How to pick your next book
This is how organized my reading habit is. First I decided to restart my Russian project (to read the major Russian novels) which was interrupted last year when my hardcover The Brothers Karamazov would not fit in the seat pocket of the plane to New Zealand. It had to be stashed in the overhead bin where I could not open it during the 10-hour flight. These are the details that break your resolve.
But then I made the mistake of opening the most recent Martin Amis novel, The Pregnant Widow. I thought, Easy, I could alternate the Russians with contemporary authors. Besides, I acquired a taste for Amis only recently. In the past it was an obligation (“You have to read Martin Amis!”) but after a trip to London I picked up The Rachel Papers and became a fan. So my reading calendar for 2011 would begin with The Pregnant Widow.
And then I saw a trailer for the upcoming HBO series A Game of Thrones, based on the fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin. Which I haven’t read. Which tempted me by not being available in the three bookstores where I asked for them. Which appeared in front of me the next time I looked. It’s a sign, I always say. Of what, I have no idea. . .
Looking for Black Spring in Emotional Weather Report, today in the Philippine Star.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
January 16th, 2011 at 11:57
Great column, Jessica. It really gets inside the head of book hoarders. I used to be able to swear by the “I know where it is” cataloging system. But when we moved, my wife loaded all my shelves while I was at work so I can’t find a damn thing.
Can also relate to the feeling of buying books out of paranoid fear that they will disappear into vortex unless I get hold of it now. A few books actually have.
By the way, thanks for your post on 03 by Jean-Christophe Valtat a few weeks back. I found it last week and read it on the weekend and it is amazing. It’s nice to be able to read so many of your weird, adolescent thoughts so well articulated there in print in the one book and realise that other people were thinking along the exact same line you were.
January 16th, 2011 at 12:39
I keep a spreadsheet of the books that I own and the books that I plan to buy. And I since I don’t have a decent bookshelf, I stack my books. Trade and mass market books are stacked separately.
January 16th, 2011 at 14:13
Naalala ko rito yung essay ni Benjamin na “Unpacking My Library.” :-) At saka ako rin, “I know where it is” method. Hehehe
January 17th, 2011 at 15:49
Of books, I am obsessed with their fresh-off-press smell, a doctor actually told me my sinusitis is triggered by paper. Yet for some reason, I am also obsessed with previously owned books, you know, especially moldy ancient-ish editions. It follows that my collection is a shameful dusty pile-up of paperbacks I got from scouring through thrift (book)shops. And my cataloging system is more “as is where is” than “i know where it is”, if you know what I mean. Martin Amis of course, I got a couple of his books ‘fresh’ off the press since previously owned copies of Martin Amis are rare. There. Okay now, cue in “Second Hand Rose” by Barbra Streisand…