Losers, Keepers
One man’s recyclable is another man’s treasure - especially when it comes to books - and in the past weeks I’ve gone through my share of both.
Recycle: Beloved by Toni Morrison; Shadow Song by Terry Kay; The Drowning Season by Alice Hoffman; Riven Rock by T.C. Boyle; I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
Treasure: Two of Us by Peter Smith; The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton; Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden; The Age of Grief by Jane Smiley; Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris; This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff; Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons.
For $.50 and $1 per book at various thrift stores, I’m building a luxurious library I’ll return to over and over; and such a pittance passes through my hands I don’t mind giving back the books I’ve tried but don’t like. Next on the docket is Little Altars Everywhere by Rebecca Wells.
October 30th, 2005 12:34
Little Altars Everywhere makes me so very sad when I think about it. It was well written and tragic. Have you read the Ya-yas? This is its predecessor.
October 30th, 2005 13:21
The reason I picked up Little Altars is because I enjoyed Ya-Yas. I didn’t adore it, but I still remember parts of it, which for me is the mark of a keeper. And I call Torie’s two friends her ya-yas. Little Altars is TRAGIC? Dang. Well, as long as it’s a good story, I don’t mind feeling sad. xo
October 31st, 2005 10:10
I love to collect books. My wife doesn’t understand why you would keep them after you’ve read them.
She’s crazy.
Hello, Kelly.
October 31st, 2005 10:16
And Scoot doesn’t understand why you would read them in the first place.
Okay, that was patently untrue and a little unfair, but it WAS funny, wasn’t it? Frankly, I think both of them are a little crazy for marrying internet addicts, don’t you?
Hello there, Scott.
October 31st, 2005 17:09
And now there’s a third in the series. . . also quite good. Not Ya-Ya Sisterhood great, but good nonetheless.
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Also, I told my mother to read your blog. She really likes it, feels it resonate with her and thinks you’re pretty. I’m reminded of this, b/c half the books you’ve listed are my faves, the other half are hers. You’re right, there’s no accounting for taste. But by all respondents questioned, you are wonderful.