bibliophile

[gfrancie]

Today in the post I received the book catalog from Persephone Books. They concentrate on publishing "neglected fiction and non-fiction by women, for women and about women." Now this is a phrase that could inspire a little bit of itchiness from me because there are a lot of books written for women by women that are just so awful.
I realize that part of that is the nature of publishing; in that a particular sort of book sells well and then there is a call to come out with a million more like it. This is why there is a significant glut of pink books with cocktails and shoes on the cover, and they are often about some woman who isn't sure what she wants but she is and really she just wants to find a nice guy who gets the fact that she can't wear orange on Tuesdays. Not to mention a hand-bag and for her Mom to stop doing whatever it is she is doing to irritate the main character. The other guilty sub-genre of "novels for women" is the historical fiction involving a feisty young woman who has her sexual side awakened when she makes humpy humpy with a member of royalty or a dirty commoner. Most likely both. I had a conversation with a friend this morning about these sorts of books and our lacking patience/interest with those books.
But back to the original point -persephone books, they offer some terrific books. It was absolute pleasure to read each of the summaries/commentary on each book. I love that personal touch, where it is like someone you know is telling you why a book is absolutely terrific and you must read it. (vs say... amazon review/summary)
Persephone reprinted Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day, which was a fantastic little book.
Another detail I love is their endpapers. Most of which are taken from early to mid twentieth century design like lino blocks, furnishing fabric and wallpaper.
I am beginning to put together a list of things I want from them. I suppose it would be a bit silly to just shriek and write all over the catalog, "EVERYTHING!!!!"

I also got another book catalog from another publishing firm and they are devoted to food writing and cookbooks. I haven't had a detailed look yet so I can't say whether I need everything from them. Yet.

As for my own reading habits; at the moment I am reading The Coffee Trader by David Liss and the latest Maisie Dobbs. While the latter is historical fiction with a feisty young woman, she isn't having her sexuality awakened by a noble or a dirty sheep farmer. Which makes it pleasant.

Comments

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

At first I read "humpy bumpy," but just plain old "humpy humpy" is still hilarious.

I find that those book genres read like magazines printed on more expensive paper. There's no point in bothering.

Though it does sound like there's a point in checking out Persephone. I need to get out of the current piece of nonfiction I'm trapped in and dive back into some delicious fiction-y goodness. Ahh, the life of an academic.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I think I am going to start using the term "humpy bumpy". I like that even more.
I think you might like what this company prints. Some really interesting stuff. Some historical, some cookery, some dandy fiction.

[needlediva.livejournal.com]

the genre that has put me completely off most modern fiction is the story that goes along pretty good, maybe a little romance, at least a little sex, an entertaining story with a little thought-provocation--and two paragraphs before the end--Rocks Fall, Everybody Dies, or some other equally pissing-me-off twist, and i'm left all alone. fuck that. back to the murder mysteries.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I know what you mean.
I don't mind it if from the beginning there is that underlying sense of dread and you know that shit is going to go down and so on.
The Rocks Fall, Everybody Dies sometimes comes across as being lazy to me.
You need to see this catalog. So.Dangerous.

[needlediva.livejournal.com]

i went to the site last night and ordered the catalog. i am too easy.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

The catalog is opium in bookform.
The shitty shitty part is the exchange rate is LOUSY. I am thinking that if you decide to order we should go in on it together to save a little postage.

[needlediva.livejournal.com]

i am so there.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

A couple years back my wife's guilty pleasure was reading some pulpy gothic series put out by Linda Hamilton. Essentially, feisty hot vampire slayer has her sexuality repeatedly awakened by vampire lover, plus assorted human/werewolf/zombie lovers. I picked one up, read two pages, and put the damn thing down. She couldn't have a conversation with her main squeeze (a French vampire, apparently) without him calling her "ma petite" every other sentence. And no, that's not an exaggeration. She should have run him through with a wooden stake on principle alone.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

Sorry, it was Laurell K. Hamilton. Linda Hamilton was the feisty young waitress whose sexuality was awakened by a post apocalyptic soldier in The Terminator. :P

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I figured you meant her.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Ah yes. Her.
I could tell you stories about what a freaking pretentious little thing that author is.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

From what little I've read of her, I get that impression.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

She wants you to know what a serious serious author she is. Very important don't you know. *snorts*