So, yesterday was the official kick-off of the Keep Portland Weird festival here in Paris, which meant that I had a reading/screening in the...
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I've always found it ironic that there are really so few books about books available, at least current books, so I was delighted to find McMurtry's copywright 2008 "Books: A Memoir."
Although at times he comes off as a bit full of himself, and mentions his own books a little more frequently than I cared to see them, McMurtry's memoir takes on a unique and interesting perspective, that of a sometimes part-time "bookman" while pursuing his writing career -- very successfully, as both the reading and movie-going public know; McMurtry is the author of, among others, "Lonesome Dove," "The Last Picture Show" and co-screenwriter for "Brokeback Mountain."
McMurtry provides scores of anecdotes about the books (over a million), people and places he has encountered during the course of a half-century of book-buying and book-selling, of book store ownership, and of people who, like me and him and many others (but not enough) who love books for what they are. As he puts it, "A bookman's love of books is a love of BOOKS, not merely for the information in them."
Speaking of chapters, McMurtry wrote 109 in "Books" but don't let that throw you. Most are only a page in length, another factor that makes this an enjoyable and easy reading journey.
For anyone who wants a true insider's view of the book-selling business -- whether you're just curious, and highly recommended if you're seriously considering opening a bookstore or book trade business -- "Books: A Memoir" is fascinating and fun.
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It's not out yet so I can't review it but it sounds great, especially with all the information it will provide that will be plugged into the calendar dates already. Lord know we writers all the orgznizational help we can get!
Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.
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Ju;eS has commented on (2) products.
Books: A Memoir by Larry Mcmurtry
Ju;eS, August 18, 2009
I've always found it ironic that there are really so few books about books available, at least current books, so I was delighted to find McMurtry's copywright 2008 "Books: A Memoir."Although at times he comes off as a bit full of himself, and mentions his own books a little more frequently than I cared to see them, McMurtry's memoir takes on a unique and interesting perspective, that of a sometimes part-time "bookman" while pursuing his writing career -- very successfully, as both the reading and movie-going public know; McMurtry is the author of, among others, "Lonesome Dove," "The Last Picture Show" and co-screenwriter for "Brokeback Mountain."
McMurtry provides scores of anecdotes about the books (over a million), people and places he has encountered during the course of a half-century of book-buying and book-selling, of book store ownership, and of people who, like me and him and many others (but not enough) who love books for what they are. As he puts it, "A bookman's love of books is a love of BOOKS, not merely for the information in them."
Speaking of chapters, McMurtry wrote 109 in "Books" but don't let that throw you. Most are only a page in length, another factor that makes this an enjoyable and easy reading journey.
For anyone who wants a true insider's view of the book-selling business -- whether you're just curious, and highly recommended if you're seriously considering opening a bookstore or book trade business -- "Books: A Memoir" is fascinating and fun.
(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
A Working Writer's Daily Planner: Your Year in Writing
Ju;eS, March 13, 2009
It's not out yet so I can't review it but it sounds great, especially with all the information it will provide that will be plugged into the calendar dates already. Lord know we writers all the orgznizational help we can get!