The Sunday Salon - Book Buying

I didn't have a very good reading week (a clear case of a post-excellent books funk), so today I'm going to tell you about three books I ordered and the reasons why I ordered them:


First, Atlas by Katrina Vandenberg. John Green made me do it. A poem from this book is quoted at the opening of Paper Towns, but that wasn't the reason why I got it. The reason was that twice now John Green has made me cry by reading poems from this book during his live shows. This is a rare thing. Not because poetry doesn't move me, but because normally it doesn't move me right away. I usually need to spend time with a poem, to let it get it inside me, before I can feel its emotional impact.

And this is one of the reasons why I rarely read poetry these days. Because it requires me to slow down, and the knowledge that life is short and there are more great books out there than I'll ever be able to read is always at the back of my mind. But you know, not devoting time to books that really do deserve my time is also missing out. This is the only one of the three books I'm going to tell you about that has already arrived, and let me tell you, it so deserves me time. This is lovely, lovely stuff. Sadly I couldn't find any of the poems I wanted to share with you the most online, but I did find these two, which will give you an idea of her style.

Then comes Sweethearts by Sara Zarr. I've been meaning to read Sara Zarr for a while, but the reason why I caved at last was this: First, Priscilla posted about Largehearted Boy. Largehearted Boy is an excellent bookish music blog that I subscribe to, but I hadn't spent time there exploring the archives in a while. But thanks to Priscilla I did, and I found this guest post by Sara Zarr in which she talks about the playlist for Sweethearts.

She picked some excellent songs, but one in particular, Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens, happens to be my all-time favourite song. It stole the spot from Let Down by Radiohead, which had held it for something like eight years. Anyway, one of the main reasons why I love that song is the lyrics, and Sara Zarr says, "He’s (usually) so restrained, musically, without sacrificing complexity---I aspire to write prose like that." Which sealed the deal, really. If she aspires to write prose like that, then she's definitely an author I ought to be reading.


And last but not least, I ordered We Never Talk About my Brother, Peter Beagle's latest short story collection. And you should too. I'll tell you why: because Peter Beagle is an absolutely brilliant writer who has struggled financially all his life. This is beyond unfair. Did you know he's celebrating 50 years as a writer this year? 50 years. Half a century. And it all began with A Fine and Private Place, which was not a promising debut, but an absolutely brilliant book. Anyway, I discovered via Peter Beagle's newsletter that the sales of the first edition of his new collection can make a big difference for his career. Here's what the newsletter says:

Want to help us reach a goal? Tachyon's first printing of We Never Talk About My Brother was only 5,500 copies. Conlan Press is trying to sell out the entire run by March 31st, to make Tachyon go back to press for a second, bigger printing immediately, and to show the distributors and chain buyers that control bookstore placement this is a title they need to get behind in a big way.

If you love Peter S. Beagle's work, and want to see as much wonderful new stuff coming out this year as possible (graphic novel of The Last Unicorn, anyone?), please go to Conlan Press and buy Peter's new book ASAP. Doing so will make a huge difference in Peter's fortunes, and help show the publishing world how much more attention he deserves.

Here's the official 5,500-copy Unicorn Horn. We're at 112 copies sold right now — will you help fill the Horn to the top before the target date?

I can't think of better reasons to get this book. It will make a difference! It's Peter Beagle! It has an introduction by Charles de Lint! You know you want it. I ordered a copy, and to help matters along a bit further I'll also include a second one in next week's giveaway. But more on that tomorrow.

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One last thing: today is March 1st (wow, already?), which means that the Try Something New Mini-Challenge has officially begun! Thanks to everyone who signed up. Have you and your partner decided what to read yet? How are things going?

Even though the challenge begins today, people can still sign up. If anyone signs up now and still doesn't have a pair after a couple of days, please get in touch with me and I'll be your pair. And if more people sign up after that, hm, maybe someone else could take them as a second pair? I should have given this more thought, actually, but it's just that I didn't want to have an official sign up period and then close it after a while.

Anyway, I'll draw the winners of the first giveaway, open to all participants, two weeks from today. Then at the end of the month I'll put up another Mr. Linky for people to link their wrap-up posts, and I'll draw the names of the winners of the final giveaway from there.

Happy reading, everyone. I hope you have a great week.