I came home from work today to find a couple of books in the mailbox. One, June Jordan’s Affirmative Acts, I mooched from Andi. The other, The Journals and Miscellaneous Notebooks of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Vol 1, I decided to splurge on with some of the birthday funds I received earlier in the month. Even used it is an expensive book but I figure Emerson is worth it.
My Bookman brought home an interesting looking review copy of a forthcoming book by Larry McMurtry called Books: A Memoir. In it McMurtry writes about his life as a book collector. I think it will be fun.
And a book I am coveting, The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay. It is a literary adventure featuring a lost Melville manuscript and a rare books store in New York City. It sounds delicious and is just out in paperback. Anybody read it?
Another book I am coveting is Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate: At Work in the Wild and Cultivated World by Wendy Johnson. It sounds like a lovely mediation on gardening and nature.
But enough about my booklust. New Scientist has an article on Life-Changing Books: Recommendations from 17 Leading Scientists. I think the folks on the list whose jobs begin with neuro- have the most interesting choices but a few of the physicists chose some interesting ones too. Now remember as you look at the list, these are scientists–Charles Dickens no, Charles Darwin yes.
How’s this for an ebook reader? Pretty darn clever if you ask me. Makes me almost want one for myself. Almost.
Those recommendations from scientists are interesting — Alice in Wonderland, Catch-22, William James — quite a variety. I’m curious about some of the ones I’ve never heard of before.
I can’t begin to describe how much I love getting new books in the mail. I love knowing they are out there, somewhere, in route to my front porch, and then the surprise of the little brown Amazon.com box on the front porch when I get home from work — right now I’m waiting on a hardback copy of No Country For Old Men, Borges’s Collected Fictions, The Oxford Book of English Verse, and The Roman Poets.
I especially love it when the don’t arrive for a couple of weeks; by then I’ve usually forgotten I ordered them, which doubles the surprise, since I’m not expecting them.
The list of recommended books at The New Scientist is fun. I like what Susan greenfield has to say about The Leopard: ‘I’ve found many science books interesting and helpful, but they haven’t had the same visceral impact, nothing that made me think: “Oh, now I understand, now I see.”‘
The power of fiction. Yay!
I just added The Secret of Lost Things and Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate to my To Look For list in the last couple days. Thanks for the tip about the McMurtry memoir. It sounds very intriguing.
Wow you always pick out the most wonderful sounding books, Stefanie! The Larry McMurtry memoir sounds wonderful as does the Sheridan Hay book. I also wondered when you were going to run out of things Emersonian to read – glad to know it won’t be for yet awhile!
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Reading about the books the scientists selected was really interesting. I like how many of them talked about how reading posed questions they hadn’t yet thought of and got them interested in looking for answers.
I’m with you on the McMurtry book -looks wonderful!
I recently decided that I need to read more science books. The New Scientist list looks like a great place to start.
The McMurtry book sounds interesting. I can’t believe that I’m only 3 hours away from his book town and haven’t been there yet. I tried reading the Hays book when it first came out and I just couldn’t get into it. I’ve read some good reviews of it so maybe I just didn’t give it enough of a chance. I hope you’ll enjoy it and keep us posted!
I just yesterday broke down and called my local bookstore to order Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate. I’ve heard so much about it and the last straw was an email from a librarian friend of mine who snagged it for herself as soon as it showed up at her library. She said it’s been described as “part zen koan, part love poem to the land, part master’s manual in the art and craft of gardening.” I had to look up “koan” which turns out to be a question posed to aid meditation. In anycase, she said it lived up to the description and exceeded all the hype. Wow. I can’t wait!
I see you’re reading some Virginia Woolf–one of my absolute favorites. Her diary never fails to inspire me.
So, lots and lots of books to covet, I see…
Dorothy, they are interesting, aren’t they? But then I generally find the book that influenced you most question interesting.
JD, books in the mail is one of life’s little pleasures. It never fail to make my day no matter how bad everything up until that point has gone. I hope your new books arrived!
Dark Orpheus, I love lists like that. And people we don’t think of as literary come up with the most fascinating ones.
Claire, I am hoping I will get a chance to read the McMurty book sooner rather than later.
Litlove, you are so sweet! Even after I finish Emerson’s essays, he has 12 volumes of journals. I’ll be busy for awhile
Verbivore, what the scientists say about books gives on a fresh perspective, doesn’t it?
Zan, there are some interesting science books on the list.
Iliana, well, I wouldn’t want to drive three hours either, even if there is a book town at the end of the trip.
TJ, your comment coupled with a gift card prompted me to buy the book over the weekend. I haven’t started it yet but I did read the first page at the bookstore and if it all continues as it starts, it’s going to be good.
bleeding espresso, Woolf is one of my favorites too. I love her diary and how she is by turns so wise and so snooty.
Emily, yup, lots and lots of books to covet. I’ve got to win the lottery one of these days otherwise I will have no time to read them all or a place big enough to keep them!
What an interesting list of ‘life-changing’ books–very eclectic! Strangely I just requested the Philip K Dick book from the library. I’ve been curious about his work for a while now. I’ve not read the Hay book, but a coworker read it and liked it. I’d like to read it as well, but how to squeeze it in? Maybe I should read Moby Dick first though?….
Danielle, my husband has read the Dick book and I’ve meant to read it for a long time, but you know how these things go. I look forward to hearing what you think of it. And I am glad to hear your coworker liked the Hay book. But yes, how to squeeze it in?