*A Collection of
Antiquarian Curios & Relics*
"When the
Jester sang for the King and Queen
In a coat he
borrowed from James Dean
In a voice that
came from you and me
Oh, and while
the King was looking down
The Jester stole
his thorny crown . . ."
--Don McLean, American Pie
1) FESTE . .
. Our
good friend Christopher Moore stopped by the warehouse on Saturday and signed
copies of his latest book, The Serpent of Venice (9780061779763)
29.99. His new one is sort of a sequel to his previous novel The Fool
(9780060590321) 14.99. Mr. Moore said that they can be read independently
of each other, but it is best to read The Fool first. He was quite
interesting and knowledgeable. 'He spoke of many things: Of
shoes -- and ships -- and sealing wax -- of cabbages -- of kings -- and why the
sea is boiling hot -- and whether pigs have wings.' He also mentioned
reading Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven's Lucifer's Hammer
(9780449208137) 7.99 in high school which, of course, permanently endeared
himself to me. In Lucifer's Hammer, our civilization has been
destroyed by a comet striking the Earth and there are armed enclaves where
people have gathered together for safety. However, they will only let you
in if you have a useful skill. He said that Daniel Handler and himself
had talked about this at a recent conference, and they had imagined themselves
outside the town gates yelling, "But I can get you metaphors! I know
what a simile is!" I replied, "Tell me about it." As
usual with signings, first come, first served . . .
2) LAVANCHE . . .
And then there are books that defy any categorization, Walter Potter's
Curious World of Taxidermy (9780399169441) 19.95 by Dr. Pat Morris would be
such a book. It is repulsive on several different levels, but yet, I
could not stop flipping the pages. I suspect that whoever had written the
movie script for the very underrated comedic gem Dinner for Schmucks
was familiar with Mr. Potter's body of work. Mr. Potter, a British
country taxidermist, has taken various stuffed animals, dressed them in
contemporary clothes, and situated them in Victorian-style dioramas. Some, like
the rabbit schoolchildren, are visually adorable, but subconsciously you
realize that you're looking at a bunch of dead animals. So it really
becomes kind of creepy. I guess my description can't really do it
justice; you'll have to check it out for yourself . . .
3) POMPEY . . . Greg
Iles new cookbook, Nachos Burning has been . . . Oh, it's really
called Natchez Burning (978062311098) 27.99, and it's not a cookbook
but, instead, a novel in a projected trilogy. As if living in Mississippi
isn't bad enough, Mr. Iles was in a car accident several years ago and loss
part of his leg. I'm not sure how extensive his book tour will be, but
this title has been getting tons of publicity. We should have more stock
next week . . . . . .
Odds
& Sods
Somebody
mentioned Mac Burnett's President Taft is Stuck in the Bath
(9780763663179) 16.99 yesterday, and I must admit that it is quite
amusing. Most American presidents are known for a particular
characteristic or foible. Mr. Taft was known for being ginormous, and it
is played to great comedic effect in this children's picture book. Study
it out . . .
Thomas Piketty's
Capital in the 21st Century (9780674430006) 39.95 is shipping
from the publisher on Friday, so we should have stock early next week.
Backorders are piling up. Order accordingly.
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