of excuses ready when spending time with a person whose book(s) I am in possession of - the simplest and easiest to use “Sorry, haven’t read it yet, it is next on my list”.
….
He who lends a book is an idiot. He who returns the book is more of an idiot. ~Arabic Proverb
On rare occasions books are lent to me (a quick note to my brother-in-law is appropriate here - thanks, man, your tastes in literature are exquisite) which I somehow forget to return until I own a copy of my own. I know this is a small character flaw of sorts, but it is a fact I can deal quite adequately with.
On even rarer occasions I lend books to friends (the ones who have demonstrated the ability, I lack, to return them) and during their absence I long for them. I sometimes envision a lent book as a lost child in the middle of all sorts of horrible trouble and I am quietly ecstatic when it finally finds its way home to me.
So, I freely admit that there are books in my collection which I am not, technically, the owner of. This may be the case for many people, but I rationalize it well - for God’s sake, I did not steal these books, they were given to me - ok, lent to me - and the person lending them wants me to read them, and damn it I plan to, eventually - just in case, I have all sorts of excuses ready when spending time with a person whose book(s) I am in possession of - the simplest and easiest to use “Sorry, haven’t read it yet, it is next on my list”.
….
He who lends a book is an idiot. He who returns the book is more of an idiot. ~Arabic Proverb
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