one chocolate at the bottom of the bag

Posted on August 5th, 2006 by Scraps.
Categories: Words, Writers, Books.

I have always kept one book unread by my favorite authors, for some time in the future when I really need it (and in some stressful times I have read a few of those saved books). I have done this since childhood; to this day I have never read one of the eight books in Enid Blyton's Adventure series (The Ship of Adventure), even though I read all the others obsessively (especially Valley and Circus and Sea). Several years back I bought the complete set for myself as a sentimental indulgence, but I've still not read Ship (and probably can't, at this point, since I can't re-read the Blyton I once enjoyed without wincing).

Some single books by authors that are saved for when I need them:

  • Samuel R. Delany, Empire Star
  • Gene Wolfe, There Are Doors
  • Joanna Russ, Kitatinny
  • William Gaddis, Carpenter's Gothic
  • R.A. Lafferty, Arrive at Easterwine
  • John Crowley, Beasts
  • Cormac McCarthy, Child of God
  • Patricia Highsmith, Strangers on a Train

And many others that will come to mind later. I'm such a slow reader that with most authors it really isn't necessary to do this, because I will never catch up with their output, but if the author is a favorite I will reserve one anyway that won't be read.

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