Every year, as soon as the book club finalizes its list of books of the month for the next year, I go on a hunt. A couple of months ago, I barely had half of the books for 2013. But this week, I managed to find the final book in the lineup. Woot!
This year has been particularly challenging. First was the Vonnegut. I called up every bookstore in the country to find out that The Sirens of Titan is out of stock. So I asked my officemate to get it for me from Kinokuniya in Singapore. Then after a few weeks, the same novel shows up in bookstores here in the metro! Twilight Zone stuff, I think.
Then there's Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. Lots of mass market paperbacks around, yes. But this is translated work, and the fact that the translators aren't credited in these widely available editions somehow leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
So I was determined to get the award-winning translation of Crime and Punishment by Pevear and Volokhonsky. On the last day of the year, while my mom and I came from the moviehouse, I checked out the bargain bin of the mall's bookstore, which isn't really known for good inventory. But, my goodness, there was the book, with its cover in blood red, screaming at me to get it!
I do would like to get a trade paperback of Stephen King's Night Shift though. The one that I have is almost 20 years old, and I think it'll fall to pieces when I open it. Mass market paperbacks are well and good for travel, but the trade off is that they don't really last long.
How I managed to get a copy of Talking to Girls about Duran Duran is pretty interesting. I called up my favorite bookstore and was informed that their last copy was in a province that's a 1-hour plane ride away from Manila. Good thing that I've a friend there who bought the book for me and kindly shipped it to my home. However, like the scenario with The Sirens of Titan, as soon as my friend bought the copy, I saw paperback editions in the same bookstore after a few days. Universe, why are you taunting me?! But I couldn't complain though, as I got the hardback.
If you want to find out more about which books will be featured each month in our book club, check out my initial post here. And if you have nothing to do during the 3rd or 4th Saturdays of the month and you're in the metro, then why not join us. We don't bite, at least not the newbies.
 |
| Tra la la! |
This year has been particularly challenging. First was the Vonnegut. I called up every bookstore in the country to find out that The Sirens of Titan is out of stock. So I asked my officemate to get it for me from Kinokuniya in Singapore. Then after a few weeks, the same novel shows up in bookstores here in the metro! Twilight Zone stuff, I think.
Then there's Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. Lots of mass market paperbacks around, yes. But this is translated work, and the fact that the translators aren't credited in these widely available editions somehow leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
So I was determined to get the award-winning translation of Crime and Punishment by Pevear and Volokhonsky. On the last day of the year, while my mom and I came from the moviehouse, I checked out the bargain bin of the mall's bookstore, which isn't really known for good inventory. But, my goodness, there was the book, with its cover in blood red, screaming at me to get it!
I do would like to get a trade paperback of Stephen King's Night Shift though. The one that I have is almost 20 years old, and I think it'll fall to pieces when I open it. Mass market paperbacks are well and good for travel, but the trade off is that they don't really last long.
How I managed to get a copy of Talking to Girls about Duran Duran is pretty interesting. I called up my favorite bookstore and was informed that their last copy was in a province that's a 1-hour plane ride away from Manila. Good thing that I've a friend there who bought the book for me and kindly shipped it to my home. However, like the scenario with The Sirens of Titan, as soon as my friend bought the copy, I saw paperback editions in the same bookstore after a few days. Universe, why are you taunting me?! But I couldn't complain though, as I got the hardback.
If you want to find out more about which books will be featured each month in our book club, check out my initial post here. And if you have nothing to do during the 3rd or 4th Saturdays of the month and you're in the metro, then why not join us. We don't bite, at least not the newbies.
12 comments:
I had a similar experience while I was hunting for William Boyd's Any Human Heart.:D
Anyway, I like your editions of The Sirens of Titan and Crime and Punishment!
Hi, Bennard!
I think it's the universe's way of telling us something Of what it is, I don't know. Hehehehehe.
Peter, well done! What a good start to the year.
Watch out though, that your copy of Crime and Punishment doesn't fall apart the way you expect your Stephen King to! I've got that same Vintage edition of Tom Jones, and since the book is rather thick and the copy was in a bumper pack (2 for 1), I am guessing the glue in the binding had somewhat aged. 2/3 of the way through, about 30 pages just fell out of the book, and I had a really hard time getting them back in there.
Oh dear! I hope that doesn't happen! Anyway, I just checked and it looks like the binding is okay. Yes, it did come with another book, a Highsmith which I've already read.
1. uy may Vonnegut sa list. tinatapos ko pa lang ang Timequake. Initially, parang existential angst lang. At medyo feeling ko nahinto sa juvenile years si Vonnegut. sa 24th chapter ko lang siya tuluyang naenjoy. mukhang mahabang warm up ang nangyari sa akin para lang maappreciate siya. hahaha. pero naeenjoy ko na siya.
2. grabe ang commitment mo sa book club. kelangan talaga bilhin na lahat sa pagpasok ng taon? ikaw na masalapi! :)
3. "And if you have nothing to do during the 3rd or 4th Saturdays of the month and you're in the metro, then why not join us. We don't bite, at least not the newbies." nakakatakot pa rin :P
Ayokong na-ha-hassle sa paghahanap ng libro kapag malapit na yung discussion, Overthinker Palaboy. Itatabi ko na tong mga libro na to. Hehehehehe.
Hi Peter! Who's moderating the Ender's Game discussion? I'm considering attending because I enjoyed the book when I read it last year. :)
Oh, and congrats for a successful book hunt!
Hi, Monique! Blooey will be moderating the discussion in February.
I really want to join your Ender's Game discussion but my February schedule is CRAZY. I hope I can still squeeze it in!
Oh, and I'm very curious about your Godfather themed Christmas! :) We're considering a Harry Potter themed Christmas this year just so the people who haven't read Potter can finally read one (plus it's such a fun theme). I feel like planning for Christmas is too early since it's just January, though! :D
Hi, Tina! One of these days, I sure hope I can get to join your discussions too!
I hope you can join us in February!
Your Sirens of Titan book looks pretty fine. :) I hope you enjoy your first Vonnegut. :)
Hi, stokedbunny! I sure hope so!
Post a Comment