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March 01, 2005
Bookshopping
I seem to be a victim of a compelling desire to own large amounts of Stuff. Yesterday I rushed into town at lunchtime to spend a 50 euro book token, given to me by my parents gave me for Christmas. Why the rush? I was just in time to complete a ten-token voucher in the great Hodges Figgis money-off swindle! Er, after combining powers tokens with my girlfriend. We now have 15 euro credit at the store, after spending sixty euro.
So, new books to add to the shelves full of unread books I’ve got at home. Some for my long-term sci-fi addiction, two for my poetry fetish, and a G. B. Shaw biography:
- The Art of Life by Paul Durcan
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, on the strength of the gorgeous cover and some fawning cover reviews which you should never ever trust, ever
- Bernard Shaw by Michael Holroyd. I am interested in Shaw, but enough to justify owning this? The cover says it’s excellent, and I am weak
- 50 in 50 by Harry Harrison. 50 short stories written over 50 years by the author of the Stainless Steel Rat stories of my teenager-hood? For only six euro?! I’ll buy!
- Selected Poetry by Shelley. After all, few authors are famous enough to only need one name. And I think I was supposed to read him in college
- Star Maker by Olaf Stapleton. Any sci-fi book with a blurb by Jorge Luis Borges is an immediate buy in my book
I like those bulleted lists, don’t I?
I’ve already wolfed down half of the Paul Durcan book. It’s a great rendition of the classic Irish experience, both rural and urban. This was an experience I found unbearable growing up, to the point where I was forever fleeing into the fantasy worlds of games and novels. But now I’m nostalgic for something that I was inevitably part of, whether I liked it or not.
Posted by Oliver at March 1, 2005 12:38 PM
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Comments
What is the classic Irish experience again?
Posted by: flaneur at March 1, 2005 01:20 PM
Read the Durcan book to find out!
Or anything by John McGahern, for that matter. Or any of a host of other Irish writers…
I guess I mean the experience of growing up in Ireland over the past couple of decades. There are mannerisms, ways of behaving, means of living, and environments immediately recognisable to anyone who’s lived here long enough.
Posted by: Oliver at March 1, 2005 02:31 PM
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