(Heartbreaker, image by Chris Spollen)
Temptation…the word instantly conjures up images, most frequently of a sexual nature. If you are a bibliophile, a book lover, a collector and hoarder of the written word then you know another kind of temptation: that of being seduced by shiny covers, by intriguing titles, by authors who have satisfied your book lust in the past. How do we fight that temptation? Do we fight that temptation? If you are anything like me, you are constantly being drawn aside from your daily tasks by sweet nothings whispered in your ear, promises of a ‘good time’, of delicious ecstasy.
“It wouldn’t hurt to just take a peek”, you say to yourself, as the book gently purrs its promises. “I could just open it up a bit; read the jacket blurb”…and then it hits you: the book’s intoxicating perfume of ink and new paper, the eye candy of the tantalizing cover, the written promises of pleasure if you would just take it home…“you can always bring me back”, the book whispers.
Then, as you walk away, hooked from the moment you felt the touch of the book against your fingers, you can hear some of the books coquettishly giggling, while others murmur enticements, showing a bit of cover, to tempt you yet again. “If one is fun, surely two would be even more so, or three”…and it goes on and on. Books flirt, they vie for one’s attention, they wolf whistle…they make it so very difficult to resist.
This is one man’s story of a typical day of succumbing to temptation:
My need to purchase, acquire, own books seems to go in waves. I am fine for awhile, getting my fill from the plethora of books that already line my shelves. And then something seemingly innocent happens and I am on the road to ruin. It all began Sunday…I finished Moonraker. It was a particularly satisfying experience which I relayed to you dear readers yesterday. Being the experience that it was, my first inclination was to go and pick up the next book in the series: Diamonds are Forever.
(Hope those guys aren’t wearing pointy shoes!)
That seemed harmless enough. After all, I had $2.50 left in my Borders holiday account that had to be spent or lost by the 31st. Two dollars and fifty cents! Yes, I’m a junkie! I knew I was in trouble before I left though because I had gotten an email saying that I also had a 10% off personal shopping day expiring the 31st. Those pushers are good!
I have been sampling many different science fiction and fantasy blogs lately, in addition to all the wonderful book blogs I try to visit. From those I had picked up a desire to once again sample some of the various genre magazines. Once in the magazine aisles at Borders, desire turned into driving need, as I saw Realms of Fantasy sitting there, with its alluring cover by artist Victoria Frances:
With a feature on P. Craig Russell? Are you kidding me? Leave the store without buying this issue…preposterous! And so it began. In the same aisle there existed the latest issue of Juxtapoz magazine:
Juxtapoz is an urban art magazine that I pick up sporadically. I hadn’t picked it up in a long time before last months’ issue which sucked me in with a feature on Tara McPherson. I didn’t need this issue, after all I still haven’t finished the last one. What’s that you say? A feature on James Jean? Oh you saucy minx, you’re coming home with me!
Okay, three items. Not bad. Time to leave. Oooo…there’s the science fiction section. Wonder if they have that Best of book with the Les Edwards cover:
Yep, its there alright. Wouldn’t you like to try some new science fiction authors? You know you love that Les Edwards image. Joe Haldeman has a story in there, you just read a book of his and really liked it! That’s right, pick me up…good boy.
My lust was then satiated…almost. Like any person with an addiction the need to share that addiction is almost overwhelming. And so, with no concern for the future implications on his life or pocketbook, I called Jeff and offered to pick up the pristine copy of Moonraker that they had on the shelves. He bit, and that book left with me as well.
You would think that would be the end. If you believe that, I long for your naivete. Because, of course, the internet whispers to book junkies like me constantly. Visits around the web last night led me to this:
A book as tempting because of the authors in it (I especially enjoy Liz Williams) as it is because of the fact that it is signed by all the authors:
And so that book is winging it’s way to me from England’s shores. Check out the NewConPress website for more details.
And that is it, for now. The problem is that I can still hear the siren song. John Scalzi has a book on writing coming out through Subterranean Press:
And while there I saw this book with a fantastic cover image by Tom Kidd:
I haven’t read Jack Vance but the blurb for this book is like the sweetest poetry tickling my ear! Ahhhhhhh!!!!!
(On a side note, I highly recommend visiting Subterranean Press…they have some fantastic volumes for the book collector. Yes, I am a user and a dealer too.)
Pity me? If you must. But I know so many others suffer the same affliction of will that I do. Join me brothers and sisters, share your pain.
“My name is Carl V., and I’m a bookaholic…”
Carl, you are the type of person that writers love. In an age when more and more people are literate yet fail to use and enjoy this ability, you are the salt of the earth. Read on, my friend!
I’m right there with you. I had to reshelve the two bookshelves that are reserved for me this weekend and box up 3 boxes worth of books to make room. I’m now up to around 120 books on The Stack waiting to be read, and there are always more on the way.
*though in a recent trip to a bookstore I was proud of my abillity to actually put back 6 books I wanted to buy – an unusual display of restraint on my part*
Carl, I so know how you feel. I went into Chapter (big book shop, huge second hand section) to kill some time yesterday evening. I can’t help it, it is on the way home, and found myself picking up book after book. Think I nabbed 5 or 6.
I got home and added them to the pile of the 3 I’d bought just a few days earlier, in the same shop! 🙂
Writers certainly won’t go out of business if I have anything to do with it Wayne, believe me!
Good for you Neth! What I didn’t include here was the fact that in between the Borders visit and the internet fix I also stopped by Barnes and Noble to look for Adventures in Unhistory: Conjectures on the Factual Foundations of Several Ancient Legends by Avram Davidson, a book reviewed in the above mentioned Realms of Fantasy magazine that sounded intriguing. Because of my previous purchases I was actually able to do the same thing, I put the book back on the shelf for another day.
I laugh with you Fence because I obviously understand that oh, so well. A person can only physically read one book at a time so these purchases inevitably go on the to-be-read pile! Its just hard to resist, especially when the copy on the shelf is in great condition. If I know I want something anyway I’d rather get it while I can grab a nice copy rather than hope to find a nice copy later.
Definitely with you. We’re still between houses, with no idea of when we might be moving, and half of my books are still in boxes. And here I am buying more books every week.
*sigh* I won’t even pretend to resist the sweet temptation.
Oh and that Scalzi book looks very tempting indeed…
Okay, now I don’t feel so bad! It is so hard to say no to a good book! Of course now I have to find places for all my new aquisitions to live! There is something nice about working hard all day and knowing you are going to have something good in the mail, and not just bills!! I love the book with all the author’s signatures by the way!
I’ve been emailing the publisher back and forth today arranging payment, etc. and he sounds like a wonderful guy with a real passion. This book was his first venture like this and he has another planned for later in the year. $28 U.S. for a book of short stories signed by all the authors is an amazing price. It is shipping out tomorrow, can’t wait to get it.
And yes, space is indeed an issue Danielle.
Too funny.. your story seems all too familiar…
You already know I’m a member of the bookaholic circle. 🙂 It’s particularly awful when you read so quickly – you have these intense, brief relationships, and then you want more, more, more! 😉
Thanks for your concern this morning – I do appear to be mending, though much more slowly than I would like. Oh, and also, I’ve a new post up – I think you need to play one of the games I talk about, if you haven’t yet. 😉
Ah the lure of new books! I think “Pushers” is a great word for Borders and B&N 🙂 That John Scalzi title is cracking me up! Enjoy your new books.
For those who are interested, here is some of the information that Ian Whates, editor of Time Pieces, had to say about the book in his email:
“Yes, have to admit I’m really pleased with the book — my first venture into either editing or publishing. Six months hard work, but I loved every minute of it. All the authors were brilliant, as was Chris Baker (Fangorn) the cover artist. This is the first book cover Chris has done for years, having concentrated on his work as conceptual artist in the film industry with the likes of the late Stanley Kubrick, Tim Burton and Stephen Spielberg, so I was delighted when I approached him and he said ‘Yes’.
I’m currently working on a second anthology along similar lines To this (again, limited, numbered and signed) with a different star-studded batch of authors (Ken MacLeod, Brian Stableford, Hal Duncan, Pat Cadigan, Adam Roberts etc, etc).
Hopefully, this second book will be out by the end of the year. I intend to give people who’ve bought Time Pieces via the website some sort of exclusive discount on the price during the first month it’s on sale — I’ll let you know more nearer the time.
Anyway, hope you enjoy Time Pieces.”
Let’s all have a big round of applause to encourage Carl in his addiction now.
(you know, temptation is not only sexual or literary – one word for you: chocolate. mmm.)
Speaking of, Anne, as I was thumbing through the latest issue of Better Home and Gardens last night I was thrilled to see that they are FINALLY making Dark Chocolate M&Ms. They made these briefly during the last Star Wars movie and I had friends scouring the land buying them for me as I craved them so badly. It has been a long while since I have had any and I really am looking forward to picking some up. I definitely understand that addiction, Anne.
I had the longest day today, and this post just made it all better. Thanks Carl, I laughed my way through this one…you’re a great writer.
Glad I could bring a little mirth Chris. It has been a rough day in the mental health world, hasn’t it?
My name is Jeff S. and I’m a bookaholic 🙂
Ooooo… I got goosebumps reading your intro paragraph. That was awesome. Thanks again for picking up Moonraker for me. I can’t wait to dive into it tomorrow night. I love all your purchases above especially the covers on Realms of Fantasy and the Jack Vance treasury. I’ve never read Jack Vance but I think the Tom Kidd cover will get me to pick it up. I MUST order that Tom Kidd art book too. I love the cover on Timepieces too and I might have to purchase it too. I also plan on ordering the Scalzi book after I get paid tomorrow. This book buying habit has to cost us more than drugs right, but what a rush a great story is. Think of the lengths we would all go to buy books if they were a banned substance.
Hello Jeff!!!
I knew you’d like this one! I know what junkies need!!!
Of course if I think about the fact that I’d really like a new, state-of-the-art gaming laptop and how all this book money could go towards that I get a bit remorseful. But then I love books so much that it just doesn’t last!!!
Talk about addiction! Just reading your blog on buying and acquiring made my heart beat faster. Thank heavens it’s 9:24pm or I’d be rushing out to my car. What makes my addiction worse is having moved to ten minutes from Borders -where I’m sure I will be this Friday. Thanks for a wonderful, humorous and inspiring blog.
Your story made me smile. And while you know I adore books, the word temptation for me instantly conjures up a vision of the tallest, gooeyest chocolate cake (and a glass of really cold milk).
Also, thanks Carl – after this post I just had to go and check out Time Pieces…and by that I obviously mean that a copy is in the post to me.
I think my hands may have to be tied soon, to minimise the moving costs…*whistles innocently*
So, Jeff’s reading all the Bond books in order like you are too?
Maybe I need to jump on the bandwagon…
Yep, we both decided it would be fun to do so that we could talk about them more in depth as we are reading them. Climb on board Angela!
You may count me among the bookaholics here though my passion lies in anything with a bibliography. Right now I’m reading a book about the dust bowl. I also have a (gasp!) fiction book going on the 1918 flu pandemic. I miss the days when I could sit and read to my heart’s content.
Me too! My husband has told me that I am not allowed to bring any more books into our tiny apartment. I go to yard sales, Borders, junk shops, ancient shops looking for classic Nancy Drew’s, Barnes and Noble, thrift stores, library sales…. There are just too many options out there. They just smell so good.
They do smell good! You need to put your hubby in his place there Katie. After all, isn’t interior decorating the woman’s job? (Except in my house..ha!)
So eloquently said, Carl! My first thought as I finished reading your blog post was that I needed to print it and share it with my friends and family. “See? This is what it feels like, what I go through.” I would tell them.
You could pass it out LF…sort of like AA literature! 🙂
Space is always a problem but oh, I can so relate! And you described it so well! 😛
I am in desparate need of many more bookshelves to house my books. My dad and I are going to have to get another project going this summer!!! 😉
Just as well I live in Australia, and Amazon ordering is a rare (and always expensive) treat for me! Otherwise I’d be drowning in books. I liked this post very much.
Thanks LC!