Daily Diversion #398: Strummer’s Superpower

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I’m pretty sure that Strummer’s superpower is always knowing when I’m about to put new sheets on the bed.

Strummer under the covers

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A Bookstore is Gone, Long Live the Books! Part 4-Boswell’s London Journal

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A local used bookstore recently closed after 25 years. They had a fantastic going-out-of-business sale. While part of me feels “guilty” for taking advantage of their sad circumstances, the rest (and logical) part of me knows that they needed to sell as many books as possible. Through these books, a bit of their entrepreneurial and intellectual spirit will live on. With that idea in mind, I’m doing a limited-run series where I’ll spotlight each of the volumes I “adopted” from this sweet little shop. Shine on, you bookish gems!

Today’s selection? Boswell’s London Journal.

Boswell’s London Journal

DETAILS:

  • TITLE: BOSWELL’S LONDON JOURNAL 1762-1763
  • AUTHOR: JAMES BOSWELL
  • YEAR PUBLISHED: 1950
  • MCGRAW-HILL PUBLISHING/YALE UNIVERSITY
  • PREFACE: CHRISTOPHER MORLEY
  • “NOW FIRST PUBLISHED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT”

WHY I BOUGHT IT:

James Boswell? Check. 18th-century London? Check. Journal? Check. Interesting jacket painting? Check.

Thanks for reading! I hope you like the new series. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

A Bookstore is Gone, Long Live the Books! Part 3-The British Cinema Book

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A local used bookstore recently closed after 25 years. They had a fantastic going-out-of-business sale. While part of me feels “guilty” for taking advantage of their sad circumstances, the rest (and logical) part of me knows that they needed to sell as many books as possible. Through these books, a bit of their entrepreneurial and intellectual spirit will live on. With that idea in mind, I’m doing a limited-run series where I’ll spotlight each of the volumes I “adopted” from this sweet little shop. Shine on, you bookish gems!

Today’s selection? The British Cinema Book.

The British Cinema Book

DETAILS:

  • TITLE: THE BRITISH CINEMA BOOK
  • EDITOR: ROBERT MURPHY
  • YEAR PUBLISHED: 1997
  • BFI PUBLISHING
  • SHOUT-OUT TO COVERGIRLS JULIE CHRISTIE (PICTURED, ABOVE) AND DIANA DORS (NOT SHOWN)

WHY I BOUGHT IT:

This one is pretty straightforward–I collect film books, and this is, obviously, a film book. It also partially fills a glaring hole in said collection: aside from volumes about/by individual performers and filmmakers, my section on British cinema is sorely lacking. So, you could almost call this a necessity.

Thanks for reading! I hope you like the new series. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

A Bookstore is Gone, Long Live the Books! Part 2–A Literary Chronicle: 1920-1950 by Edmund Wilson

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A local used bookstore recently closed after 25 years. They had a fantastic going-out-of-business sale. While part of me feels “guilty” for taking advantage of their sad circumstances, the rest (and logical) part of me knows that they needed to sell as many books as possible. Through these books, a bit of their entrepreneurial and intellectual spirit will live on. With that idea in mind, I’m doing a limited-run series where I’ll spotlight each of the volumes I “adopted” from this sweet little shop. Shine on, you bookish gems!

Today’s selection? A Literary Chronicle: 1920-1950 by Edmund Wilson.

A Literary Chronicle: 1920-1950 by Edmund Wilson

DETAILS:

  • TITLE: THE LITERARY CHRONICLE: 1920-1950
  • AUTHOR: EDMUND WILSON
  • YEAR PUBLISHED: 1956
  • DOUBLEDAY ANCHOR BOOKS
  • COVER AND TYPOGRAPHY: EDWARD GOREY
  • SHOUT-OUT TO “CHARLES D. KLAPP,” WHO OWNED THIS COPY IN 1957. THANKS FOR WRITING YOUR NAME IN THE BOOK!

WHY I BOUGHT IT:

I like Edmund Wilson, sue me. I don’t always agree with his pronouncements (far from it), but I appreciate his style. The elegant cover (by my beloved Edward Gorey!) makes this book a beautiful visual addition to my collection.

Thanks for reading! I hope you like the new series. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.