Book fever
Recently, I got to do one of my favorite things: recommend a favorite book to a friend. As luck would have it, Gypsy found the author to be just as hilarious as I'd promised. We went back and forth, sharing our favorite parts and lines. I couldn't stop laughing. Afterwards, I emailed SO and had him order me a hardbound copy of Naked by David Sedaris. I decided it had to be in my collection.
I don't buy books very often. As a librarian, I prefer to participate in the public sharing of reading materials. I enjoy being part of the process and I enjoy being an end user. If I can get it at the library, I don't like to spend money on books (except for leather-bound classics -- I love the weight and feel of a gorgeous Easton Press edition); I hate clutter and most paperbacks. When I come across something that I really, really love, then I'll buy it in hardback. This doesn't happen very often, so I think David should be flattered that his book qualified, not that I'll ever hear from him. He lives in France, you know.
Anyway, back to Naked. I checked the book out after cataloging it because it looked like a good read. Tucked into bed one night, my beloved beside me, I opened to the first chapter and started chuckling. I tried to keep my mirth to a minimum. After all, we have a waterbed and a couple of hearty guffaws is enough to start a ripple effect. Soon enough, I couldn't control myself. I had to read some of the paragraphs aloud.
Normally, this drives SO insane. Heck, it drives me crazy when he reads something out loud to me, because, you know, most of the time what I find to be funny isn't so funny when read out loud and out of context by someone else. But he started laughing, too. It was great. He ended up checking the book out later and thoroughly enjoying it.
Last week, DoOL mentioned a book that had grabbed him and it turned out to be another one that SO and I fought over when I brought it home from the library, Into the wild, by Jon Krakauer. It's not the slightest bit funny but it was gripping, plunging us into a bookreading fever from which there was no escape until the tragic last page was devoured.
After reading FE's latest posting, I decided to weigh in on a couple of books that have gobsmacked me. Anyone else have something to add?
3 comments:
I must thank you AQ, you recommendations have not failed me yet. Sedarisis hilarious, so very passive aggresive and amazing. I shall continue to follow them, until one lets me down. Then there will be H-E-L-L to pay. ;)
The book that I would recommend is not funny by any means. It is Howard Zinn's People's History of the US. I only recently read this and it really changed the way I look at history and current events. Sure, you can argue that Zinn is biased, but I think it is fair in that the vast majority of history written before social history became acceptable in the 60's and 70's was written from the viewpoints of those in power. Zinn (and others) turned this around and examined people who were on the receiving end of power. He really gives a voice to the powerless. I can't recommend him highly enough. You'll be reading it out loud, but instead of laughing you may cry or punch a wall.
RadCat
I have read books that were recommended to me (but not often or recently) and have even recommended some to others, but for the most part I prefer to find books on my own. In adulthood, those are the ones that have meant the most to me, especially if it's a book that's out of the mainstream, as most of my reading tends to be. I like to think that no one else knows about this treasure, and if someone does it has to be a person who feels about as I do. What I find myself is sweetest of all. And I do buy a lot of books because I like having them around.
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