It's been a month of journeys of many different kinds, our most recent taking the form of a road trip to the enchanting, historic city of Savannah, Georgia, where we were introduced to The Book Lady Bookstore. With its shelves densely packed with an intriguing selection of new and used books in every subject area - fiction and mysteries, philosophy, African-American interest, music, local history and Southern writers, literary magazines, local historical pamphlets, children's books, cooking, and more, The Book Lady is the kind of place a reader could spend hours browsing. Our finds included Erskine Caldwell's Deep South, Memories and Observations for my husband, and a signed, used copy of Virginia Spencer Carr's The Lonely Hunter, A Biography of Carson McCullers for me. It is interesting to note that, in their time, both Caldwell and McCullers inspired some strong reactions from fellow Southerners, who felt these authors didn't portray the people and places of the South in a very flattering light.
Share your best used book finds in the comments, and happy reading!
Sounds like you had an amazing month! That bookstore, wow! I'd love to visit there.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Reflections, but now it's on the TBR list. Loved Sad Cafe. Have you read "Illumination and Night Glare"?
Ooh! No, haven't read it - but sounds fascinating. Would be so interesting to compare the biography and the autobiography- getting the sense she was a very complicated, conflicted person and according to many acquaintances given to creating the occasional fantasy. Thanks for the recommendation!
DeleteLove that you got a signed copy! How wonderful. I'm so excited for the book club. Thank you for mentioning it here. :)
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! she made such an impression on me as a teen when I first read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, and on rereading her work as an adult, I'm only more in awe. The bio is fascinating - looking forward to reading Reflections in light of a much deeper understanding of the author! So many thanks for recommending it.
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ReplyDelete(blogger double-posted last comments, apologies)
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ReplyDeleteI have never read Carson McCullers. It's my life's great shame.
ReplyDeleteLOL :D She's wonderful, hope you get a chance to try one of her books, or maybe join the twitter conversation.
DeleteI've long wanted to visit Savannah - ever since reading John Berendt's very atmospheric Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Now I think I must follow your recommendations here!
ReplyDeleteOn the strength of your stellar suggestion, Jennifer, I've promptly added Reflections in a Golden Eye to my TBR, and I'm looking forward to the Twitter discussion on June 4th! :D
ReplyDeleteI've had a copy of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter for some time now, but haven't yet read it. In a way, this post of yours is fortuitously timed, because I was just asking myself the other day, "Why hasn't there been more Carson McCullers in my life?" Many thanks for spurring me on!
As for my best used book finds, wow... I think that'd take up an entire post at Novel Niche, which I'm not averse to doing. :D
Oh, you should do a used book find post! It would be marvelous. I think you will enjoy any McCullers you choose, (I myself am especially in love with The Member of the Wedding, and so looking forward to reading Reflections!)
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