An Uncommon Pleasure: A Common Reader -- Book Catalog
May 05 '00 (Updated May 12 '00)
I have a dear friend whom I've never met. We used to write frequently, now less often. I keep meaning to write her a long letter, but with time the acceptable length grows until I feel guilty sending her short notes. My output attenuates and I grow more silent to her electronic ears.
Pardon me--is this a review on where to find books?
Yes, of course, I was just leading up to a dedication. You see, I told my friend about epinions and now she knows about my little vice and now can see how I choose to spend my time other than in writing to her about my new kid and my old kid and my ageless spouse. And any scribbling I do in place of that must be for the highest of purposes. In fact, her remark to me upon reading my reviews was, "How can you not have reviewed our favorite book catalog?" I had a ready excuse, but still she was right: I have not trumpeted my praises of this wonderful resource loud enough.
Janina, this review is for you.
A Common Reader
http://www.commonreader.com/
Above is the e-portal to a book catalog. And while you can do much from there, you must go to the (at this writing) first link on the top of the left frame on the page, "Do you have our print catalog?" follow it to a form, fill out the form and then read the rest of this opinion to see what you have done. The direct link to that form at the time of this writing is
http://www.commonreader.com/cgi-bin/rbox/cr.cgi
So now what is this catalog? Why the drama?
Well, you've just found the precursor to epinions.
Over ten years ago two people with catholic tastes and a love of great writing decided to make a go at life as booksellers. But instead of baiting the trap by opening a musty store on a shabby street in New York City, they decided to catch readers by casting about the country via the U.S. postal service and their wonderful catalog. Wise move, that. Once you buy from them you are hooked.
Essentially, these two have produced hundreds of reviews (pretty much, short epinions) about all of the books which excite them. (You can gather something of this effect by reading a passel of five star book reviews by mshawpyle and Grouch.) Every time I read the catalog I swear that I would read every book listed therein if I could. And that is one of the great things that makes this book catalog worthwhile: They only sell books they think are good.
And yes, all the books I've gotten from them are good, not a few, great.
(Just watch out for the bargain stack. They have a weakness for dotty British humour that revolves around satire based upon ironic eccentricity. So for the above statement to be true, you have to understand that I recognize that some of the discount books I've gotten are good in a satirical dotty eccentric British humour sort of way.)
A side benefit: This catalog gives a touch of class to the lavatory. No, we won't plumb the depths of this sociological fact of life for most literate households; and we won't discuss its merits vis-à-vis the Reader's Digest; but I will assert that it successfully fills a niche in your household. And if it doesn't, you should consider adding a small shelf....
And one more thing: The people who bring you "A Common Reader" have also donned the hat of publisher under the "Akadine Press" colophon. They (surprise!) bring back out of print books that they wish to offer.
It seems to me that they use this question as sole criterion for resurrecting a book: Is this book so good that it would be a crime to not make it available? Of course, I'm sure that they use good business sense on occasion, but their worries are lessened by this faith that comes through in their work: that good books will be recognized and appreciated --and bought!. Their faith is not misplaced. Not if I can have anything to do about it.
I cannot say enough good things about this catalog. I was so used to kicking myself for being suckered into buying "bestsellers" that I almost gave up buying any book that was new. Then I bought from this catalog. Now I have a new problem, one that I'd wanted for years: too many good books to read.
There is one problem, if you call it that. This catalog does not specialize in providing the cheapest price. To some extent this does not hurt them since a lot of their selections are obscure enough that you will not find the book readily elsewhere. But I have to admit, sometimes I let them hook me on a book series or author and I buy the remaining books elsewhere. This has happened for the exponos with the Patrick O'Brian "Aubrey & Maturin" series and with the Ellis Peters "Brother Cadfael" series. (For ferreting out best e-prices, I am a fan of evenbetter.com, which DoubleCoog has reviewed at this site.) Still, I try to buy from them whenever it doesn't make that much of an economic difference, for I wish to support them for this selfish reason: I would be very much saddened to see them fail.
Books I've bought? Endurance (which I've reviewed), Captain Blood, Life Among the Savages, Elements of Typographic Style, A Mass for the Dead, One's Company, The Sin Eater, The Zoom trilogy, and others. Excellent, excellent, excellent.
Okay, now go and fill out that web form. I didn't really expect you to do that until you've read my review. It was just a rhetorical flourish. I'm fond of rhetorical flourishes.
Your most humble and obedient servant,
--Mr. expono
P.S. If you want to tickle me, leave a comment if you order the catalog. I get a small frisson recommending this book catalog to people. I am well aware that not everyone will think that this catalog is the best thing since apple butter, but there are some that will, and to those members of my tribe--hail and well met!
P.P.S. The perspicacious among you will have already noticed that I have a link to the Common Reader website listed as one of my three favorite URLs. Take from that a sign of sincerity. If you think that I, Mr. expono, do not review enough books, then consider "A Common Reader" to be my proxy epinions for good books you should read.
P.P.P.S. A Common Reader spent a full page gushing about the then new publishing company "The Adventure Library" only to end the page with the information that the Common Reader was not allowed to sell any of The Adventure Library editions and that anyone interested would have to join The Adventure Library. That was a very selfless gesture. The editors said that they felt that they owed their readers any information about excellent reading anywhere it arose. I think (but I could be wrong) that these days A Common Reader does offer some Adventure Library editions. I hope so; for once you read one of those excellent real life stories in a gorgeously bound volume, you'll become an Adventure Library member like me.
P.P.P.P.S. Now go fill out that web form. I mean it, you won't regret it.
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Epinions.com ID:
expono
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Location: Houston, Texas
Reviews written: 51
Trusted by: 56 members
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