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I have a problem. An addiction.
I like to read. A lot. And I read fast. Actually, more of an eater.
When I first moved to Italy, I used my paltry salary as an excuse not to buy the 12 euro books that beckoned me. I knew I would finish them in a few hours, and would have to work just as long to pay for them (yeah, you do the math).
So for a while I made myself happy by buying Penguin Classics, THE cheapest books in English in Italy. You know, the light-brown binded books for only €3.60? (I saw them for one pound in London) Dickens, Bronte, Bronte, Austen, Melville, Hardy, Steinbeck. I thought I was doing myself a service in re-reading the classics.
Since I’m married to an English lit major, I always lose those dinnertime literary discussions.
But after a while, the classics got to me, and I had read 20+ and picked out a few favorites. Reading ye Olde English can also be a little tiring. Almost like reading in Italian. When any of my students mentioned buying one of these books, I discouraged them until they were at much higher levels of English - or buying those simplified versions that use more up-to-date verbs and expressions.
Now that I have a little extra income, my old urges have come creeping back. I’ve managed to stave off the shopping urge by buying some big-ticket items every few months. But the books…they are there.
When I was in London in January, I bought 9 bestsellers…and finished them at the beginning of February. My checkbook protested.
This weekend, too lazy to head to Milan since it was raining, I decided to check out a bookstore in Pavia that supposedly sold English books. I made my way to the “lingua originale” sign and stood in front of a stash of about 100 books. My heart leapt and jumped from book stack to book stack.
I tried to focus on the titles and already envisioned narrowing down my purchase to accomodate how much cash I had…until I noticed the 20 copies of Agatha Christie books, a boxed set of Dan Brown’s books (of Da Vinci Code fame), and even “Breaking the Da Vinci code books.” No! No! It was all wrong. It was worse than an airport bookstore! I spent 15 minutes desperately looking for something to jump out at me, and the only books that jumped out at me were ones that I had recently bought or read.
Frustrated, I left the bookstore in a depression. I just wanted one little English book. I went home and continued reading a book in Italian I had started in the bathroom, but I set it aside quickly. That’s not what I wanted. I glanced at my nightstand. A book lay there from September, an impulse buy in Target before I came back to Italy. I had given up about 30 pages in because I was uninterested, but it was such a large book (800 pages), I figured it had to get better. I reluctantly picked it up again and was ready to give it another shot.
Three pages later, I threw the book across the room. Sante, working at the computer with his back to me, turned quickly to assess the situation and if any flying objects would be coming his way soon.
“What’s wrong?”He searched the floor frantically for the tarantula or small furry creature that should be pummeled with my 6 pound book.
“I don’t want to read that book.”
“Sei matta!” I guess he was right. I was a little crazy. Or more exactly, mentally ill.
So I have been taking steps to cure my illness.
I have been experimenting with eBay lately and taking advantage of the U.S. Postal Service’s new M-or Media Mail rate (really cheap!!) for printed materials. I bought a few lots of used books and had them shipped over, only that it takes 6-10 weeks so I will be short of books a while yet.
So, while I wait for my next trip to a real bookstore, I am cultivating my choices.
I seem to have seen more movies on the IMDB’s Top 250 Movies than read books from Time’s All-Time 100 Novels. Ironically, they then state that “All-Time” is English-language novels since 1923. Vabbč. Compare that to BBC’s The Big Read which was compiled in 2003 by their readers. I have read quite a few on that list.
Some other ways I like to keep track of new and interesting books…..The Orange Prize for Fiction (wiki, official site) longlist has been released. Of course, The Pulitzer Prize is always interesting. Also, check the Man Booker prize for Commonwealth citizens, or the International Man Booker (for everyone).
Any books you would recommend? Any sources you consult to keep you up-to-date or to get recommendations?
10 responses so far ↓
You are ill but so is my husband. We do have 50+ boxes of books that we still have not unpacked. I likek to read too but he reads fast and voraciously. You guys should start a book club.
Anyway, good luck with feeding your obsession. Have you tried Powells.com for reading lists and award winners. Also I subscribe to the Seattle Times online and once a week I get a list of book to read, along with reviews. Hope this helps.
There are many free books available online you know…
http://www.gutenberg.org/
Take your laptop to bed and read books online: http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/
Mom
get yourself down to the nearest 4/5 star hotel, find their bookcase ahd help yourself. I do this all the time and find all the new releases that the tourists leave behind! Or if you want something that will last try searching Amozon.uk, for sagas or series, the shipping is much less than fron the us. Maybe us expats should set up a book swapping ….thing…!!good luck
Have you read Nelson Demille books? I am a newbie to his books, and love them. i stock up when i go to the states. i have a bunch of books i was willing to sell (for cheap, cheap) at the last expat get together - sold a few. however, all my fav books, I can’t seem to part with. haha
I’m sure I left a comment here the other day!
Book wise I take the books I,ve read to the nearest hotels and swap them with the books guests leave behind.I manage to pick up a lot of bestsellers for free that way. I also try and organize book swapping evenings with the nearest expats, we all bring a bag of books along and fight for the ones we want!
Anyway, thanks for offering to help…I seem to be really ignorant at blogging.
1. I cannot figure out how to put other peoples blogs in my sidebar, everyone seems to do it, I’ve seen mine in a couple and would like to repay the compliment.
2. When I post more than 1 photo they pile up unevenly together in a group and I can’t move them. I want them all on one side, one on top of the other!! Is it so difficult?I’m going mad here!I’d be grateful for any help!
I don’t even know if I should leave my email address here or can you get it from expats?
Hey Sara
If you ever want to borrow or trade any books let me know.
Jennifer
Hello! I came across your site by accident as I am planning a trip to Italy in April after a 10 year hiatus. I suggest you check out libraryjournal.com. It has reviews and previews by editors and librarians. There is also a blog http://www.libraryjournal.com/blog/770000077.html I plan my leisure reading around those book reviews and most public libraries choose their books from libraryjournal reviews. Nytimes’ book review is also a great read. And of course, http://blogcritics.org/books/ Hope this helps!
I like Amazon UK as we don’t have to pay duty. Only problem is that EVERY package delivered to our house is stolen. Lovely. Isn’t it ANNOYING that the italian bookstores assume we english speakers read ONLY gialli and such??? Next time you are in Torino, try the english section in FNAC on Via Roma, it is excellent. There is also an entire floor of English language at Luxembourg in Piazza Carignano. Or give me a list and I will grab some books for you….
For me, the price of new imported books is the obstacle. (I miss my public library so much!) An option that I’ve been happy with is Ebay.uk. A lot of used books are sold as “buy it now” for a Ł or less, and if you make a few purchases from the same seller, the shipping costs per book become decent.
Also, I’ve never tried it, but the Paperback Exchange bookshop(papex.it) in Florence will supposedly ship new or used books to anywhere in Italy for a reasonable price.
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