Surely with all the stuff Joyce Carol Oates has churned out,
she has written something that would qualify as hard-boiled
or noir.
I am another person who has used a library card almost
forever, but that hasn't controlled my purchasing. At the
beginning of 2004 I made a resolution that I would try to
read three books of fiction from my collection for every book
I borrowed from the library or purchased. For non-fiction I
was trying for two for one. I never bothered checking the
results but this thread spurred me to do so. Did I achieve my
goals - of course not.
During 2004, I read 26 books from my collection, 30 from the
library, three gifts, and 34 that I purchased. During the
year I made two unplanned trips to England where I read 13
more purchased books that aren't included in the total. Had
to buy something to read while there.
About 60% of the books I read were crime books and the
first-time authors for me included Ken Bruen, Jason Starr,
Jim Thompson, Kem Nunn, Louise Welsh, Malcolm Pryce, John
Rickards, Terrill Lankford, James Sallis, Karin Slaughter,
Theresa Monsour, James Hime, Teddy Hayes and Jim Kelly. I
also bought and read Ian Rankin, John Sandford, John Harvey,
Kent Harrington, William Kent Kreuger, Richard Barre, Michael
Connelly, Ace Atkins and Randy Wayne White to mention a few
favourites.
The stats really don't seem too bad, but they don't include
the rest of the books I purchased as my total for the year
was 327 books. Yes, this means that I purchased 280 books in
2004 that I haven't read.
I blame the members of Rara-Avis for part of this as I am
always visiting thrift stores, hospital and church sales,
etc., looking for older paperbacks by authors mentioned on
the list. I'm also trying to complete my Brett Halliday and
John D. MacDonald collections
(Ross M., Hammett and Chandler are now complete) and find all
the books listed in the 100 Favourite Mysteries and They Died
in Vain books as well as Edgar and other award winners.
Luckily when you find them the price usually is less than
$1.00.
But I agree, it's difficult to return those library books.
Right now I have 20 on the reserved list and most are current
fiction such as James Lee Burke, Peter Bowen, William Tapply,
Jonathon King and C.J. Box, who I no longer collect in
hardcover, or new authors such as Harry Hunsicker, Lee Irby
and Megan Abbott, who I want to try.
I clearly suffer from biblioholism and the problem of too
many books, not enough shelves. I'm being forced to clear out
plenty of hardcover fiction so if you are looking for
something in hardcover that is not overly collectible let me
know offline and if I have it in my personal library
"discard" category I would be happy to send it to you for the
cost of packaging/mailing. William Denton got this deal on an
extra copy of Kent Harrington's Dark Ride.
Kent Morgan
RARA-AVIS home page: http://www.miskatonic.org/rara-avis/
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