Tuesday, October 6, 2009

My personal demon

After having read Memoirs of a Master Forger and getting acquainted with all the demons that Heaney/Joyce has written about, I now know that my personal demon has something to do with impulsive and constant book buying. Lately, I've been buying all the NYRB editions that I can get my hands on.

These NYRB editions are a delight to read. NYRB has reprinted some forgotten non-contemporary novels, which have been overlooked by more renowned classics publishers such as Penguin and Oxford University Press. Plus, their simple but elegant designs and color schemes make a fantastic addition to one's bookshelves.

Thanks to NYRB, I've read the novels of L. P. Hartley, Alberto Moravia, Janet Hobhouse, and John Horne Burns, just to name a few.

16 comments:

Rise said...

This demon has possessed me too, and left a hole in my pocket. But where did you but these, Peter?

Rise said...

I meant, where'd you BUY them?

Peter S. said...

Hello, Rise! Where else but in Powerbooks, Fully Booked, National, and A Different Bookstore.

Rise said...

Oh? I don't usually notice them. I must hunt down some titles when I get the chance. Run after the demon. :)

Harvee said...

I control the demon by running off to the library instead of the bookstore. Happy reading!

Peter S. said...

@rise: They're a little bit hard to find, since they're not usually properly categorized.

@Book Bird Dog: I haven't been inside a library for the longest time. I guess there just aren't too many libraries here in Manila.

Astrid (Mrs.B) said...

Hi Peter, Yes am in Manila too. Thought I had mentioned it before. I like the NYRBs but I try to buy only the ones that look interesting. They have them in National?? I've never seen them there. My fave one is The Post-Office Girl by Stefan Zweig.

Anonymous said...

I am afraid I share that demon, I try and control it but alas it is stronger than my will power.

Unknown said...

@Something's Dishy: Yes, National has two titles -- The Queue by Vladimir Sorokin and The Complete Stories of Francis Wyndham. I know since I check out every inch of their shelf space.

@Book pusher: I guess we should just try living with our shared demons.

Charlie said...

There is, indeed, a book demon, and all of us who buy books with abandon are possessed.

I don't know if they distribute in Manila, but a small company called SOHO is reissuing mysteries that have been out of print for years and by world-wide authors. It's great to see some backlists getting printed.

Unknown said...

Hello, Charlie! I'm not familiar with SOHO, but I will definitely be checking those out. I love "classic" mysteries.

Astrid (Mrs.B) said...

Peter, you should also check out Persephone books. I love them and if they were available in Manila I think I would go bankrupt. I've managed to buy them at second hand sites. They are republished books by forgotten writers from the early part of the 20th century.

Unknown said...

Hi, Mrs. B! Oh, thanks for the tip! I'll be on the lookout for those. I love the name -- Persephone.

Anonymous said...

Peter, your demon has just fed mine. Maybe I shouldn't visit you often because I'm just learning about more books to covet! Sigh. All I want for X'mas is ... books, books,books!

Unknown said...

Hello, Jo! I can't wait for you to come here to Manila and talk about books, books, books!

Unknown said...

@Admin: Thanks for dropping by. Although, I'm not too keen about Christian books.