OK, here are some symptoms of the book disease: first of all, I *will* send out those books I promised tomorrow. If you want books and haven't already sent your address, please do so.
On to my symptoms: - Inability to pass a bookstore without entering (and probably buying, though I'm getting better) - Thinking constantly about books and which new ones I'd like to acquire - Reading about fanatical book collectors through history, such as described in Nicholas Basbanes' A Gentle Madness, and thinking, 'hey, I don't have it that bad'. In Used and Rare Larry and Nancy Goldstone document their travels thru the book world. I actually calculated the amount they spent on books (it was about $7000) and reassured myself that that is more than I actually spend, therefore I am safe. - Flirting with the idea of collecting first editions (watch the price go up exponentially). For example, there is a beautiful copy of the Little White Horse in fine condition (fine is the top) for 507.00. Did I mention it was th e first UK edition? that's the real first edition, not the lowly first US edition. Now the Little White Horse is available in reprint copy for 10.00 or so (and I've ordered it - my original copy fell to pieces) but geez, the reprint does not have that beautiful blue cover with the gold embossing! And it doesn't have the illustrations either (I don't think. waiting to get my copy). I really want that 507.00 copy. Getting into first editions is dangerous. -spending time on listservs debating the merits of various books with like-minded fanatics. - Getting pissed off when a wanted book can't be found "because this is DC, damn it" and spending a half-hour calling bookstores because someone must have it and I don't want to wait for the internet version. And I want to own it too. The book was Anya Seton's Katherine and I found it in a used book store for 2.00. - Falling in love with expensive art books because they are pretty and buying them and then looking at the pictures, not reading the words. At least this provides a slight remedial education in art. For example, I successfully ID'd a postcard as the presentation of the queen of Sheba by piero della francesca. Chance in hell I would have known that before. - Feeling rather strange because you get into stories so much. Wanting someone to discuss with. Most people will humor you but sadly they will not understand. - mixing up your own life with what you read in stories - buying books faster than you can read them, but continuing to buy them anyway - Getting passionately worked up by those academic books in which people argue. For example, in "Dissociative Identity Disorder," just loving it when you compare and contrast Michael Simpson, a skeptic of many claims of child abuse, with Denise Gelinas, who says that therapists who treat trauma survivors are persecuted. - Feeling a personal sense of betrayal when an author does the "wrong" thing. For example, in one of Lois McMaster Bujold's books, she has Miles drift out of the military into another career. Waste a lot of life energy chastising Bujold in your head because Miles's career change should have been a conscious decision, not an accident! Will happily expound on this ad nauseam. Lois, how could you???? - Spending time daydreaming about books rather than living IRL. Get accused of being self-absorbed and selfish by parents. Wish your parents were more like the parents in your favorite book, Karen. - Spending far too much money on books. (and I mean a lot. thousands of dollars a year) - Spending far too much time typing emails in which you express your love for books. - Going to library science school thinking it's all about books and discovering it's really about databases. One great exception: the course on children's literature. Which was almost cancelled because so few students were interested. Get really angry about how library schools ignore literature. - Wonder if you are ever going to be good for anything IRL because you're so preoccupied with dreams and thoughts about books. Decide probably not (see self-absorbed and selfish, above). Settle for a career as a bureaucrat because you are sure that your real interests would lead you to starvation. However, hang onto the dream of having your own bookstore someday. - Spend a lot of time surfing the Internet for books and talking to people about books. When you see someone with a book, you *must* see what they are reading. It could be something fascinating that you haven't discovered yet! - When you hear about a great story, you must read it, preferably ASAP. None of this I learned in school btw. all despite school. it's a sick addition, but secretely I am proud of it because at least I will learn something. www.bookguys.com Mary
