On this day in 1828 on the island of Melos in the Mediterranean Sea, the sculpture we know as the Venus de Milo was unearthed. There's an 'armless joke in there somewhere, but I just can't find it.
Also:
Last night I was in the living room, crouched on the rug and petting the cat, Madame Gradka. From this low vantage point I had a rare view of the bottom shelf of one of our many bookshelves, so I was able to see books usually hidden behind an old maple piano bench we use to prop up a television set. A particularly fine book cover--or the spine of one, that is--caught my eye. It was the 50th anniversary edition of To Kill a Mockingbird that Mighty Reader got me for Christmas in 2009. I'd forgotten all about that book. It's a classic and I am now reminded that I want to read it again soon.
I'm always stumbling across books I'd quite forgotten about that are sitting in plain sight on our bookshelves (like Poe's purloined letter). We have a copy of Tom Jones I want to get to as well as all that Stendhal.
When's the last time you discovered a book you already own that you'd forgotten about and now you absolutely must read it (or read it again)? What's the book? Don't be shy: a few months ago I stumbled across 84 Charing Cross Road and Smith of Wooten Major and stopped whatever I was doing to read them. It's not like I quit my job to read Proust or anything.
I can't say I forgot they were there, but I've been re-reading all of my Paddington Bear books lately, along with Pippi Longstocking, and all of Tove Jansson's Moomintroll books.
ReplyDeleteI did forget that "A Wrinkle in Time" was on the shelf, and that's on my To Be Re-read pile.
-Alexandra MacKenzie
yeah- this happens to me too- I think the last time I was near the 'main bookshelf' I realized I NEEDED to read Lolita (not really a forgotten book since it has always existed at the back of my head as a book I need to read)..But yeah, I know what you mean..
ReplyDeleteMy Dad used to (And probably still does) literally forget that he already owned a book and buy it again (from whichever used bookstore he may have been browsing at the time). And then he'd actually walk up to me and tell me about this amazing find. So we ended up having several copies of many books..lol..
I've done that only twice..(or maybe thrice)..:)
Lavanya
Alex: One should always know where Paddington is.
ReplyDeleteLavanya: We have multiple copies of "Crime and Punishment," "The Idiot" and stuff by Byatt and Peter Carey. Mighty Reader has several duplicate titles from Angela Thirkell's Barsetshire books. I have a collection of Hamtlets, but that's by design, not by accident.
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday Filler. I haven't had time to sit down and think about a book that makes me seem cool yet. But, I wanted to check in anyway.
Every book makes you seem cool, Big Daddy. Also, Mighty Meower says hey.
ReplyDeletelol @Domey's comment..
ReplyDeleteWhy are Friday evenings so depressing?
Lavanya
Say Hi to Mighty Meower for me.
ReplyDeleteLavanya, Why are Friday evenings depressing? My Friday evening is not depressing. I suggest you come and hang out with me. I'll show you a good time. Tonight I'm having dinner with an installation artist!
I've done what Lavanya's dad has done. Forget a book's on the shelves and buy it again when I see it in the store because I want to read it. We inherited quite a few classics from my late mother in law several years ago and I'm working my way slowly through them. Lately, Dostoevsky's The Idiot keeps calling my name as well as Collin's Moonstone. One of these days I'll answer the call.
ReplyDeleteHeinlein's Glory Road and Heller's Catch 22. I've read both in excess of three times and I feel another re-read comin' on.
ReplyDeleteFriday nights are when my critique group meets. They may get exciting and rowdy but never depressing.
ok- so maybe my depression was only work related and nothing to do with Fridays..:)
ReplyDeleteNo, but seriously, I look forward to Friday evening all day Friday but when it actually arrives, it ends up falling flat on its face..sort of like what you said about opening birthday presents..splatt!!! (excuse my excuse for a metaphor)
Today is entirely better. *knocks on wood*
Lavanya
oh and 'dinner with an installation artist' does sound interesting- hope you had fun!
ReplyDeleteLavanya
The Gulag Archipelago.
ReplyDeleteYay for Tolkien!
ReplyDeleteI usually always reread YA classics, but there'll be times when I'm organizing the library and a book grabs me, so I have to sit down and read it right then. The last time it happened was with Dickens' The Chimes.