Yesterday I had a ten hour layover in San Francisco on my way back from a conference (I must say that I was quite impressed with the San Francisco airport), so I decided to make a pilgrimage to the famous City Lights Bookstore. I’m glad I went because so much germinal literary history has happenedContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently: City Lights/Birthday Edition”
Tag Archives: bookstores
Books Acquired Recently: Holiday Edition
I’ve acquired a number of books over the past few weeks. Most of them (the ones without their provenance listed) have been gifts, though a few I’ve bought for gifts to myself to read over the semester break. Ballard, J.G. Cocaine Nights. 1996. Washington, D.C.: Counterpoint, 1998. Ballard is an author that I love toContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently: Holiday Edition”
Books Acquired Recently: Strand Edition
Yesterday I once again visited my favorite place in the world, the Strand Bookstore at 12th and Broadway in Manhattan. I was recently remarking to a friend how when I lived within walking distance of the Strand about a decade ago it always seemed like I would go there and there would be a bookContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently: Strand Edition”
Some Thoughts on Periodicals and Books
Today’s Uni Watch post is another edition of “Question Time,” in which site creator Paul Lukas answers questions from readers about himself. For the first time, I sent in a question, which asked about his favorite New York City bookstore (it’s the fourth question listed). His answer that while he likes bookstores (and he namesContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Periodicals and Books”
Books Acquired Recently: NeMLA Edition
I have been at the Northeast Modern Language Association annual conference for the past few days. Normally this kind of convention offers excellent opportunities for book-buying. However, the conference has been a disappointment in this respect, as the selection at the bookfair was rather paltry. I only bought one book there. Hosseini, Khaled. The KiteContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently: NeMLA Edition”
Books Acquired Recently: Salt Lake City Edition
I am visiting Salt Lake City for the holidays, and over the past few days I’ve visited two of my favorite bookstores in the city, The King’s English, where I bought Lessing’s novel, and Central Book Exchange, where I bought Kosinski’s and Poe’s books. Kosinski, Jerzy. The Painted Bird. 1965. New York: Bantam, 1972. IContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently: Salt Lake City Edition”
Books Acquired Recently: R.J. Julia Edition, and Some Thoughts on the Form
First, let me say that obviously my blog has been taken over by Books Acquired Recently posts in recent weeks. This is partly a manifestation of my book-acquiring addiction and partly a manifestation of the busyness of my first semester teaching at Utica College: I just haven’t had time to write about other subjects. IContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently: R.J. Julia Edition, and Some Thoughts on the Form”
Books Acquired Recently: Retiring Colleague Edition
One of my colleagues is retiring after this semester, and she gave me some of her books dealing with African American literature because it is one of my research interests. I am happy to preserve some of her library by integrating it into my own. Several of the paperbacks are from the 1970s and haveContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently: Retiring Colleague Edition”
Books Acquired Recently: Strand Edition
I spent a few days this week in New York City, which of course involved my usual trip to the Strand. I have been shopping at the Strand since 2002, and it always brings me joy even though their renovations over the past decade have taken away some of the store’s character. But I wasContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently: Strand Edition”
Good Writing on Reading Digitally and its Consequences
I’m a bit behind on my PMLA reading, and I was reading the January 2013 (128.1) issue this morning, which includes an excellent suite of essays on “Reading in the Digital Age.” I’ve written here about these issues before, especially about my concern that we retain less and our brains get less exercise when weContinue reading “Good Writing on Reading Digitally and its Consequences”