Buttonhole Books
July 5, 2006
Bookslut reports that NPR is asking authors about their buttonhole books, “the ones you urge passionately on friends, colleagues and passersby.” I have a small menagerie of books that fit this cateogry, the ones I have bought– some many times– for others. Not coincidentally, they are also the kind that can cause a real strain on the friendship if I get a negative report back! Here are a few:
- The Sound and the Fury (Faulkner)
- Infinite Jest (David Foster Wallace)
- Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven (Sherman Alexie)
- Lunchbox Poems (Frank O’Hara)
If I could afford it, I would give every poet I know a copy of Jack Gilbert’s Monolithos…
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All me-stream all the time.
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July 6th, 2006 at 1:56 am
Ironically, I’m trying to get started on the Faulkner right now. If I could only get used to this strange POV. I don’t think it’s going to be one of my buttonhole books, though…
One of mine is The Soloist by Mark Saltzman(sp?). So few good books about musicians, for some reason.
July 6th, 2006 at 3:53 am
I’ll look for that Salzman– I believe that’s the same person that wrote Iron and Solk? I enjoyed that.
The Sound and the Fury might grow on you. I struggled with it for the first 1/3 or so, then it just kind of fell into place and I was amazed…
July 7th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
Yes, “Iron & Silk,” and a VERY good book (non-fiction) “True Notebooks,” about his leading a writer’s workshop in a youth correctional facility.
The 3rd time I read the first 3 pages, I began to understand what, in fact, was taking place in the narrative, so I’m trying.
July 11th, 2006 at 1:21 pm
This Much I Know is True by Wally Lamb for fiction. And Sappho translated by Mary Bernard come to mind. I like that Buttonhole Books term.
November 28th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Hi.
Good design, who make it?
December 10th, 2007 at 2:05 am
Hi!
89.com
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:03 am
There was this guy see.
He wasn’t very bright and he reached his adult life without ever having learned “the facts”.
Somehow, it gets to be his wedding day.
While he is walking down the isle, his father tugs his sleeve and says,
“Son, when you get to the hotel room…Call me”
Hours later he gets to the hotel room with his beautiful blushing bride and he calls his father,
“Dad, we are the hotel, what do I do?”
“O.K. Son, listen up, take off your clothes and get in the bed, then she should take off her clothes and get in the bed, if not help her. Then either way, ah, call me”
A few moments later…
“Dad we took off our clothes and we are in the bed, what do I do?”
O.K. Son, listen up. Move real close to her and she should move real close to you, and then… Ah, call me.”
A few moments later…
“DAD! WE TOOK OFF OUR CLOTHES, GOT IN THE BED AND MOVED REAL CLOSE, WHAT DO I DO???”
“O.K. Son, Listen up, this is the most important part. Stick the long part of your body into the place where she goes to the bathroom.”
A few moments later…
“Dad, I’ve got my foot in the toilet, what do I do?”