While I was downloading John Irving’s new novel In One Person to my Nook, I was thinking of all the copies of The World According to Garp that I’ve owned. For years, every time I bought the novel, someone borrowed it and never gave it back.
Then there was the mistreated copy. When Lynne and I lived together in what I always call “that house on Francis,” I was sound asleep one night, no doubt dreaming of where I could get a fourth job (I had three–times were hard!). Suddenly Lynne stomped through the hall from her bedroom, flung open my door, and hurled The World According to Garp at me while shrieking, “YOU DIDN’T TELL ME [name of character redacted] DIED! I HATE THIS BOOK!” While I struggled to remember who she was and what she was talking about, she retrieved the book, marched back to her room, and continued to read.
I was looking for photos of “that house on Francis,” but all of them have people in them who we either don’t know anymore and who might not like ancient photos of themselves splashed over the Internet, or include an ex-boyfriend of mine who never gets real estate on this blog. However, I did find this photo taken in the dining room. It’s crappy-blurry and has blue scratches on it, but it’s Riley and me.
I’m sitting behind my typewriter because he always brought his poems and stories to me for editing and typing. And he’s probably reading my poems and telling me how to make them better. Actually, he’s flicking my very expensive tabletop crystal cigarette lighter and probably threatening to burn my bad poetry.
What I wouldn’t give to sit at a table and argue about writing with him again.
However, Lynne, we can skip reenacting that whole book-hurling thing. E-readers are pricier than paperbacks.
Boy, how the times have changed. Two years ago I was shouting and screaming that the world would have to rip printed books from my hands page by page from my cold dying hands.
Today, I have 110 books on my kindle, 35 of which I have finished reading.
Been thinking of rereading IHTBY, but when I took it down from the bookshelf it was so darn heavy, and there is no way I can slip it into my cargo pants when I go trekking on the Metro.
That’s life.
I’m not sure anyone’s ever called that book weighty before. 😉
I love my print books, but I’m okay with reading a lot of my books on the Nook so I don’t have to get rid of the books I love and read over and over so I can have their shelf space.
Most of Irving’s books are massive, Garp included. This story could’ve ended a lot differently if it hit you.
Right?!? I could have sued her! Except she was even poorer than I was then.
I love John Irving’s books, but haven’t read any of his later titles. Maybe it’s time…
I haven’t read all of his books–but definitely the big sellers. He’s one of the writers whose entire collection I figure I’ll eventually get around to.
Good times.
I think one of the sad things about e-books is that I can’t share them (at least not without sharing the e-book). A cunning ruse on the part of the publishers, perhaps?
I agree–especially in the same house with someone. Tom also has a Nook, and some (but very few) books can be loaned between devices. Or sometimes he just reads a book on my Nook when I’m not using it. But that won’t work always. I have some really good mysteries on mine that he’d probably enjoy a lot, though, if only we could share.