This brought back so many memories! You have done a wonderful job breathing life into the event that was the Brandeis book sale. I always loved eating at Hackney’s with you guys, too. We should go there the next time you are up here. Great job once again showing a side of the family that I will treasure for a long time.
Thoroughly enjoyed the full read, Charlie. I loved the way the pilgrimage metaphor weaves and threads its way repeatedly through the essay. I sense your loss of this wonderfully disciplined event.
As someone who has always loved--and briefly worked in--used bookstores, I really enjoyed reading this. Your use of religious metaphors throughout the story really pulled it together, especially at the end. I gave you a shout-out in today's edition of Mindful Mondays :)
Loved this. Thank you – a true bibliophile! You’ve brought to mind many a half-forgotten recollection of the pre~ screen age: the joys of books, book people and events. I remain very attached to the heft of books and the lovely scent of a new hardback volume, and nostalgic wanderings around the stacks in second hand bookshops – the secret glee of finding a coveted title no one else’s noticed. While modern commercial interests rule the market in general here in UK, some of us continue to make pilgrimages to book towns, such as Hay-on-Wye in the Marches (borders) between England and Wales. Second-hand booksellers in the rural outposts are where an occasional hidden gem can still be unearthed.
I am not American and I can tell that this brilliant, moving essay could refer to the small street vendors that were selling used books during the neighborhood fairs in my childhood place.
Also there, in the surrounding of Rome (Italy), those presences are slowly disappearing but still some book people nurture their very personal religion; last summer I was delighted in finding an old book shelf, full of used books, placed in the middle of a local green market, frequented by middle and low earning customers. The books were there, free to be picked up and taken home. And I was even more delighted when I went back to the place bringing two bags of books to donate, and an old gentleman rushed up to me to see what I had and started discussing about authors and themes.
And as for the essay itself, thank you: I have been traveling with you!
What an amazing story - I felt like I was with you on the drive and rummaging through the tents. My favorite hobby is browsing through 2nd hand book stores when I am in new cities - you learn so much about people and places from them, and get great books to read as an extra bonus.
An enjoyable trip in my mind to books and collecting. I was a transplant to Houston in the 70s.
There were many of the trips I made specifically to find books, many in Europe, visiting bookstores in places, I would never had on my own without my purpose of looking for books. The bookstores in Hay-on-Wye in Wales, Daunt Books in Marylebone, London, the bookstores and shops in the area of Bloomsbury in London, Libreria Achille in Trieste, Italy, and many others.
I loved this read more than I can say. Collecting and learning about books helped me cope with the loss of a child (and amassed me over 2000 books) and my collection is so special to me. Thank you for sharing!
This is such a nice read. Not really used to reading long essays anymore, but I gulped this one down in one go. Love it.!
This brought back so many memories! You have done a wonderful job breathing life into the event that was the Brandeis book sale. I always loved eating at Hackney’s with you guys, too. We should go there the next time you are up here. Great job once again showing a side of the family that I will treasure for a long time.
Thoroughly enjoyed the full read, Charlie. I loved the way the pilgrimage metaphor weaves and threads its way repeatedly through the essay. I sense your loss of this wonderfully disciplined event.
Loved this -- what a fantastic piece of writing!
So nice to read something written so clearly from the heart. How lucky you are to have such a memory as this.
I just found your newsletter.
You are such a gifted writer.
This remarkable essay transported me to a different time...I felt as though I had experienced this annual ritual myself.
As someone who has always loved--and briefly worked in--used bookstores, I really enjoyed reading this. Your use of religious metaphors throughout the story really pulled it together, especially at the end. I gave you a shout-out in today's edition of Mindful Mondays :)
Loved this. Thank you – a true bibliophile! You’ve brought to mind many a half-forgotten recollection of the pre~ screen age: the joys of books, book people and events. I remain very attached to the heft of books and the lovely scent of a new hardback volume, and nostalgic wanderings around the stacks in second hand bookshops – the secret glee of finding a coveted title no one else’s noticed. While modern commercial interests rule the market in general here in UK, some of us continue to make pilgrimages to book towns, such as Hay-on-Wye in the Marches (borders) between England and Wales. Second-hand booksellers in the rural outposts are where an occasional hidden gem can still be unearthed.
I am not American and I can tell that this brilliant, moving essay could refer to the small street vendors that were selling used books during the neighborhood fairs in my childhood place.
Also there, in the surrounding of Rome (Italy), those presences are slowly disappearing but still some book people nurture their very personal religion; last summer I was delighted in finding an old book shelf, full of used books, placed in the middle of a local green market, frequented by middle and low earning customers. The books were there, free to be picked up and taken home. And I was even more delighted when I went back to the place bringing two bags of books to donate, and an old gentleman rushed up to me to see what I had and started discussing about authors and themes.
And as for the essay itself, thank you: I have been traveling with you!
What a beautiful story - I can feel the deep connection you have to your father and the book trade. A perfect Saturday morning read.
Just a credible story in a flood of memories that you have shared with us. Thank you so much Charlie thank you so much.
What an amazing story - I felt like I was with you on the drive and rummaging through the tents. My favorite hobby is browsing through 2nd hand book stores when I am in new cities - you learn so much about people and places from them, and get great books to read as an extra bonus.
An enjoyable trip in my mind to books and collecting. I was a transplant to Houston in the 70s.
There were many of the trips I made specifically to find books, many in Europe, visiting bookstores in places, I would never had on my own without my purpose of looking for books. The bookstores in Hay-on-Wye in Wales, Daunt Books in Marylebone, London, the bookstores and shops in the area of Bloomsbury in London, Libreria Achille in Trieste, Italy, and many others.
Great tribute to lovers of books and those who help them find great new treasures.
I loved this read more than I can say. Collecting and learning about books helped me cope with the loss of a child (and amassed me over 2000 books) and my collection is so special to me. Thank you for sharing!
This is an outstanding piece. Thank you.