I, too, am a book snoop. I find it incredibly sad to walk into a person's house and see either few books or unread books that have obviously been bought for display/decoration. I also go through my bookscases every so often and donate unwanted ones to either my library's bookstore or to a thrift store. (I've also found terrific books at both places.) I never considered book swapping at vacation rentals but it makes sense!
Completely agree about the absence of books... but let's not forget that many people read eBooks (I do on top of the paper ones). I have to give folks the benefit of the doubt, lol.
Martine, I love this piece. Like you (like most SinC folks, I suspect), I'm a book snoop. Whether it's a "small library", or the donated books for sale corner of a public library, or the bookshelf of a rental, I'm drawn to titles I know and, even better, those I don't. And now that you've publicly come clean, the slate is clear (for you to find new books to "borrow"). Ken
I hope this doesn't cause a chain reaction in the vacation rental world where property owners stop putting good stuff on the shelves, lol. Luckily my Substack reach isn't that broad, ahahaha!
I do this too! To my lawyerly mind, if I replace an item I take with an item of the same value then it’s not a theft (let’s make that value sheerly economic - think paperback for paperback - so as to avoid trying to measure literary value). And I adored both Night Fall and Mystic River. As a crime fiction/mystery writer DeMille and Lehane (especially Lehane) are heroes. I revere their smart dialogue, fantastic character portraits, and comments on the human condition. Their heroes are never too smart or too pure but, nevertheless, show heroism. The villains are never too black or one-dimensional. The stories hold you the whole way. I will never be in their league but I hope to be better for the striving. In other words, sister, if you WERE going to steal books you make some damn fine choices.
Yes! Thank you! That's why I didn't swap my paperback for the Skinny Dip Hiaasen hard cover... that would have been wrong! Now you ruined it a bit by using the word "steal" at the end but considering we're criminals of the same ilk, I forgive you, lol.
Both (Mystic River and Night Fall) really great books! Characters, plots, the works. Thanks for sharing them with me. But when I finish a book like that, my first impulse is to give it away - pretty much with the first person I see, or anyone I think might appreciate it. That's why my library is very small and select. I'm getting too old to go back and reread books when there's so much I've never even cracked.
Martine, couldn't agree more on Nelson DeMille and Dennis Lehane. Two greats, with their own distinctive styles. If a DeMille book had no cover or credits and a fan of his writing started to read it, the recognition of who wrote it, would be fairly quick. - Jim
I tend to give books away. Once I've read a book, I seldom reread it (there have been notable exceptions). If a book has been sitting on a bookshelf, or in a pile somewhere, I start looking for someplace else for it to be. I'll put them in a pile by the front door and beg guests to take one when they go. If I can't give it away, I'll throw it away.
It's very liberating. I'm the opposite of a hoarder. In my adult years, I've mostly been a renter, and I've lived in a few studio apartments. I'm in the habit of throwing away anything I don't have room for.
Two of my favorite books from two of my favorite writers. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Martine.
Thanks for reading, Joe.
Dang, we should have done the book swap! Good writing as always.
Next time!
I, too, am a book snoop. I find it incredibly sad to walk into a person's house and see either few books or unread books that have obviously been bought for display/decoration. I also go through my bookscases every so often and donate unwanted ones to either my library's bookstore or to a thrift store. (I've also found terrific books at both places.) I never considered book swapping at vacation rentals but it makes sense!
Completely agree about the absence of books... but let's not forget that many people read eBooks (I do on top of the paper ones). I have to give folks the benefit of the doubt, lol.
True. I guess that the physical-bookless people I've met haven't struck me as big readers, but undoubtedly I'm misjudging some of them.
You've come up with the perfect solution, Martine - an illicit book swap, I can't believe anyone would disapprove...
Illicit... such an interesting word, it summons rendez-vous under the light of the moon....
A book can feel that scintillating, n’est cafe? ;)
:)
Martine, I love this piece. Like you (like most SinC folks, I suspect), I'm a book snoop. Whether it's a "small library", or the donated books for sale corner of a public library, or the bookshelf of a rental, I'm drawn to titles I know and, even better, those I don't. And now that you've publicly come clean, the slate is clear (for you to find new books to "borrow"). Ken
I hope this doesn't cause a chain reaction in the vacation rental world where property owners stop putting good stuff on the shelves, lol. Luckily my Substack reach isn't that broad, ahahaha!
Most of your books. And to be fair, many are in French. But I'm still exploring and I'm thankful one of us is a hoarder.
I do this too! To my lawyerly mind, if I replace an item I take with an item of the same value then it’s not a theft (let’s make that value sheerly economic - think paperback for paperback - so as to avoid trying to measure literary value). And I adored both Night Fall and Mystic River. As a crime fiction/mystery writer DeMille and Lehane (especially Lehane) are heroes. I revere their smart dialogue, fantastic character portraits, and comments on the human condition. Their heroes are never too smart or too pure but, nevertheless, show heroism. The villains are never too black or one-dimensional. The stories hold you the whole way. I will never be in their league but I hope to be better for the striving. In other words, sister, if you WERE going to steal books you make some damn fine choices.
Yes! Thank you! That's why I didn't swap my paperback for the Skinny Dip Hiaasen hard cover... that would have been wrong! Now you ruined it a bit by using the word "steal" at the end but considering we're criminals of the same ilk, I forgive you, lol.
You’re right. I should have used the word “liberate”
Ahahah....
Both (Mystic River and Night Fall) really great books! Characters, plots, the works. Thanks for sharing them with me. But when I finish a book like that, my first impulse is to give it away - pretty much with the first person I see, or anyone I think might appreciate it. That's why my library is very small and select. I'm getting too old to go back and reread books when there's so much I've never even cracked.
You haven't cracked some of the books I brought with me to the US. Happy to share L.A. Confidential with you!
Martine, couldn't agree more on Nelson DeMille and Dennis Lehane. Two greats, with their own distinctive styles. If a DeMille book had no cover or credits and a fan of his writing started to read it, the recognition of who wrote it, would be fairly quick. - Jim
yes, very distinctive tone...
I tend to give books away. Once I've read a book, I seldom reread it (there have been notable exceptions). If a book has been sitting on a bookshelf, or in a pile somewhere, I start looking for someplace else for it to be. I'll put them in a pile by the front door and beg guests to take one when they go. If I can't give it away, I'll throw it away.
I've donated. I can't throw away, no way.
It's very liberating. I'm the opposite of a hoarder. In my adult years, I've mostly been a renter, and I've lived in a few studio apartments. I'm in the habit of throwing away anything I don't have room for.