2022 Stash & Grab Virtual Pub

[Mabel Figworthy]

Very much so, Richard, it takes you by the hand and guides you through projects of more and more complexity.

[richardandtracy]

They here... The weight of them is amazing.

There were two important things to be done immediately on the parcel's arrival.

1. Make the box empty and put it on the floor. Ozzie was already present and waiting to jump in.
2. Hand both books over to Tracy and youngest daughter for them to complete their ritual 'New Book Sniffing'.

After that, I could start looking at them. Gorgeous.

Regards,

Richard.

[Serinde]

New books… yum! I do hope you enjoy them both. Might need to reinforce your bookshelf, though.

[Mabel Figworthy]

I like the rituals Richard - enjoy the books!

[richardandtracy]

Bookshelf reinforcement.. no, I don't think so. I really hope not. I made the shelves from pallet timber salvaged from good quality Euro pallets rated at 2 tonnes per pallet, and the shelves are two planks deep. I sat on the lower shelves while fitting the upper ones. The individual shelf brackets are rated at 160 kg (350 lb), every 600 mm (2' 0"). The wall they are attached to, well, that's another matter entirely...

Added to which, our study, where they will eventually go, has a few books in it already. 3500-ish. Possibly. Enya counted 2500 about 10 years ago as we started the second, inner, layer of books on the shelves. All shelves now have a visible front layer and a hidden back layer. Hopefully two extra books won't make a significant difference. However finding close to 3" of spare shelf is going to be awkward. I am slowly coming to the conclusion that, one day, we may have to consider the unthinkable, and give away a book. Or maybe more. Never done that before in my life.

Regards,

Richard

[Serinde]

I'd worry about the floors, too!

Editorially speaking, I'm not sure all books are created equal. Or rather, there are book I've edited that I don't feel honour-bound to keep on my shelves... especially as I need space for those I really want, to either use or re-read often. Like your new ones.

I also enjoy giving away book, usually paperback fiction, that I'll never read again. If someone else will get pleasure from them, I'm glad to oblige.

[richardandtracy]

Thing is, we don't get books unless they are going to be re-read multiple times. It's a big decision inviting a book into the family... Well, maybe not a member of the family, but it's significant.

The number and availability of freebie Kindle books (& similar) available has probably made us even more determined to get only hard copy books we're going to keep. And also brought home the beneficial effect of good editing, proofreading and something as simple as a smellchecker (sorry, couldn't resist that ). Electronic ephemera books tend to be our light, single read books these days, so it's increasingly rare for us to have a book where we'd even consider parting with it.

I know Tracy does rather object to her library getting rid of any books, and always tries to weed out the good ones from what is being disposed of, and brings them home in dribs and drabs on the moped. The 'dispose of' books she doesn't rescue are usually skipped, but she tries to interest charities in them. Not always with any success, though there was one needed book accidentally disposed of to a charity who claims to ship all books to African Universities. When her library realised the error, they tried to find a copy of this out of print book. The only one available in the UK was on Amazon, at a pretty steep price £150 or so, but they needed it and got high level authorisation to buy it at the much inflated price. The book proved to be their copy that should have been shipped to Africa, still with the RFID tag and stamps in it.. That charity no longer gets any of their books, because they broke their side of their 'We send all books to Africa' agreement.

Regards,

Richard.

[rcperryls]

I had a book shelf break because I had two rows of books on every shelf of all my book cases and not knowing where to put a new book I placed it on top of the books on that shelf. It collapsed. I rarely buy a book now (other than the keep forever ones). I will share books, especially paperbacks that I am pretty sure I am not going to read again. I've also donated many books to our local library. Once a year "Friends of the Library"(the volunteer organization) has a huge sale of many of the donated books and all the proceeds go to the library. Sorry to hear about the so called charity your library got taken in by. I read somewhere that more bogus charities have popped up in recent years. Our state Attorney General issues a list annually of the worst charities in our state, based on the percentage of donations which actually are given to those in need. It's scary to think how many there are which give only what is required to remain a tax free organization. (I don't remember the percentage but it isn't high enough). The list comes out right before Christmas. (Also lists the ones that use the highest percentage of proceeds for its designated purpose.)

Carole

[Serinde]

Nice to know that there are still those out there who appreciate the comma-chasers who try to make a book readable. (I have a theory that James Joyce's copy editor just gave up and went to the pub.)

[Mabel Figworthy]

(I have a theory that James Joyce's copy editor just gave up and went to the pub.)

[richardandtracy]

...I have a theory that James Joyce's copy editor just gave up and went to the pub...

Having tried to read Ulysses on several occasions (it was a set text at school) popping into the pub was what I wanted to do, too. More because I was so bored by the whole thing. I got to page 16 or so & then went off and found a synopsis. Not much of any interest appears to have happened in the rest of the book either. I understand it's one of the most significant 'Modernist Novels': No wonder modernism appears so bereft of interest and ideas if Ulysses significant in any way, shape or form.
It is claimed that

The novel's stream of consciousness technique, careful structuring, and experimental prose—replete with puns, parodies, and allusions—as well as its rich characterisation and broad humour have led it to be regarded as one of the greatest literary works in history.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing, in that statement I can bring myself to agree with. My summary of the book would be 'Not worth the paper it's written on, let alone the time needed to read it.'.

Regards,

Richard.

[Mabel Figworthy]

As in the old quotation, "Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."

[Serinde]

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man was one of our set texts. I always thought the book would be improved by a map of Dublin. Otherwise it was pretty hard to get a grip of by a teenager in suburban Chicago.

[wendywombat]

As in the old quotation, "Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."

Thanks for that quote Mabel...made my morning!

I have a Kindle and I love it...but its no substitute for a Real Book! It seems that everyone and their friends think that they can write, then publish in the Kindle these days.
I've lost count of the number I've deleted The 'freebies' are the worst!

I have my well read many times books and will not part with them!

[rcperryls]

I have my most favorite books in hard cover editions. After wearing out the Tolkien paperbacks I got a lovely hardback set. And have done the same with others, not necessarily classics, but just well loved and well read.

Carole

[Steam.Jo]

The battery on my kindle gave up after a few years and I decided it was uneconomical. Last year I brought an Ipad so I hope the batteries last longer on that, I hadn't thought about battery lifetimes on that

I love hard back books. I made the mistake of storing some sets in the loft while I read a different series only to find some rat had taken a liking to the glue down the spines of all of my books They do not get stored up there any more.

Jo

[richardandtracy]

As in the old quotation, "Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."

Absolutely brilliant. As Terry Pratchett would say, that's the perfect 'double intender'.

Regards,

Richard.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Serinde, I heard from a lady who uses two Lowerys for a slate frame, and she says turning it over to access the back is really easy, just ease off thehandle on each one and turn over. Very reassuring to hear this from someone who's got experience of it (or should I call it "lived experience" now? Havingheard it several times I'm not sure what that phrase means beyond, well, "experience"?)

[Roland]

As in the old quotation, "Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."

Absolutely brilliant. As Terry Pratchett would say, that's the perfect 'double intender'.

Regards,

Richard.

Until I read your post, Richard, I only read it one way…as in I would start reading immediately. Had to reread the line a few times to figure what else it could mean.

Like you, I tend to only buy books that will be reread, or sometimes gifted after I read it. For me, that often means a series…Harry Potter, Clan of the Cavebear, Dark Tower. Otherwise I tend to download from the library. Exception, an on-line friend who is an author, I pay to download his books and write a review. It’s not a sacrifice…I really like his books.

[richardandtracy]

AHH. Clan of the Cave Bear...
I absolutely adore the first three books, but rather felt the story lost its way after that. Jean M Auel seems to have been validated in a huge number of respects since she wrote the books. The only big idea where she may have been wrong is the idea that the clan didn't have a rich spoken language. Recent studies indicate that they had the correct shape larynx to enable a full language, but language is so ephemeral that we will never know for certain if they did. Auel was absolutely slated after the first book for suggesting that Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens could have mixed and had children. Genetic studies in the last 10-15 years indicate Europeans have up to 5% Neanderthal genes, and the red hair gene my daughter and Mother share is a Neanderthal one. No other Homo Sapiens group other than Europeans have any Neanderthal genes. Fascinating. I really admire Auel for thinking everything through so thoroughly that she's been proved correct in so many details in the years after her books.

Regards,

Richard.