PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 8, 2012 - 12:49pm

Post pics of your book collection.

Here's mine.

Ignore the films on the side. Yes, I know I need a bigger shelf. How do the books manage not to fall? I don't know.

Fylh's picture
Fylh from from from is reading is from is reading is reading is reading reading is reading February 8, 2012 - 12:54pm

My living room.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 8, 2012 - 1:05pm

Holy shit, I need bookcases. Nice collection, bibliophiles.

Mike Mckay's picture
Mike Mckay is reading God's Ashtray February 8, 2012 - 1:21pm

@Pandamask

Nice collection, too bad I don't own enough books to build towers yet and take care of that Nintendo 64!

@Fylh

You're making me jelly I wish that was my room and I can't help but notice you have an electric bass guitar, could I ask what kind it is?

Fylh's picture
Fylh from from from is reading is from is reading is reading is reading reading is reading February 8, 2012 - 1:28pm

That's a Thunderbird:

I bought it from a friend who works at a local coffee shop. 

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 8, 2012 - 1:31pm

@Fyhl

That's amazing...

@Aliensoul

Thanks!

@Mick Mckay

Haha I will. There's a Super Nintendo under that and a Nintendo next to it.

Fylh's picture
Fylh from from from is reading is from is reading is reading is reading reading is reading February 8, 2012 - 1:43pm

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 8, 2012 - 1:48pm

Sweet Christmas...

Mike Mckay's picture
Mike Mckay is reading God's Ashtray February 8, 2012 - 2:55pm

@Fylh

Nice, I could tell by the headstock. I was going to get that as my first but I ended up with the Schecter Extreme-4 its awesome. Been trying to save up for a Schecter Studio 5 string or an Ultra Bass which is a Thunderbird variant also Schecter with small bodily differences and a very high price tag. Sorry, I tend to lose reality when it comes to musical instruments.

Mike Mckay's picture
Mike Mckay is reading God's Ashtray February 8, 2012 - 2:56pm

Sweet Christ in an Easter basket that's one hell of a collection you got there.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin February 8, 2012 - 3:43pm

Very nice collections.

My own is smaller, I tend to rotate books back to the used book stores when I'm done with them.

Unless I want to display them, what I mean to say is that my bookcase is a conversation piece that serves as a case study in pretension.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 8, 2012 - 4:27pm

I know I'll probably be gutted for this but most of my books live on a kindle now.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 8, 2012 - 4:32pm

@Nkwilczy

Which books do you have on display?

@Aliensoul

I think having your books on a kindle sounds more convenient. I don't have one, but I do want one.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin February 8, 2012 - 5:14pm

The top shelf is reserved for political stuff, so it's a little wierd up front but evens out as it progresses:

Democracy in America, The Federalist Papers, The Anti-Federalist Papers, On the Social Contract, The US Constitution (pocket sized), Creating a World without Poverty, The Communist Manifesto, The Art of War, The Prince, The Great Derangement, Griftopia, Hope on a Tightrope, and a biography of Thomas Jefferson.

-----

The Collected Short Stories of Amy Hempel, Infinite Jest, In Search of Lost Time, Crime and Punishment, Island, Faust, Hells Angels, 1984, Down and Out in Paris and London, The Glass Bead Game, Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, Ruled Britannia, Survivor, A Scanner Darkly, Chicago Manual of Style, Gonzo, Margins of Philosophy, The Gnostic Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Tao of Wu, Dead Souls, Anthem, The Motorcycle Diaries, Clockwork Orange. Slaughterhouse Five, The Rum Diary, Lullabye, Consider the Lobster, Killing yourself to Live.

and below that, mostly history books like "The Polish Revolution," a few books about the civil war and the confederacy, a handful of alternate history books and below that the "books that not even the used book store was interested in.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 8, 2012 - 5:13pm

Sounds like a nice coolection. Why don't you post it?

How was Electric Kool Aid Acid Test and Faust?

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 8, 2012 - 5:14pm

I meant to say collection, but coolection sounds good.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin February 8, 2012 - 5:24pm

I mean, looking at it right now it's just that I'm ashamed of how orderly it looks. I envy the people who have posted their piles upon piles of books. I feel like my collection is tiny.

Electric Kool Aid Test is great honestly I really enjoyed it. I haven't been able to get into anything else that Wolff wrote, but I did enjoy that one. I read it because I loved Hells Angels and there was one scene in particular where the bikers and the hippies clash between Berkley and Oakland that I wanted to see "the hippy perspective on" and I felt like Acid Test was going to give me that side of the story. I came away with the idea that Hunter took what happened between him and the Angels somewhat personally and may have exaggerated those events. In any event, it was not quite what I expected and I enjoyed it.

Faust, well, I've got Marlowe's and I have Goethe's. I enjoyed them enough to keep them around.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 8, 2012 - 5:35pm

I think you should post it.

I heard about that book because I heard Ken Kesey was friends with the author or was connected to it in some way. The summary sounded interesting also.

I need to buy it.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin February 8, 2012 - 5:43pm

The Book is about Ken Kesey.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 8, 2012 - 5:48pm

Sorry, I haven't heard about that book in awhile.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin February 8, 2012 - 5:50pm

I don't mean to quiz you on a book you haven't read. I'm saying yes, that book is all about Kesey and it is awesome. If that's what you are looking for then go buy that book.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 8, 2012 - 5:52pm

Haha I know. I'll buy it. Hell's Angels was another one I had been wanting to read.

Pete's picture
Pete from Detroit is reading Red Dragon February 9, 2012 - 6:14am

Hell's Angels and Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test have some croosover.  It's really cool seeing how the two books intertwine in a few places.

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words February 9, 2012 - 7:39am

My once extensive book collection is down to one bookcase - everything else I gave to friends or donated too the library (I know where to find them if I need them again). If I'd kept every book I'd ever own, I still wouldn't have a Philesque collection.

Although I'd be hard-pressed to give up my comics.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters February 9, 2012 - 8:07am

I wish I could find a better picture, but I can't.  This was the library in the house I grew up in.  This particular photo was taken during the moving process, so it's messy and strange, but you get the idea.  The wall to the right had the same shelving full of books.  We donated some to Goodwill.  There wasn't room (or desire) for everything, but I adopted the lion's share.  The guy who bought the house ended up tearing it down. 

J.Dulouz's picture
J.Dulouz from New England is reading The Sirens of Titan February 9, 2012 - 8:52am

I moved out to the Midwest for a while in 2010, and sadly, had to ditch(donate) most of my books to make room in the truck for my belongings. Needless to say, my time out there was short lived, and I've since returned to the East Coast. Most of those books are still in the Great Midwest, because all I could manage to bring with me were 5 measly books. Guess I still have kind of a Shoebox of Doom going on though.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 9, 2012 - 9:33am

@Postpomo

Can we get a picture of that bookcase?

@Averydoll

That's a great collection. Not odd at all. I tried placing a couple more books on one of the stacks and it began to topple already.

@J.Dulouz

I wouldn't mind a picture of the Shoebox of Doom.

Dave's picture
Dave from a city near you is reading constantly February 9, 2012 - 12:21pm

 

 

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 9, 2012 - 12:35pm

Dave, that is an awesome collection.

I love the Halo novels also.

If you guys can, check the Mugs of Doom! thread I started.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 9, 2012 - 12:40pm

Clowns??? Clowns, Dave??/ aaaaaahhhhh!!

Dave's picture
Dave from a city near you is reading constantly February 9, 2012 - 1:43pm

Thanks. Theyre disorganized as well, whatever. The special (to me) are on my desk, the rest were just thrown on the shelves by my wife. No matter how often I try to arrange, it always turns into a mess again. I think the clowns are doing it.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 9, 2012 - 1:46pm

I had a good fear of clowns after watching "IT".

Dave's picture
Dave from a city near you is reading constantly February 9, 2012 - 1:48pm

You cant trust a clown. Ever.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 9, 2012 - 2:07pm

I wouldn't. I always think they're trying to kill me.

J.Dulouz's picture
J.Dulouz from New England is reading The Sirens of Titan February 9, 2012 - 4:29pm

they are. with laughter.

and I would show the Shoebox of Doom, Panda, but last time I shared something so small and pathetic, I got laughed at. it scarred me. (there's the setup)

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 9, 2012 - 4:37pm

I won't laugh, I promise.

mattmicheliworld@gmail.com's picture
mattmicheliworl... from Austin, TX is reading The Catcher in the Rye February 9, 2012 - 4:42pm

Ah man, I wish I could take a picture of my e-reader shelf...Kidding. Nothing better than completing a book and placing it on your shelf to admire. It gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Recently added to my collection: All of Bourdain's shit. That guy is the Hank Moody of food/travel. I don't know how I just discovered that dude.

Also, looking at some of those pics above, I think we found the next episode of "Hoarders." Impressive and chaotic.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 9, 2012 - 4:49pm

Hahaha

Have you bought his yet?

J.Dulouz's picture
J.Dulouz from New England is reading The Sirens of Titan February 9, 2012 - 4:52pm

@panda-that's what she said.

@matt-Bourdain's cool. I've been watchin him since '08, I think.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest February 9, 2012 - 5:36pm

@Panda: I want that book because Hank Moody rocks and Califorinication rules!

Here ya go:

There are four or five more somewhere around. And yes, that is Twilight and the first three books of the Left Behind series. I keep every book I read. 

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 9, 2012 - 5:52pm

That's a nice collection. I like The Game by the way. I actually want to read Twilight. One time I could have bought the whole series at a yard sale for a dollar each. I kick myself (sort of) that I didn't buy them. They were in good condition too.

What's the series at the bottom? The one that takes up most of the shelf?

You should post on the Mugs of Doom! thread.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest February 9, 2012 - 6:35pm

The bottom shelf is all Hardcase Crime books. A publishing house that reprints old pulps from authors like Spillane, Gil Brewer and Earle Stanley Gardner. They also publish new authors like Christa Faust, Jason Starr and even Lawrence Block. 

I actually bought Earagon for a buck at a flea market. And found, at the same flea market, the Vachss book (the one with Vachss written real big on the spine) for fifty cents.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 9, 2012 - 6:48pm

That's a sweet deal. I either buy my books from amazon, garage sales, or a used bookstore in the next city. The used bookstore sells books mostly for 3 dollars. The garage sales I usually get a couple for free if I buy in bulk.

I'm interested in those pulp novels.

What's the name of the publishing house?

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest February 9, 2012 - 6:49pm

I do the same. Half Price Books is like two miles from my place, so that's nice. Amazon is like, a click away. The flea market has this guy who sells books. It's great if you like mysteries and romance. But, you have to do some digging to find the gems. I bought ten books and he only charged me ten bucks. I did some digging and found Choke, which was cool.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest February 9, 2012 - 6:52pm

Hardcase Crime... That's the pulp publishing house.

 

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 9, 2012 - 6:52pm

I can't buy books without getting deals on them. Unless they're hard to find or I'm really impatient.

Yeah it's cool finding the gems though, especially rare books.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest February 9, 2012 - 6:54pm

If you go to Amazon and look up Hardcase Crime book lots, you'll find packages with like 25 books for under $30. I got the majority of them that way and paid, I think, $25. But, I'd highly recommend finding one with Money Shot by Christa Faust. Hands down, my favorite Hardcase book.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest February 9, 2012 - 6:55pm

Not that Choke is rare, but I had it a long time ago, then sold it. It was nice to find it and only pay a buck for it.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 9, 2012 - 7:21pm

Once I get a bigger shelf I'll buy them haha.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest February 9, 2012 - 7:28pm

That's what floors are for... And staircases:

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 9, 2012 - 7:49pm

I want those stairs!

I'll put them on my desk. I live in an apartment, so no stairs. My floor is cluttered and anything on their is subject to be tripped on.