I attended Pulpfest 2011 with a list in hand of 36 colorful book titles that included "I Am a Teen-Age Dope Addict," "The Marijuana Mob" and "Reefer Girl." Here's why, and what I learned about the books, plus photos of some that came home with me.
Category: Classics
A thirst for fame: John Wilkes Booth
This historical novel about President Lincoln's assassination was published 50 years ago and is newly reissued by the New York Review of Books Classics. It's a great rip of a read that, unlike more contemporary historical novels, sticks close to actual events and people.
Old paperbacks: irresistible vs. collectible
News about Pulpfest 2011 got me thinking about vintage paperbacks, which will be part of the July fun. Here are some in my library, although I'm not sure they're vintage and collectible versus just old and irresistible.
A female assassin in this noir classic
Jean-Patrick Manchette's 1977 novel "Fatale" arrived in the mail. Here's why (you can do this, too) plus a brief summary of what the murderous vixen is up to.
Smart, hilarious (better?) book titles
During a week that's been unkind to my reading time, a TLC interlude of humor.
A retreat into the Yorkshire countryside
J. L. Carr's "A Month in the Country" is the story of a WWI veteran who escapes to the English countryside to restore his broken spirit. A gentle narrative big in meaning first published in 1980 and one of the New York Review Books/Classics. Also in this blog post, a YouTube video from the 1987 movie starring Colin Firth and Kenneth Branagh.
When failure means success
Here's the classic novel that launched me into 2011: John Williams' "Stoner." A champagne of books.
Separated by that pistol shot
One of the best books I ever read. A powerful evocation of regret after a minor and unintended act of unkindness. It should've been one of my 54 books in 54 years.
A Georges Simenon runaround
Some authors are so prolific their books can't possibly list the track record on the inside pages. Georges Simenon is one of them. We're talking a literary "oeuvre" of around 400 books, and it took three bookshops to help me find my way to a starting point.
Choose your page number
Book selection is not always about finding a good book to read. It's about finding a good book to read that fits your mood. Here's the solution an indie bookseller gave me, and it worked.
The monster in my home
A snake of books covering my dining room table became the sign it was time for a reality check.
A literary estate under siege
Katherine Anne Porter didn't publish many books, but what she did publish is considered to be some of the 20th century's best short-story literature. Her literary estate is in a messy court battle, summarized here on TLC. Also, my Katherine Anne Porter "Phooey!" book.
“Speak, Memory” and a book club
Jonathan Yardley of The Washington post wrote: "The impulse to rediscover and reclaim childhood is deep in human nature, and thus the chord 'Speak, Memory' touches is truly universal." His words define why this memoir became a classic and continues to be a favorite. I recently discussed it with a book club.
Why “My Dog Tulip” raises the fur
J.R. Ackerley's 1956 memoir published by the New York Review of Books Classic Series charms some readers and disgusts others. It's now an animated film, coming to theaters this fall. Here are my thoughts about the book, with links to movie trailers.
Missing the masterpiece
How do you know you've read a masterpiece? Over and over in Tom Grime's memoir "Mentor," the word from various sources planted itself on Frank Conroy's "Stop-Time." I read Conroy's classic, but too quickly and carelessly.
The Longest Chapter 