I went to the bookstore today in hopes of bringing home the much anticipated Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin. I was appalled (& a little excited) to see only one (rather beat-up) copy on the New Fiction shelf. Hoping I could find one in a bit better shape, I went in search of Mr. Franklin's book in the stacks - to no avail. It wasn't until I did my usual wandering about the store that I found a table stacked full (about 35 copies) of Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter hiding behind a column and another display. No idea why they had them hidden away, but I'm guessing that this store either got more than its share of first runs, or the first run was larger than previously reported. At any rate, the book was acquired and is now in my to-be-read pile. First sentence: "The Rutherford girl had been missing for eight days when Larry Ott returned home and found a monster waiting in his house." (I do so love a good first sentence).
Also acquired:
- Dreadnought, Cherie Priest (first edition, paperback)
- Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, David Sedaris
- Behemoth, Scott Westerfeld (just released this week)
- I Am Number Four, Pittacus Lore (aka: James Frey)
And... the store's last (signed) copy of Selden Edwards' debut novel The Little Book. This is probably best (hypermodern) collectible you've never heard of. You can still find signed first editions in the $20 to $50 range if you look hard enough, but mostly they'll list between $100-$200. [see AbeBooks & Alibris]
January Magazine did an excellent review back in September of 2008, stating "To miss reading it would be to risk missing one of the great reading pleasures you are likely to have."
Synopsis: Wheeler Burden one day finds himself mysteriously transported from 1988 San Francisco to the Ringstrasse of 1897 Vienna. This strange occurrence begins a tale that sprawls over 91 years, two continents, two world wars, and a century of intense intellectual, cultural, and political change.... A leisurely tale, the plot unfolds slowly through a complex structure of multiple viewpoints and narrators.... Myriad readers will enjoy this bookâespecially historical-fiction buffs and family-saga devotees....[Booklist, Ellen Loughran]
Since I now have two copies, I will most likely be listing one for sale as soon as the Shop is up and running. I hope to be able to provide you with some treasures that will quickly accrue in value (while helping me maintain this blog).
As always, thanks for reading!
.nicki
Labels: BN, Cherie Priest, Crooked Letter, David Sedaris, Dreadnought, Hypermodern collectible, Selden Edwards, signed, The Little Book, Tom Franklin, Ya Novels
And... the store's last (signed) copy of Selden Edwards' debut novel The Little Book. This is probably best (hypermodern) collectible you've never heard of. You can still find signed first editions in the $20 to $50 range if you look hard enough, but mostly they'll list between $100-$200. [see AbeBooks & Alibris]