“Book-love, I say again, lasts throughout life, it never flags or fails, but, like Beauty itself, is a joy forever.”
~Holbrook Jackson
I love books! And I love blogs by and about those who love books. Considering the plethora of blog sites out there it is a wonder sometimes that we true book lovers stumble across one another. I say ‘true’ book lovers indicating those who spurn pretension and refuse to let genre prejudice or book snobbery get in the way of a good read. Recently I have come across some of these sites that I just cannot help but visit day after day. And if I am going to visit daily (or more) then why not make the path of the information superhighway as direct as possible? Why not indeed. I have paved the road from my front door to theirs by adding these new sites to my blog links and I wanted to introduce you to them in the hopes that you will roll on over, knock on the door, kick off your shoes and stay awhile. I give you, in no particular order:
Danielle is a book lover, make no mistake. Daily visits to her site will not only add books to the ‘must read’ list but will also give you the opportunity to engage in some good book conversation. There is a bit of a kinship beyond book loving there as Danielle, like my wife Mary, works in an academic library. One of Danielle’s recent themes has been posting pictures of the home libraries of famous authors (seen here and here). There are some absolutely splendid rooms in the homes of these authors.
Ella and her site are welcome editions to the links list. Ella is a very fun book lover, who in edition to sharing her love of classic literature (Shakespeare and Wodehouse have been among her recent fantastic posts…click on the Wodehouse post Pat, you’ll love it) she loves to create what she calls ‘Absent Classics’. These tongue-in-cheek classics, complete with Ella’s own artistic book covers, often sound very real…and more often than not are actually books I would like to read! Let me take this opportunity to publicly thank Ella who is sending me her copy of H.G. Wells’ short stories now that she is finished with it. I shared my ignorance of the fact that Wells wrote short stories, expressed interest, and now I have it winging its way to me via the post. Ain’t book love grand?!?!
Livvie, the ‘good girl’ in question not only muses about many and varied topics on this site (her Monday post about loving libraries was a great way to start the week) but also maintains a book site called The Bookshelf.
“The public library is the most dangerous place in town.”
~John Ciardi
If that isn’t enough to satisfy your daily blog curiousity, know this: Livvie is a Browncoat in the making! Her dad recently found her an inexpensive set of the Firefly DVD’s and I have no doubt that she’ll soon count herself among our number! The quote at the bottom of The Bookshelf is great:
“Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”
~Groucho Marx
and last but certainly not least is
I have been singing the praises of the Endicott Studio since I started blogging. Terri Windling and Midori Snyder are editors at the colossal Endicott Studio site, a place to “explore myth, folklore, fairy tales, and their use in contemporary arts.” In addition to a quarterly journal with excellent articles and essays they have now added the blog site. For me the Endicott Studio blog site is one of the premiere places to discover fiction and nonfiction for all ages, children through adult, in the fantasy, folklore, mythology, and fairy tale genres. In addition they post about various artists with that same spirit (one of the most recent being about Charles Vess and Michael Kaluta…Fables fans, check it out!) It is a truly mahhhhvelous site. And if I have said it once I have said it a million times: the nonfiction essays about fairy tales and folklore on the Endicott Studio main site are outstanding.
These four sites are all very welcome editions to the blog links on the right and are all very satisfying places to visit. I encourage you to do so and while you are there say ‘hi’ and lay down an opinion somewhere. There is some great stuff out there.
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And since this is all about books already I thought I would answer the meme that I found on Danielle’s site.
1. First book to leave a lasting impression? Good question. I have fond memories of checking out Peanuts hardbacks from the local library and curling up in the chair and laughing out loud. That impression has lasted my entire life, so much so that I am collecting the high quality Complete Peanuts books that Fantagraphics is putting out twice a year.
2. Which author would you most like to be?
You think I’m going to say Neil Gaiman don’t you? Come on…admit it! Well I’m not. Because if I was Neil I wouldn’t have the privilege of reading Neil. I’d much rather be an author like say….Jonathan Carroll. While having his own unique voice, his stories travel the same whimsical road that Gaiman’s do. Carroll also travels in the same circle so I could theoretically hang around with Gaiman, Tori Amos, Lisa Snellings-Clark and a number of other artists, authors and musicians that I admire.
3. Name the book that has most made you want to visit a place?
Frances Mayes’ comforting, relaxing descriptions in Under the Tuscan Sun only served to fuel the desire to visit Italy stoked after watching the movie of the same name. After reading the equally delectable sequel, Bella, Tuscany, all I wanted to do was eat Italian food and drink good wine. Both books were culinary delights that I read back to back two springs ago which inspired many early mornings out on the deck just after sunrise, eating breakfast and reading to start my day.
4. Which contemporary author will still be read in 100 years time?
This is a tough one. Will the popularity of authors like J.K. Rowling and her enormous fan base be enough to cause the stories of Harry Potter and company to be passed down as cherished works from generation to generation? I would like to think that Neil Gaiman’s work will be ‘discovered’ a hundred years from now, creating a new fanatical fan base.
5. Which book would you recommend to a teenager reluctant to try ‘literature’?
Assuming I know the teenager and have some idea of their likes I would suggest the short stories of Edgar Allen Poe, Stardust by Gaiman (not long, especially by today’s standards and you could get the graphic novel version with the same unabridged story but with illustrations by Charles Vess and they’d think they were reading comics).
6. Name your best recent literary discovery?
If you consider a year ago recent I would have to say Gene Wolfe. Although Wolfe has been around a long time it wasn’t until I picked up the Wizard Knight books that I was pulled into the genius of his work. The Knight and The Wizard are incredible. Beware Mary my love, I have been jonesing to read these again lately and I may be reading them to you! Susanna Clarke is also shaping up to be an impressive discovery.
7. Which author’s fictional world would you most like to live in?
Which one wouldn’t I like to live in would be an easier question! There are just too many great ones. Okay, I’ll try to keep it brief: Brian Daley’s interpretation of Lucas’ fictional universe long, long ago and far, far away seen through the eyes of Han and Chewie in Han Solo at Star’s End, Han Solo’s Revenge, and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy comes to mind. As does the world of London Below in Gaiman’s Neverwhere (though I’d have to be able to institute regular bathing among the residents). The world of Tolkien’s Middle-earth would be one I’d love to visit. Do I have to stop?
8. Name your favourite poet?
I don’t have a favorite poet so much as favorite poems. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe is a favorite. As is Alfred Lord Tennyson’s magical, thought-provoking The Lady of Shalott (try it Danielle and let me know what you think).
9. What’s the best non-fiction title you’ve read this year?
To the best of my knowledge the only nonfiction book I have read this year is The Planets by Dava Sobel. I enjoyed it but I recommend Galileo’s Daughter as it is far superior.
10. Which author do you think is much better than his/her reputation?
Another thought provoking question because all the authors I am thinking of have both rabid followers and detractors. I imagine some people consider Bram Stoker to be somewhat of a ‘one hit wonder’ with the success of Dracula but I have read several other stories by Stoker, The Jewel of Seven Stars and The Mystery of the Sea are both terrific. The Mystery of the Sea would have to be included in the top ten of my favorite classics list.
I welcome anyone else’s participation. These are some great questions and I would love to see your answers.
“I cannot live without books.”
~Thomas Jefferson
More blogs for me to visit? You’re just trying to make me do no work at all aren’t you 🙂
Aww, Carl, you make me blush, putting me in with all these fabby blogs! (All of which I have added to my favourites for regular blog lookage. Now I shall have no time for Chemistry coursework, dammit!) I shall have to pull my socks up vis-a-vis The Bookshelf and get some reviews done!
And yes, I think I may now qualify for official Browncoat status, spending as I did the whole of yesterday watching Firefly. I am seriously considering buying the soundtrack, I love it that much.
Nice meme. I may have to squirrel that one away for a rainy day. You know, I looked and my library has no Neil Gaiman. I will have to get some on inter-library loan, as I am too broke to buy. Or I may get my dad, fellow book-lover, to buy on my behalf. I came across The Lady of Shalott in a YA I read recently called Avalon High, where all the characters end up being reincarnations of Arthurian characters, and it really is very cool, and inspired me to read more poetry, as I am really more of a novel person. And now you have given me that nagging feeling, because I have heard of Galileo’s Daughter and can’t remember where form. Maybe I own it. Hmmm. Tis a mystery. But bravo, good meme indeed.
Wow, Carl…great suggestions. Thanks for sending us to these wonderful sites. I think I’ll answer the same questions at my place in the next day or so.
Sorry Fence…but you didn’t really want to do the work anyway, did you?
GG, so glad to hear that watching Firefly has had the positive results that I hoped. It is such a wonderful, wonderful show. So much so that you can go here to see the GIANT post I did about the show and here to see the Serenity review.
Lady of Shalott is excellent…I first heard it years and years (and years) ago in college when my sister-in-law to be introduced Mary and I to the wonderful Anne of Green Gables movie starring Megan Follows. The show opens with her walking through the woods, book in hand, quoting Lady. Whenever I read it I hear it in her voice.
Looking forward to reading your answers to the meme VW….and GG if you do it and everyone else!
I confess to lurking on the Good Girl’s site after seeing some of her comments here.
I soooooo have to get some work done today but I love the meme…first book to leave a lasting impression was “Island of the Blue Dolphins.” Best non-fiction I’ve read (actually re-read) this year was “Sexual Homicide, Patterns and Motives” (a published FBI study). I’ll have to think about the rest!
Your post really makes me long to be able to read, Carl. I used to spend many hours and late nights reading wonderful books, but alas my three little ones take all my time away from reading. SO! One day I will look forward to being able to cozy up in an armchair and crack open a new adventure and let it take me away…ahhhh, sweet time alone!
You needn’t wait Karen, there are so many wonderful, amazing children’s books that I feel every adult should read. This isn’t a guilt trip thing so please don’t take it that way, I just wish more parents would read to their kids not just to get their kids interested in reading but mostly because of what I said above…its a great excuse to read some awesome literature.
It is definitely hard to read for yourself when you have multiple little ones because there’s one thing for sure that doesn’t work and that is trying to read when you are tired after a long day. Snuggling up to read equals snooze time! I’ve woken up many a time because I’ve dropped a book out of my hand!
You are so right, Carl! I probably will try to start reading to them when they all get just a little older. We tried to read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to Julian and he got scared as soon as Mr. Tumnus entered. So we stopped there.
For now I will settle for Dr. Seuss. . .
Yes, not a good idea to scare them with books…unless you are using them to beat them with (just kidding!!!!!). As I have before I recommend the Kate DiCamillo books. I think Jules is reading Tale of Desperaux to the girls but haven’t heard from her whether or not she or they like it.
We are really enjoying Desperaux. We just recently started reading it. We are about halfway through it. Poor Miggery! That part has Jessica (who’s very sympathetic) a little wide eyed.
My plan was to read the Little House on the Prairie series this summer. They were my favorite when I was a kid. Lydia really likes those stories, but we didn’t get around to reading them. With school starting and all the great prices on books through Scholastic I will buy the set as soon as it shows up on the order form. I think there’s more time to read to kids in the fall with the sun going down earlier and less to do outside.
I already have the first form and there’s a set of 5 Newberry award winning chapter books on there for $9.95.
Jessica LOVED Charlotte’s Web. Every first grader seems to get really into Junie B Jones, which from an adult point of view, is OK. At least it’s reading, right? And she is rather entertaining. Last year on one of the Reading Nights Out at school a lady dressed up as Junie B Jones and did an excellent job reading one of the books. She had the entire thing memorized. Very fun.
Karen, your kids are still really young. You’ve got plenty of time. Julian will probably start getting more into books this year. Reading in first grade is the major emphasis during the entire school year.
Glad you guys….girls….are enjoying it. Mary loved the Little House books growing up, still does, and read them to Tori when she was younger. Her set is pretty battered after all these years.
I will definitely look up The Lady of Shalott–I think it is in my old Norton Anthology–if not I will track it down in my library. I really need to read Frances Mayes’ books, too. And Susanna Clark–I have her book on my TBR pile. I have heard it is wonderful–need to move it up the pile! I have the Sobel book, too. So many books to read!! Thanks for the heads up on the Stoker book. I have read Dracula–but none of his other works. The Mystery of the Sea sounds Good! Thanks for the nice mention, too!! 🙂
I guess nobody reads Nancy Drew anymore? Whatever happened to Trixie Beldon? I loved the Little House on the Praire books.
I actually read the first Nancy Drew book this year just because I had never read any of those or the Hardy Boys books. Very funny how simplistic the writing is but fun nonetheless.
I’m curious as to whether the Sexual Homicide book is a how-to book or a picture book or what? My mind is filled with a number of smart aleck comments about the ‘weapon’ involved in the Sexual Homicide….actually wasn’t Sexual Homicide the name of the prequel song to Marvin Gaye’s song Sexual Healing? Glad to see that, like your sister, you do a lot of light reading Suzanne! 😉
I, of course, would never have given you a hard time about this had not your sister insisted that I do so. Revenge is a dish best served cold…with a dash of lemon and a sprig of parsely on top.
Silly man…you don’t really think a little ribbing from you is going to ignite my fuse, do you? I live for stuff like that!
Unfortunately the Sexual Homicide book has renewed relevance today in light of the arrest of JonBenet’s killer. The book is very dry, with lots of statistics. Essentially the FBI profiling unit conducted a series of interviews with scumbags convicted of commiting sexually based homicides and this is their published study. It gives one a richer understanding of what motivates these people. It’s not a pleasant read but enlightening.
I’m curious about the evidence in the Jon Benet thing…hopefully it is real and not just some psycho looking to get attention.
I read every Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden book I could get my hands on! They were great.
My uncle had all the Hardy Boys books and a few Nancy Drew but I was too busy borrowing and reading his science fiction stuff to ever pick one of those up.
Book/reading are a passion of mine. I love getting lost in a book, no matter the genre or author. A good story is a good story.
I still recommend the trioldy of His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman (soon to be a movie, so read quick!), the author Wilbur Smith and my latest love, “The Shadows of the Wind” – a book about books.
Happened upon your blog via Heather’s (A High & Hidden Place) and has spent the last half hour (at least!) perusing your archives. You blog is fantastic and I have it bookmarked. I may never read another book again. There are so many great bloggers out there!
Yes, book love is grand. But even more wonderous when shared with others.
Thanks Les, I appreciate the kind words. You’re welcome anytime and I appreciate any comments you have to share on anything we do around here.