A Year in Books/Day 196: The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations from Shakespeare

Posted on August 20, 2012 by maedez

Title: The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations from Shakespeare
Editors: Mary and Reginald Foakes
Year Published: 1998 (Columbia University Press)/This Edition: 2000 (Barnes & Noble Books)
Year Purchased: Early 2000s
Source: Barnes & Noble clearance rack
About: There is something off about heading to the Internet for your Shakespeare needs. If any writer cries out for an old-fashioned hard copy experience, it is the Bard of Avon. I will take this cheap clearance book over a Google search box every time. If you cannot find the quote you are looking for-or a suitable one you do not yet know exists-then you are a terrible, terrible contrarian in need of a scolding. Nearly 4000 quotations have been cross-indexed under a dizzying array of topics. The kicker? It was a labor of love by scholar Reginald Foakes and his wife, Mary (who died before it reached publication). How very Shakespearean.
Motivation: A dictionary + quotes + Shakespeare? This book practically screamed my name.
Times Read: Only as a reference tool, never cover-to-cover (it feels odd typing those words).
English: Title page of Shakespeare’s Sonnets (1609) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Random Excerpt/Page 83: “Well you deserve. They well deserve to have That know the strong’st and surest way to get.”
Happiness Scale: 10

Shopping for the Bookworm: William Faulkner Mini-Edition

Posted on August 20, 2012 by maedez

I put together this edition for the purpose of showing off a painting that I adore! Lest you get bored, I padded it with a few more related products from Etsy. Enjoy!

William Faulkner Canvas by CustomLife-$359.00

What an inspiring, center-of-attention piece! I’m not sure how much writing I would get done with Faulkner lording it over me like that. I’m afraid I’d have to banish him from my studio. He would look wonderful above my bar, though.

William Faulkner Necklace by ART HISTORY NERD-$20.00

I love jewelry that hasn’t been mass-produced by the tens of thousands. It’s a good thing that I have self-control, or I would own way too many pieces featuring writers’ mugs. I like Faulkner’s pipe and pensive pose here.

The Sound and the Fury at Random Voyeur Vintage-$14.00

A handsome1956 edition of Faulkner’s 4th novel (originally published in 1929). I love old books. Okay, I love books in general. Older ones just happen to be my favourites. This volume, with its gold embossed spine, is no exception.