Yeoman's in the Fork Blog

Well folks, it seems like every so often I get the urge to snatch up a book on book buying, selling and hunting and one that never seems to disappoint is the modern classic (in my opinion) 'Books' by Larry McMurtry. This book is written in uncharacteristic McMurtry style and is quite possibly the easiest read I have ever encountered. Others tell me that is because I am so enthralled with the topic. McMurtry seems to lay out the adventures and sometimes misadventures of a modern bookman better than I have ever read. Everyone knows that McMurtry was a bookman, but does everyone know that McMurtry lays out his thoughtson the digital revolution in this book that hit the stores a few years back? With ease and simplicity, McMurtry tells the stories of how and why he ended up starting a book revolution with his Archer City, Texas locations... "We always wanted not just books but a shop" is found on page 209... That sentiment rings of familiarity to me and on my part at least, seemed unexplainable. It is great to see that others in the business not only have the same calling (money has to be involved of course), but followed their true passion in the book industry and turned up a gold penny. I read McMurtry and it is like being at a great bookfair, which most of us reading this would at least say is better than the perfectly cooked rib eye with a side of creamed spinach. The names and shops in the book are a who's who in the book world, most of which I grew up admiring...

Thank you, Larry McMurtry. Thank you for your passion, your excellence and for your drive to hunt out treasures passed over by others. Thank you for keeping the used book business a thriving profession and thank you for giving the US a little piece of 'Hay on Wye.'

"It's hard to buck an emerging culture, but pluralism is still possible - one need not really abandon the rich book culture that was there before." Larry McMurtry from 'Books' (page 208)

 

Categoried under:  Modern Literature