My first edition of TRAVELS, Michael Crichton’s autobiographical book, came in the mail today. It’s a lovely object.
Several years ago, I consciously changed my book collecting approach to put less focus on accruing and more on curating. I love owning books: love the way they look, smell, and feel in a home, but I also don’t want every room in the house to be a library. I still buy books, obviously, but I’m more selective in what I choose to own a physical copy of. For some authors, whom I still enjoy reading but whose books I no longer need on my shelves, I may instead buy the Kindle version of their newer books. I’ve also taken to upgrading books by my favorite authors from a cheaper copy to a nicer edition (where it makes sense). Sometimes it’s buying a first edition, like with TRAVELS. Other times, it might be a copy from a specialty publisher, like Folio Society or Centipede Press. It’s changed the flavor of collecting for me in a way I’ve enjoyed.
I still love a cheap paperback, though, especially the ones that came out during the 50s and 60s. Two of my favorite sf books are from this era: Edgar Rice Burroughs’s THE LOST CONTINENT and HIDDEN WORLD, by Stanton A. Coblentz. I have a paperback copy of both, and even though both books have pages that have been slowly trying to escape their binding for decades, I can’t imagine ever letting go of them.
LISTENING: “Give Me Money”, Abby Webster
LAST WATCHED: NAPOLEON DYNAMITE