I have questions about books! - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

kipperfan · 11-03-2008, 02:03 PM

Hey all - hoping to tap the ever plentiful CP tree of wisdom as I am having a hard time finding what I am looking for. My question is multi faceted so bear with me.

Firstly I am looking for a good (reliable) online site that sells or facilitates the sale of first edition novels. I am hoping to pick up some first editions and online seems to be the only way to go if you live in Calgary - I have poked around a few sites - any recamendations?

Next part of the question is about the reading material itself, I am a big fan of the "literary classics" you might say. I am big into early 20th century American literature, depression era literaure being a personal favourite. I am a big fan of Steinbeck, Bellow, Kerouac, Sinclair, Farrell, Faulkner etc. and am looking for authors in a similar vein, or who write about this era in time anyways - I am hoping I can get some good suggestions from some Cp'ers out there!

Lastly I am wondering about the site Alibris.com, this may tie into the first question as they do sell first editions. I am wondering if anyone has ever purchased off this site as it seems like a great way to purchase cheap used books that are hard or impossible to find in Calgary. Any feedback?

I know these subjects are rather obsecure, I hope some of you can give me a hand.

peter12 · 11-03-2008, 02:05 PM

Ohhhh... you like what I like. Damn. I got nothing else. Cormac McCarthy writes some mind-blowing stuff in the spirit of the American classic lit. Can always go back to Mark Twain too.

octothorp · 11-03-2008, 02:16 PM

No idea on the first editions, but for a reading recommendation, have you ever checked out Charles Portis? He grew up in Arkansas and writes about the south with wonderful wit and excellent characters, and his first novel, 'Norwood' is among my favorite American novels. It was written in 1968 so it's not exactly Depression-era, but the parts of america that he captures in his writing are fairly timeless.

kipperfan · 11-03-2008, 02:27 PM

Thanks guys! I honestly have not read much Twain and think I probably should, so thats a good one - thanks. Octo - thanks alot my friend! I have never heard of Mr.Portis but I will more then definatley be picking up something of his now. "Norwood" ehh? Alright I will put it on the list.

troutman · 11-03-2008, 02:28 PM

Girly Sports and I talked about holding a "Literature" draft, like the hottie draft and music draft. There could be categories, like you find in the library/book-store.

Any interest in that?

driveway · 11-03-2008, 02:31 PM

check out this website: abebooks.com. They're based out of victoria, but are an online clearinghouse for booksellers around the world. They can connect you to rare booksellers.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 11-03-2008, 02:31 PM

I don't know much about first editions--what I have I've picked up at library and garage sales, and we're talking one or two books. For the most part I've been satisfied with reissued editions.

Your list of interests is pretty diverse. I probably don't need to point out that one of those things (Kerouac) is not like the others! Also, there's a pretty wide historical range there--The Jungle is almost thirty years before the depression, and Kerouac almost fifty years later!

However, given what you like, you may want to check out the work of John Dos Passos. A lot of people like his Manhattan Transfer, but I'm more partial to the U.S.A. trilogy--it's pretty much the Moby-Dick of the twentieth century. He was kind of a despicable person, but after reading that it was very hard to stand in judgement of him. If you like Sinclair, and Steinbeck, you'll love Dos Passos.

Also, check out the Marxist noir work of Kenneth Fearing. The Big Clock is a slender volume, but really fantastic in its own way, and prescient of corporate thrillers of the 1980s in a lot of ways. It very much speaks to the anomie of industrial/late capitalism, though it's more contemporary with Kerouac than with the depression.

If you're feeling plucky, there's Theodore Dreiser--but he's perhaps a bit earlier than what you're looking at. To me, the crucial depression-era authors are Nathaniel West and Dashiell Hammett--but that's just me. Noir fiction is making a huge renaissance--it shouldn't be ignored, since it captures something essential about that time period.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 11-03-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Girly Sports and I talked about holding a "Literature" draft, like the hottie draft and music draft. There could be categories, like you find in the library/book-store.

Any interest in that?

Hell yes. I'd be all over that like Stortini on a Flame.

Kybosh · 11-03-2008, 02:50 PM

I'm sure you've already read Bukowski stuff but I'm gonna mention in the odd chance you haven't. Read anything by Bukowski, he's a contemporary of Kerouac and the sort.

kipperfan · 11-03-2008, 02:56 PM

Iowa - thanks alot bro, great suggestions and yes, I realize Kerouac on that list appears somehwhat a misnomer but for whatever reason I lump him in, I love the guy and for whatever reason really liken his writting style in many of his works to that of Steinbeck whom I adore. To the matter at hand - its funny you mention Dresier, I have been looking far and wide in this city, Edmonton and online for a first edition copy of "An American Tradegy" but am having one hell of a time. I do appreciate his work though - despite the fact it is not quite gramatically pefect...ha! I am not very familiar with Hammett (though I have heard the name) not West but will definatley get back to youafter I have read some of their stuff.

And Trout - heck yeah I'd be in for that draft!

kipperfan · 11-03-2008, 02:57 PM

And BTW thanks for the site Driveway - I will be looking into that later on today.

troutman · 11-03-2008, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

Hell yes. I'd be all over that like Stortini on a Flame.

I'm setting up an album draft, but if you or kipperfan or someone else would like to start a Literature Draft workshop thread, I would definitely like to participate.

RougeUnderoos · 11-03-2008, 03:12 PM

F.Scott Fitzgerald wrote better books (or at least a better book) than any other Yank.

Sinclair Lewis books are also good. Babbitt and It Can't Happen Here are my favourites. They also happen to be the only two I've read. Babbitt is really good and has a cool painting on the cover. Or at least my copy does, but it's no first edition.

The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington is a good one. Orson Wells made a movie out of it but I think he died before it was finished.

William Faulkner is just depressing. He sure had a way with the word processor though. There's one part in The Sound and the Fury (I think) and it's from the perspective of a, err, mentally challenged person, and it is so well done it's kind of creepy.

I think any first editions of these books would be some kind of expensive.

Eastern Girl · 11-03-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Girly Sports and I talked about holding a "Literature" draft, like the hottie draft and music draft. There could be categories, like you find in the library/book-store.

Any interest in that?

I would be interested in that, or at least following along. I am always looking for new books to read.

octothorp · 11-03-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

William Faulkner is just depressing. He sure had a way with the word processor though. There's one part in The Sound and the Fury (I think) and it's from the perspective of a, err, mentally challenged person, and it is so well done it's kind of creepy.

This reminds me... I can't recall if it was ever posted here, but there's an annual short story competition in the US where contestants are asked to write something in a Faulkneresque style; the winner a couple years ago was a sort of George Bush memoir but told in the style of the part of tSatF that you're talking about.

edit: found it: http://www.slate.com/id/2113927/

worth · 11-03-2008, 03:42 PM

i'm pretty sure this will answer all your questions about books:

kipperfan · 11-03-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by driveway

check out this website: abebooks.com. They're based out of victoria, but are an online clearinghouse for booksellers around the world. They can connect you to rare booksellers.

Just checked this site ( a good one BTW, thanks again) and they do not have a single first edition copy of "An American Tradgedy" either! What do I have to do to track down this book!?

JohnnyFlame · 11-03-2008, 04:02 PM

If you would like to read a great current book check out "Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss. Excellent new author and an absolute gem of a book. Too bad we have to wait so long for the 2nd installment.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 11-03-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Just checked this site ( a good one BTW, thanks again) and they do not have a single first edition copy of "An American Tradgedy" either! What do I have to do to track down this book!?

Got 1000 dollars?

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Book...%3D54%26y%3D18

RougeUnderoos · 11-03-2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octothorp

This reminds me... I can't recall if it was ever posted here, but there's an annual short story competition in the US where contestants are asked to write something in a Faulkneresque style; the winner a couple years ago was a sort of George Bush memoir but told in the style of the part of tSatF that you're talking about.

edit: found it: http://www.slate.com/id/2113927/

Ha ha. That's great. Thanks.