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Books, Writing, Book Review Daniela Gitlin Books, Writing, Book Review Daniela Gitlin

Spring Book Cull Continued

I was doing great letting go—releasing books into boxes then sending them on their way to loving new homes—despite a strong urge to cling. Hoarding is selfish. Books need to circulate and be read. But after folding closed the 36th box (at 45 books a box, about 1600 books), I hit the wall.

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Books, Humor Daniela Gitlin Books, Humor Daniela Gitlin

Book Review: Boomer on the Ledge by Molly Stevens

Slim, Funny and Good Looking. That would have been the lede of my Amazon review of Molly Steven’s Boomer on the Ledge but alas, the Overlord Purveyor of Everything has arbitrarily blocked, excuse me, is “not accepting” my feedback. I was distressed, as was my ever empathic doll (“not a child’s toy” designed and handmade by the author). But where there’s a blog, there’s a way.

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Books, Reading Daniela Gitlin Books, Reading Daniela Gitlin

Ode to Reading And Six Book Reviews

So many books, so little time. Frank Zappa 

Summer, fall, winter, spring, the season makes no difference: I read daily year round. If anything, more in the winter, when short days, long nights and weather help push back the world’s demands.

When asked why he kept his home stocked floor to ceiling with cases of liquor, W.C. Fields said, “Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water.” Substitute books for booze, and you’ve got me. 

But I have it better than Fields. Because a drink— no matter how good— is used up once drunk.

While a book, if it’s great, just begins to dish up its treats on first read.  Alas, great books are rare; that’s why they’re great. I hoard those, not to collect, but to re-read, again and again and again.

Which do I love more, the first read, or a re-read? Are they comparable? Does it even matter? There’s so much to love about reading. 

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