My kind sister gave me a Barnes and Noble gift card for Christmas and I have yet to spend it. But, I had another gift card to Barnes and Noble already and that I had fun shopping with on the final day of 2008. I am saving the card from my sis for another few weeks in an effort to spread out the pleasure of getting new books in the mail.
The ones I ordered December 31st arrived on my doorstep the other day. They are:
- Classics for Pleasure by Michael Dirda. Even though he is not a fan of book bloggers I saw him in person once and he is a person who loves books. I think he does a better service to readers than Harold Bloom does because he is much more open to ideas and has a pleasant personality and can tell a great story.
- The Lemon Table by Julian Barnes. This is a book of short stories. I have no idea what they are about but I got it because it was deeply discounted and Barnes is one of Litlove’s favorites so chances are it’s good.
- The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton. I love Botton (or do I say de Botton?) His books have such variety and he has a style that inspires in me enthusiasm for his subject at hand. I’ve always thought that if I were ever a writer I would like to be like him.
Not a big new pile, but enough to satisfy the new book urge for now. I will leave you with the Emerson quote for today from A Year With Emerson. It is a letter of recommendation to the Secretary of State, William H. Seward, on behalf of one Mr. Walt Whitman:
Dear Sir,Mr. Walt Whitman, of New York, writes me, that he wishes to obtain employment in the public service in Washington, & has made, or is about making some application to yourself.
Permit me to say that he is known to me as a man of strong original genius, combining, with marked eccentricities, great powers and valuable traits of character; a self-relying, large-hearted man, much beloved by his friends; entirely patriotic & benevolent in his theory, tastes, & practice. If his writings are in certain points to criticism, they yet show extraordinary power, and are more deeply American, democratic & in the interests of political liberty, than those of any other poet. He is indeed a child of the people, & their champion.
I have two Christmas B&N gift cards. I’m excited to get a book FOR MYSELF. Your books sound like fun. “Classics for Pleasure” particularly interests me.
I couldn’t hold off; I spent my B&N card already. I picked up Weird Missouri as a launching point for upcoming summer adventures; An Incomplete Education, which collects an introduction to everything from art to political science to music to philosophy under a single cover; and finally, The 2009 Poet’s Market, which I hope will help me find homes for a lot of my work this year.
Then, because I was out of gift card money, I treated myself to the new John Lennon biography (which made my wife sort of narrow her eyes at me).
I think Emerson captured Whitman nicely, by the way. Only Emerson himself might have been more completely American, with his sentiments of self-reliance and his love for this country’s landscape.
What a great letter of recommendation. How chuffed would you be to have that written about you?
Lovely, lovely books. I’d like to read Dirda, although my enthusiasm did dip a degree to hear he is another of the ill-informed commentators on blogging. And I haven’t read that particular Barnes, so you can imagine how intrigued I am to hear what you think of it! It is quite true that I love him dearly.
Oooo new books deliveries – nothing quite like it
I like (de) Botton too. His ‘Consolations of Philosophy’ gave me a more useful grounding in philosopy for life than three years of my undergrad philosophy degree did. I’m often buying his books for people but havent yet read any more myself. He has a great approachable style with even the big topics.
Sounds like good reading ahead. Loved reading the Whitman recommendation.
I’m with you on Michael Dirda. Even though he doesn’t quite like book-bloggers, he is a genuinely well-read man who loves book – and I respect him for that.
But your comment on de Botton made me chuckle. It reminds me of how our junior staff often ask if they should shelf his book under D for “de Botton” or B for “Botton”.
Any sister who gives Barnes and Noble gift card is good. She loves you.
[...] over at “So Many Books” wrote a great little paragraph about the book she’s currently reading, A Year with [...]
Enjoy your new books! I love Barnes too and so look forward to hearing how you like that one, and I also think the Dirda book sounds good — it’s always fun to read books about books!
I’m glad to see you got the Dirda book–it is excellent, and quite a TBR builder, too.
You are wise indeed to take your reading recommendations from Litlove. How you can hold onto a B&N gift card, though, mystifies me.
Rebecca, two gift cards, what fun! I love this time of year when gift cards make book shopping so guilt-free
J.D., lol, it is unusual for me that I do not rush out the next day and spend a bookstore gift card. An Incomplete Education sounds intriguing. And didn’t Emerson do a nice job on Whitman? I agree with you of course, that Emerson is perhaps more completely American.
Litlove, oh yes, I was wondering how I could get Emerson to write me a letter like that! What would it take to clone him, I wonder? And I thought you had read everything Barnes had ever written? I am excited that I might read one of his before you do!
Jem, I have Consolations of Philosophy but have not read it yet. I read his book on Proust and the one on travel, both are excellent. I even bought a copy of the travel one as a going away present for a coworker a few years ago.
jenclair, life can’t be so bad when there are so many good things to read
Dark Orpheus, when I went and heard Dirda talk I went with a chip on my shoulder wanting to not like him. But he kept making me laugh and it is hard to not like someone who makes you laugh! That’s funny about your junior staff’s Botton dilemma. And yes, my sister loves me. I am very lucky.
Dorothy, thanks! I love books about books, it somehow doubles the pleasure.
Teresa, I do believe your mention of it was really what clenched it for me getting it. So thanks, I think
David, it is hard to go wrong with a Litlove recommendation isn’t it? I am baffled myself why I haven’t spent the gift card yet. Ii think I am getting some weird pleasure in extending the gratification for as long as possible.
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I’ve been dipping into the Classics book every once in a while and really like it. I’m thinking of using it as a personal challenge goal for this year – read a few of the books he suggests.
You know, I could have sworn someone asked him about blogging when I saw him at the Texas Book Festival and he didn’t seem to be averse to the idea. Or maybe I just wanted to think that
Iliana, good to know the book is good for dipping. Those are nice to have once in awhile. When I heard him talk he wasn’t against blogging per se, but he did have a firm opinion the quality of book book reviews in professional journals vs other places. He said it all so nicely though that I couldn’t get mad at him. Maybe he has moderated his opinion on it even further.