So it's 7:30 on a Saturday morning, and I'm thinking I'll have a cup o' coffee and read a few friends' blogs, when lo, I come across this on my buddy Matt Welch's site. I'd have seen it sooner but I've been in Alaska.
Matt, I imagine, is feeling pretty smug, my having tagged him several months ago. And though I've heard some mild whinging about the whole process, it seems to me people are sort of delighted to participate. And I adore and admire Matt, so here goes:
1. The total number of books I own: About 500, plus another 200 cookbooks. This was greatly culled when we moved from Los Angeles to Portland. Also, when I itemized my 2002 taxes, and saw I'd spent $909 on books, I started going to the library.
2. The last book I bought: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon. This, for a book group I've recently been invited to, where the women chat for half an hour, talk about the book for an hour, and then go home. Painless. Bought the book last week at a used bookstore in Tok, Alaska, and noticed yesterday that it orginiated in Beaverton, which is ten minutes from my house. I like the book more than I thought I would, especially this sentiment from autistic teenage narrator, explaining why the concept of there being a heaven "not in our universe" makes no sense, because that would make it a black hole:
"And if heaven was on the other side of a black hole, dead people would have to be fired into space to get there, and they aren't or people would notice."
3. The last book I read: Conspriracy of Fools, by Kurt Eichenwald. The Enron debacle, blow by hideous blow. If you're ever feeling like the crummiest person on earth, just remember: Andrew Fastow.
4. Five books that mean a lot to me:
*Wanderer, by Sterling Hayden. Because it is a story of ferocity and fallibility, and how one man fights. Throughout reading I felt as though I was clinging to Hayden, in a storm; I was bereft when it ended; excuse me, but it was like letting go of a man I loved.
*The Quiet American, by Graham Greene. Again, fallibility, and tenderness, and the lies we live with. Also, for the pure magnificence of Greene's writing.
*Bad Behavior, by Mary Gaitskill. Because when I read her writing, I thought, I can do this; I need to do this.
*Life & Times of Michael K. and Seize the Day: Because they each took up residence in small apartments in my brain. Some of Salinger's work did this, too.
*All of Joan Didion, or at least, the eight books of hers I've read.
5. Tag five people and have them do this on their blogs: Cathy Seipp, Amy Alkon, Hillary Johnson, Jackie Danicki--who I just now noticed has already been tagged and also tagged me-, Luke Thompson (who I think will be doing all of us a public service if he substitutes movies), and Jim Treacher, because he is the most trenchantly funny person out there.
Salinger has always been one of my favorite writers, along with Vonnegut and Hesse, so I ordered Michael K this morning. It sounds wonderful.
Posted by: eric | June 12, 2005 at 08:19 AM
I think you will like it, Eric. I have given it to several people, and both were stunned. You know, I think I'll read it again...
Posted by: nancy | June 12, 2005 at 08:27 AM
done and done
Posted by: LYT | June 13, 2005 at 04:59 PM
We own 500 cookbooks, alone. True, my late mother in law did leave us about 300 or so, and true, my husband is a chef. We must own thousands of books. And dozens of bookcases. I need a carpenter in LA who'll make nice ones.
And records--honey, don't let me commence. And CDs, DVDs, ........
Posted by: KateCoe | June 13, 2005 at 06:23 PM
Well then, Kate Coe, I tag you, too. What is your blog?
Posted by: nancy | June 14, 2005 at 06:19 AM
Thanks! [goes to look up "trenchantly"]
Posted by: Jim Treacher | June 14, 2005 at 12:41 PM
Nancy, I just post 'n run. Every time I think of starting a blog, I get sidetracked.
So,
1. The total number of books I own: I'll guess around 2500-3000.
2. The last book I bought: Pre-ordered Harry Potter for my daughter's b'day.
3. The last book I read: "How to be Idle" by Tom Hodgkinson. My favorite chapter is The Idle Home.
4. Five books that mean a lot to me:
Live Alone and Like It.
The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies
Quarter in Autumn by Barbara Pym
Leni Riefenstahl's A Memoir
A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor
Posted by: KateCoe | June 15, 2005 at 09:17 AM
Hello Everyone,
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So if any golfer here is ready to save some money on quality products at highly discounted prices, you might want to check out their site at; http://hoffmangolf.com
Posted by: GoGolfer | July 12, 2007 at 10:23 AM