Some new books 05/22/23
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New to me, that is. Two new thrift store books, $1/ea:
the life-changing magic of tidying up (2014), Marie Kondo
and
The Land Breakers (1964), John Ehle
Both are hardcover. My wife has the digital version of the Marie Kondo
book, and tells me that the book itself suggests being given away, so
it's not odd to see it at a thrift store. Seems like sound advice.
It's a book about letting things go. Maybe it was secretly written by
the League of Thrift Store Masters, as propaganda to replenish their
shelves?
Land Breakers looks like an interesting one to read while walking on
the treadmill. My last treadmill books were, Illusions: The Adventures
of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach, and The Bourne Identity by
Robert Ludlum. I'm decades behind everyone else in the world,
apparently.
In other news, I was at Barnes and Noble the other day, browsing
around at all the new-fangled nonsense. My wife was with me, and
accidentally called it "Borders"-- I told her that they were dead. Why
does everything from Ann Arbor have to die, Grex? Why?
She had mentioned a while back that she was looking at "bubble-gum
book covers", and we saw many examples of those. Super-bright colors,
a narrow selection of fonts and cover layouts. Trendy and modern.
Appeal to the lizard brain seeking a cheap thrill and a vivid
experience. I wonder what is in them, but I will never know I think.
The "New Fiction" covers were frustratingly cohesive in their feel.
Maybe you can't be placed in the "New Fiction" section unless you fit
in. Maybe it's the "popular kids" of book sections? Nine out of ten
had "New York Times Best Selling Author!" on the cover, it seemed to
me. I didn't actually count.
