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Reading Choices
October 9, 2011
I have been thinking about how I choose books to read when I am facing difficulties. I am coming to believe it has to do with the nature of the difficulty.
Two weeks ago, on a Monday afternoon, my computer died. I didn’t mourn its death as much as I cursed it since I hadn’t read its dying beeps as a warning. At least not soon enough. So when I went to turn it on, it sat there, its little blinking circle that tells me it is booting up just blinking endlessly. I hoped and prayed it didn’t mean what it did—but it did, as my computer guy who came over the next night confirmed. It was dead.
Suppressing my rage at myself I ran it over to our local Mac store to see if they could recover my hard drive. Every piece of information I had and needed was on that, and it was . . . not backed up. I hadn’t backed up on flash drives for about two months. I didn’t have an external hard drive, despite my computer guy’s recommendation a year earlier, and I didn’t pay much attention when someone I trust also recommended an online storage system a couple of months before.
I had no one to blame but myself, and I was doing that very well. I screeched into the small parking lot of the store. They had been swamped when called earlier, but now they were blessedly empty. Two guys were behind the counter when I walked in.
Keeping a very tight lid on my emotions, I explained the problem. One guy tried to get it up but could not, which only increased my tension. He explained the costs of trying to get the data recovered and the possibility that they could not, then sold me an external hard drive, which they would need if they did recover the data. It took all my effort to keep my voice low and controlled, but I did it because I needed them to work on it as soon as possible. And being a bitchy customer was a guaranteed way to put myself at the very end of the line. I couldn’t afford to indulge my fury.
Uppermost in my mind was that fear that if they couldn’t get my data back I would have to try to replicate all my professional contacts for BiblioBuffet, all the authors, publishers, agents, writers. And, worse, I would have to try to restore—rebuild from the website—all the columns with their links and images. Then there were my databases, all nine of them, without which BiblioBuffet would likely collapse.
I went to work the next morning sporting a veneer of calm but with a very upset stomach. I hadn’t eaten in more than two days. I had hardly slept, and probably looked like hell. I locked myself in my office and tried to concentrate on my work, but it was hard. All I could think about was what was lost and wondering what I would do if they could not recover it.
Then—miracle of miracles—the store called that afternoon. They had been able to recover the hard drive. I told the guy he could have a kiss, a dozen roses, or chocolate so happy was I. (He chose the chocolate.) So I drove over there after work, handed him his Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and wrote a check for $265. Money I did not have to blow, but money that seemed small in comparison to what I got back.
But my adventure wasn’t over yet. With a dead computer and no desire to go deeply into debt for a new one, I agreed to buy a used computer from my Mac guy. He had one of the same generation if slightly newer. But given his schedule it would take four more days.
And that’s why there was no issue last week. I didn’t get this new-to-me computer back until after 8:00 pm Sunday night. Since no work had been done in the last six days, I made the decision to forgo the issue of October 2. I didn’t fancy being up until 2:00 a.m.
During those six days I did some reading but I have to say that it felt abnormal. By that I mean I couldn’t concentrate on any book. I found myself skimming lines, pushing the book aside, picking up another, constantly looking up, wondering what email had come in, what I needed to do. I simply not forget that even though the data was back it wasn’t yet mine. And that undoubtedly explains why I could not forge that normal separation between computer time and reading time, where I can forget the computer and concentrate on the pleasure I derive from reading a book.
Nevertheless, I did finish two books: Murder in the Rue de Paradis, a mystery by Cara Black, and No Way Down: Life and Death on K2, the true story of a 2008 mountaineering disaster by Graham Bowley. Unfortunately, I cannot say whether either one is really worth reading. I just don’t remember much.
I kind of resent reading two books and not remembering, but I can forgive myself this time. But it’s something I want to note. Reading in the face of true tragedy can often and has been in the past a sanity saver, a break from the pain and horror. But a computer death, though a disaster, hardly qualifies as a tragedy. I found it interesting that reading a book in this case was not only not a break but even an actual irritant. Odd. I don’t really know why, and I don’t believe it had to do with my choice of reading material, in this case light and, especially as regards the mystery, not particularly memorable, which I deliberately chose.
I think it worth spending some time pondering why a tragedy needs a deep read, often classical fiction—Anna Karenina was a surprisingly comforting read when the death of someone I loved deeply occurred—yet a disaster (or near disaster as in this case) demanded something more on the light side, and even then it didn’t get my full attention. And I don’t think it had anything to do with the intervening years. The answer lies deeper than that. It’s something worth understanding.
Upcoming Book Festivals and Fairs:
The book festivals are coming faster than the holidays. At this rate, there is likely to be at least one in your state. Check out this upcoming week’s ones below.
Location: Clarksdale, Mississippi
Site: Coahoma Community College and other venues
Festival: Tennessee Williams Festival
Date: October 14-15
Honoring one of America’s greatest playwrights, this town, where he spent his childhood, has been putting on this festival since 1993. With the exception of the Friday lunch, the Reception Dinner at the Clark House, and the Saturday Supper at the Ground Zero Blues Club (and these at very reasonable prices), all events are free. There will be readings, scenes, lectures, a monologue competition, an acting workshop, an open house with tours, an organ recital, Porch Plays, and more.
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Site: Legislative Plaza and the Tennessee Capitol Building
Festival: Southern Festival of Books
Date: October 14-16
For three days (Friday from noon to 6:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm), well over one 200 authors and more than forty exhibitors will be at this festival. You’ll also find an amazing variety of sessions (talks, panels, presentations), and a superb array of events geared to both children and young adults (though these are on Saturday and Sunday only).
Location: Battleboro, Vermont
Site: Various venues in downtown Battleboro
Festival: Battleboro Literary Festival
Date: October 14-16
This three-day festival says it is for those “who read books, those who write books, and of the books themselves.” Sounds good! Thirty-nine authors, special events including a film screening of To Kill a Mockingbird, video art projections, a poetry slam, author talks, children and young adult events, panels and presentations, and writing and poetry workshops will all be part of this incredible fair.
Location: San Francisco, California
Site: Various venues in the Mission district
Festival: LitCrawl
Date: October 15
LitCrawl is actually the final night of the famous Litquake Literary Festival, and takes place in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission district. The year, the night features 450 readers and seventy-nine readings at numerous locations. Phase 1, which takes place from 6:00-7:00 pm, offers a choice of twenty-two events; phase 2 (7:15-8:15) has thirty-one events, and phase 3 (8:30-9:30) offers twenty-five separate events. There’s even an After Party beginning at 10:00 pm. All the events are free, but some venues require attendees to be age 21 or older.
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Site: Minneapolis Technical and Community College
Festival: Twin Cities Book Festival
Date: October 15
This whole day festival (10:00 am to 5:00 pm) includes a book fair (with eighty vendors and thirty-nine exhibiting authors), a used book sale, a festival raffle, the Literary Magazine Fair, and more), the Morning Mixer, a wide variety of author readings and presentations, panel discussions, and a Children’s Pavilion with readings, music, presentations, and special activities all day.
Location: Sautee-Nacoochee, Georgia
Site: Sautee-Nacoochee Center (283 Highway 255, N)
Festival: Georgia Literary Festival
Date: October 15
This festival is “a celebration of the state's rich and diverse writing heritage” and “filled with authors, storytellers, musicians, book lovers, food and mostly a way of connecting readers and writers that is both fun and free to all” from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Site: Copley Square
Festival: Boston Book Festival
Date: October 15
Though only in its third year, this festival has become the largest literary event in New England. More than 100 authors and thought-leaders will come together to join attendees in workshops and participatory events (such as readings and Spoken Words), enjoy live music, visit vendors, and get their books signed. Whatever your interests—nonfiction, fiction, children, young adult, poetry—you’ll find events and authors here of those genres here. The first events begin at 10:00 am and the last, the keynote address by Michael Ondaatje, begins at 7:00 pm.
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Site: Lincoln School
Festival: Rhode Island Festival of Children’s Books & Authors
Date: October 15
Fourteen authors and illustrators will be making appearances to give 30-minute presentations on their “life, work, and philosophy.” The public is welcome to attend—there is a $5 charge—to meet and talk with them and get books signed. Between talks, there will be the opportunity to participate in bookmaking crafts, enjoy a musical performance, and enjoy lunch.
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Site: Grapevine Convention Center
Festival: North Texas Book & Paper Show
Date: October 15-16
Another used, rare, and collectible books fair, this one runs for two days: Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Three dozen dealer will have used, rare and collectible books, ephemera, autographs, photographs, maps, prints, postcards, Texana, and much more.
Location: Northampton, Massachusetts
Site: Smith Vocational School
Festival: Pioneer Valley Book & Ephemera Fair
Date: October 16
From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, more than eighty-five book dealers in all manner of old, rare, and used volumes and various ephemera will be there to entice booklovers with all kinds of goodies. Admission is $6, but at the link provided above you can click to print out a $1 discount card.
Location: New York, New York
Site: Holiday Inn on 57th Street
Festival: NYC Collectible Paperback & Pulp Fiction Expo
Date: October 16
Twenty authors will be making appearances at this year’s show to meet with attendees and sign books. Unfortunately, Gryphon Books, the host, has very limited information on their site so you should call or email them for more information. But if you are a pulp fan, this should not be missed.
The Pub House:
NESFA Press (New England Science Fiction Association) is an unusual choice here because it doesn’t in any way meet the definition of a trade publisher. Instead, it publishes books “by the guest of honor at selected conventions—usually Boskone and occasionally the Worldcon.” In addition, they also publish classic science fiction that would otherwise be out of print and occasionally “reference books of science fiction and science fiction fandom.” So what’s in it for readers? Some good reading. Released earlier this year was Admiralty: Volume 4 of the Collected Short Words of Poul Anderson, with more stories written over the fifty years of this award-winning writer’s career. From These Ashes: The Complete Short SF of Frederic Brown is another collection that includes the author’s complete short fantasy and science fiction stories (excepting only two). And Norstrila by Cordwainer Smith is the author’s only SF novel, the story of a boy from planet Old North Australia and how he buys Old Earth and finds both himself and the Earth changed by that transaction. This revised edition corrects a number of errors and omissions in previous editions.
Imaging Books & Reading:
Here’s Here’s something like what I am thinking of doing for one of my living room walls. I own several old Penguins plus this copy of 1984, and combining that with a couple of 1950s women’s magazines and some bookmarks I think I can create a rather interesting and off-beat literary display.
Of Interest:
The Alliance of Radical Booksellers is a bit behind schedule. They were due to launch on October 6, but obviously they ran into some problems. Well, they should be up soon and this is as good a time as any to highlight them here. The ARB, by its own description, is an organization of radical bookshops in Britain. Like all booksellers, they have suffered a serious decline so the remaining ones decided to come together for mutual support. These booksellers differ a bit from their mainstream counterparts in that they focus on “progressive” books. Indeed, one of their goals is to launch an ARB literary prize. In the age of decreasing liberalism, this organization and its member bookstores hope to create among readers a sense that freedom in thought as well as reading is important to maintain. I wish them luck in their commitment to both popular and unpopular books.
Until next week, read well, read often and read on!
Lauren
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