The Book Shopper

Flowerpot of Life: A Book Shopper's Top Books of 2011

Unlike other “best” book lists, my criteria for excellence is somewhat different. To make the list requires a combination of value (how much I paid for the book) and good reading. Whether the book was published in 2011 is of little significance to me as I am a person who likes to think of himself as immune to book hype while preferring to shop for books at used bookstores, independent book stores, book festivals, church sales and even online (gasp!). I crave the process. Here’s my list of most notable finds/reads in 2011:

Remote: Reflections on Life in the Shadow by David Shields (1996). It's a “collection” of essays, anecdotes, bumper sticker compilations, advertisements and photos (sounds like a blog) that examine how celebrity culture manifests itself in our daily lives. I found a signed copy of this book at Books Again (see sponsor link on upper left) for a fiver. You can read more about Remote here.

The Conversations: Walter Murch & The Art of Editing Film by Michael Ondaatje (2002). Nick Hornby mentioned this book in one of his Stuff I Am Reading columns in The Believer and since I have a small book allowance at work to buy books about the media, I made the transaction. This book is a fascinating conversation of the artistic and creative choices (not much gossip) that went into the editing of some of my favorite movies: Apocalypse Now, The Conversation, The Godfather, The Talented Mr. Rigley and of course, a film adaptation of Ondaatje's own book, The English Patient.

The Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagen (2003). Ever since I saw Kagen on Book TV drawing parallels between the war between Sparta and Athens and America's hegemony in Iraq and Afghanistan, I was interested in reading the book. I found a copy at Eighth Day Books in Wichita (see sponsor link) a couple years ago and finally got around to reading this lengthy tome. Before I read it, I didn't know squat about the war (431 BC to 404 BC) between Athens and Sparta and now I do.

Unreliable Memoirs by Clive James (1980). Any reader of this blog knows I am obsessed with James' book Cultural Amnesia: Necessary Memories from History and the Arts. (I've corner the market on many discounted hardback copies. See here), but decades ago I was first introduced to James when I read his autobiography about growing up in post-war Australia. While browsing through the $1 shelves that insulate the outside of the Eagle Eye Book Shop in Decatur, I found a severed copy of the book Unreliable Memoirs (literally split in half). Seizing the opportunity, I reread some of it before it completely disintegrated. It's amazing how this Tasmanian devil kind of kid who grew up without a father (killed when returning from Japanese POW camp) later became an insightful political and culture critic. 

Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Dana Meadows (2008). Our friend Maggie was reading this book when she visited my longtime fiance Denise and I earlier this year. Maggie is responsible for introducing me to one of the books from last year's list, The Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War (2009), so anything she is scribbling notes in, I am interested. At first this book, which examines the fundamentals of how systems work or don't work, seems simplistic. However, as the book progresses you realize that the knowledge of these fundamentals can help one get a better grip personal as well as global problems. I ordered my copy from Eighth Day Books because they always have these kind of smart books in stock and they can ship them to my door immediately.

 

From the Mailbox

There aren't too many book-related email lists I don't sign up for, so it is not unusual to get information that is worth passing on. Such notables:

Paravion Press, which I wrote about earlier here is offering a special Christmas book – a limited illustrated edition of James Joyce's short story, "The Dead." The illustrator is James Bock. (a sample shown here)  For more about it, visit Paravion's website.

A blog reader sent me a note about a nationally syndicated radio show that airs on WAFS 1190 AM at 11 a.m. on Sunday mornings here in Atlanta called The Book Report. I caught a few minutes of the show the other day and I liked what I heard. Unfortunately, that's the not always the most convenient time for me to listen as I am out nourishing my inner self (i.e. buying fresh fruits and vegetable at the Dekalb Farmer's Market).

Paul Dry Books is having their holiday book sale from now through December 15th. The publisher has a range of books including my book The Book Shopper (which spawned this blog). One of my favorite books on Paul Dry's list and worth checking out is Gabriel Zaid's book of essays So Many Books. Before I went to Greece earlier this year, the publisher -- as kind of a bon voyage gift --provided me a copy of Ill By Midnight, which is the true story of the British commandos who captured a German general in 1943. It has a plucky-hip-hip-cheerio style, but it does give one a sense of the mountainous terrain and the courageous generosity of the people of Crete. Earlier this year, I reviewed Right off the Bat, a book for hardcore cricket fans who want to learn about baseball or is it vice versa? The book is kind of both.

The Robert C. Williams Paper Museum on the campus of Georgia Tech is offering two five-hour Book Art Workshops: Book Arts l, The Wonderful World of Marbling: Marbling Techniques, will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 10:00AM-3:30PM and Book Arts II Workshop, Bookbinding: Small Book Structures, will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 10:00AM- 3:30PM. Workshops cost $85 each. For details, email Fran Rottenberg (franrottenberg.ipst.gatech.edu) or call 404-894- 5726.

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Ha-ha Tom Friedman: The Charles Mann Lecture at Emory

Here's the gist of author Charles C. Mann's recent lecture at Emory University in Atlanta. Mann was in town promoting his latest book, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created, which is a followup from his much-acclaimed 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus.

Where & When: Held at the Reception Hall, William Carlos Museum on Emory's campus on December 7, 2011.

Attendance: I'd estimate ~125 people with only about 20 Emory Students.

Why I Went: I've been a real slacker lately when it comes to attending local book events (guilt). Moreover, last summer Mark Burell, the manager at the Carlos Musuem Book Shop, gave me the heads up about Mann and he highly recommended 1491.

What He Read Aloud: Nothing. Instead Mann lectured for  about 45 minutes touching on, what I assume, are the highlights of his new book. Accompanying the lecture were gorgeous slides with illuminating infographics about how plants, diseases, and foods (especially the sweet potato) were exchanged back and forth from the New World to Europe, Africa and China. This explains the significance of Mann's quip about the alternative title for his book: “Ha-ha, Tom Friedman. The World Has Been Flat for 400 Years.”

His Q & A: Most people had their questions answered in the fifteen minute Q & A  period. Mann knows what he knows, but he isn't afraid to admit that he is not an expert in everything. Mann also gives complete answers, but doesn't get bogged down with long explanations ( more time for more questions). The audience asked intelligent questions as well.

Did I Buy Something? Yes, a trade paperback of 1491, but I had no interest in waiting in the long line to have the book signed.

Worth Mentioning. In a short period of time I learned a lot of things:  How the Chinese grow three-quarters of the world's sweet potatoes and how it contributes to their constant flooding in China. I learned about the silver mines of Potosi, that the Mason-Dixon line really should be named the Malaria-Dixon line and the days for invasive kudzu are numbered. I can't explain all this, but if you attended Mann's fine lecture you would know.

You can re-create the Charles Mann experience by purchasing one of the several signed copies of 1493 that the Carlos Museum Book Shop has available. You can check ahead for book availability by calling 404-727-0529.

MARTA Book Club #17: Welcome Clean Air Commuters

If you're visiting because of the newsletter article from the Midtown Alliance you have come to the right place. I appreciate the shout-out for the MARTA Book Club even though I am kicking myself for not trimming my beard for the photo opportunity. I guess I fit the stereotype of the scruffy reader. (Photo credit: John Cann)

If you're a commuter and you read on the bus or train, I hope you'll let add to the list via comment and sign up for blog updates at facebook.com/thebookshopper. If you want to see all the MARTA book club postings (and fully comphrehend the madness ) just click on the link in the right column.

 Here's a list of book spottings since the last posting.

 Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

The Great Shark Hunt by Hunter S. Thompson

Thinking in Systems by Donna Meadows

Choices: Discover Your 100 Most Important Life Choices by Shad Helmsetter

Big Girls Do Cry by Carl Weber

The 5 Lessons Millionaires Taught Me About Life and Wealth by Richard Paul Williams

The Age of Wonder: The Romantic Generation and the Discovery of the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard Holmes

Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefield's: Discovering Hallowed Ground by Jeff Shaara

The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman

The Purpose Driven Life by Rich Warren