I went to see if I could source the first ten items on the list from this local collection. I figured that as this list was the 100 most popular items owned by UK residents that a local library would contain many of the items. Of course, this is in fact true, many of the items are indeed part of my local library's collection. The trouble is, they are so popular that they are rarely not already borrowed by another member. The only book I managed to find was #96 - Tulisa Contostavlos' autobiography.
I then scoured the local charity stores to see if I could find any of the items available there - again, no luck at all. These books, being so popular, are rarely being donated to charity it would seem. Or, if they are, they are being snapped up by eager shoppers.
I began to despair. I had managed to borrow an electronic version of #100 The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance but due to software restrictions I wasn't able to get the darn thing to open on my Samsung Galaxy tablet - so that either means reading it on my laptop.... something I am not keen on doing, or ordering a copy from Amazon. I went for the latter in the end. I mean, even reading on my tablet is not the same as actually holding a paper copy of the book. Call me old fashioned, but I like to physically turn the pages.
Ideally I would like to skip into the future about 200 years. I'm pretty sure that there will be virtual devices available that will allow me to appreciate e-copies. I love the idea of being able to carry my 3,000 books in my pocket, don't get me wrong, but somehow reading items on glarey screens.... well..... it's not the same. And yes, I love the Kindles design of electronic ink, it's ability to be read in the daylight. I just hate the idea of a corporate ultimately being able to wipe my library remotely.... and the legal ownership of electronic media is still a very hazy area. I've heard it said that there is no way for me to actually resell or even gift my e-books to others if they are in Kindle format. Nope, not happy about that at all. If I buy a book, I expect to own that book. Completely. No hidden clauses please.
Yet I digress. We went to the movies today, David and I along with our son. We met up with his great uncle who works in the cinema screening industry and we all went to see Cloud Atlas (the book is #67 on the list, and boy am I looking forward to reading that baby now that I've seen the Warchowski screen interpretation - extraordinary is one word that John (Zack's great uncle) was heard to say as the movie finished - and I have to agree with him. It truly is a wonderful experience. We all highly recommend it - except for Zack, who only managed an "alright", however we're letting him sit on it for a few days before he truly commits to a final verdict.
On the way in, I noted that Zack was reading #87 on the list - The Hundred-Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared. He had picked up a copy in the bookstore at Gare Du Nord when we were returning from Paris on the Eurostar along with a couple of other books. Bonus!
David and I are both finishing Mary Stewart's trilogy. He's working his way through the final instalment, The Last Enchantment. There are three days left and I'm still only a quarter of the way into the Hollow Hills. Have I bitten off more than I can chew? Yeah, probably but ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell this is quite normal behaviour.
Kymmers, my good friend for many years now has suggested after my last blog entry that I don't attempt to re-read all the books I have already read - that I make a concerted effort to leave some space for the odd book of my own choosing. Sound advice from an avid reader. I may well follow it.
Of course re-reading isn't such a terrible thing - especially when the last time you read a book was approximately 30 years ago (as is the case with the Mary Stewart Merlin Trilogy) but I will have to take it as it comes.
I am very tempted now to be more lax about the order of the list though - I think I am going to have to settle for just reading items that are actually on the list. Mainly because of the fact that I am concerned that I won't be able to source them all as quickly as I will need them in order to complete the list in the allotted time. Also because one of the items, #90, is currently retailing for approximately £100 and so far isn't available at any of my local libraries. Ouch!
Oh, and also I really want to read David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas now. Honestly, go see the movie. It truly is wonderful.
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