"When you get confused, ride your bike and listen to the music play"
There is a guy who rides his bike every weekday morning around 7am up (down?) my street playing music - hearing the music at the end of the street and rushing over to the window to hear what song he is playing today as he rides by, is one of the most beautiful parts of my day - it's magic :) as humans we touch each other in the smallest of ways that we will never know
Thank you for mentioning Bill Walton . I was raised by my Hoosier father to follow the ethos of John Wooden and being raised in LA I remember rushing home from school to watch the Bruin games with Bill Walton. Also, in my home, Kareem Abdul Jabbar was a hero.
I believe in "the serendipity of the stacks", too! It's one reason I've never joined a book club... I really love the random hodge podge way I come to read what I read. I love perusing my own bookshelves, which always contain plenty of books I forgot I even owned! Or I'll find something in a Free Little Library, or I'll be on a mission to get to a bookstore to buy a book that I've read about (sometimes in your newsletter). I felt the same way about Jillian Hess's recent post in Noted about the Zettelkasten method for notes. I would never want to be so organized that I never discovered anything by chance.
The “serendipity of the stacks!” Yes! When I taught Eng Comp, I tried to instill that joy in my students. When I was RA for the Seminary of the Southwest’s theology professor, I would go often to explore the UT library stacks for books on Shakespeare. He gave me the best compliment, that I had eyes in the back of his head.
Sadly, though, I stopped at Half Price Books yesterday to pick up an order. I meant to look for a copy of Middlemarch because I’ve not read it, but got caught up in my other finds that I forgot Middlemarch. Came away with The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde (want to reread); M.T. Anderson’s The Pox Party (I’m reviewing Nicked, due out in July); Play, by Stuart Brown; and Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club (finally—it’s hard to get at my library).
Thanks for all you shared; it’s a bright spot in what’s been a stressful work week. Gonna spend some time with the wave.
I'm so excited that there are going to be two more Thusday Next books coming to the US. And I think Jasper's hoping to do a bigger US tour when they come out. I just got Red Side Story for my birthday.
Me, too! I haven’t bought Red Side Story yet, but was so excited when I’d heard that it was due out!
I used to work at BookPeople in Austin, TX, and was there for his Early Riser tour—a full house that night at the store. He spoke about the sad break in his writing; he asked which series we wanted him to publish next. Most said Thursday Next, but a couple of us booksellers said a sequel to Shades of Grey.
I keep hoping for a character named Christinabelle. When I saw him at the Texas Book Festival in 2012, he was making list of names that he found interesting, which might use for characters. He added mine to the list.
4. I feel less guilty about finishing off my evenings with old superhero comics now :) OK, I really don't feel guilty and revisiting these makes me appreciate the workaday professionalism (or lack thereof.) I also find the failed experiments interesting too, like when Marvel stopped putting punctuation marks in their word balloons...
9. Because I can't help but chime in on Stax (lol): if anyone liked Stax Soulsville, you really, really, really need to check out the Stax/Volt Revue Live in Norway 1967 if you haven't already. Clips are on YouTube, available on Amazon's Coda Collection channel (free trial), and the DVD is pretty cheap too. The documentary used quite a few clips from it. Booker T & the MGs (utterly vicious, badass version of "Green Onions") and the Mar-Keys open and back up the whole show and the Sam and Dave performance is incredible and may leave you exhausted even as a viewer.
Oh, and I sorta forgot that I have a brick from the original Stax building? ::facepalm:: I should post a pic in the "beloved object" chat thread...
#7 yes to serendipity in the stacks. When I was a children's librarian planning storytimes I would get lost in the stacks and find so many wonderful stories to share. I always found it magical to have books find me.
Sadly, many people want the books in perfect order because they are fulfilling a reading list and they don't want to stray.
I admit my picture books are in order by author. I did that so when a critique partner brings up a topic and I have a book to share, it's easy to turn around and grab the book. The rest of my books have sort of groups, but they move around when they get pulled out and then put away.
Thank you! Really needed these exact points today as I'm continuing on with my "12 weeks of fortitude" - chipping away every day at my goals for 12 weeks without worrying about progress on a day to day basis. Number 4. especially was helpful. After spending the day studying The Trial and Death of Socrates, I think I'm going to spend Friday night in, curled up with a light and fun book :))
Love ‘Serendipity in the stacks’. I don’t organize my books either. It’s also a great joy of mine to go to the library without a book in mind and come home with an armload of books I never knew I wanted to read! Thanks, Austin. I look forward to your Friday missives to brighten up my week, always.
“I believe so strongly in this serendipity of the fact stacks that I don’t even organize my books.)”
My books are not organized either. Though most of the art books are in the same general area. I often find what I need, not what I was looking for. Thanks @Austin Kleon for the newsletter I needed this week.
#2 reminded me of the late great Charles Sawtelle, bluegrass guitarist and "expert" (his business card had only his name and the word "expert") on a memorial to him in Boulder, CO is one of his many wonderful quotes "Never turn anything all the way up"
"When you get confused, ride your bike and listen to the music play"
There is a guy who rides his bike every weekday morning around 7am up (down?) my street playing music - hearing the music at the end of the street and rushing over to the window to hear what song he is playing today as he rides by, is one of the most beautiful parts of my day - it's magic :) as humans we touch each other in the smallest of ways that we will never know
Thank you for mentioning Bill Walton . I was raised by my Hoosier father to follow the ethos of John Wooden and being raised in LA I remember rushing home from school to watch the Bruin games with Bill Walton. Also, in my home, Kareem Abdul Jabbar was a hero.
I believe in "the serendipity of the stacks", too! It's one reason I've never joined a book club... I really love the random hodge podge way I come to read what I read. I love perusing my own bookshelves, which always contain plenty of books I forgot I even owned! Or I'll find something in a Free Little Library, or I'll be on a mission to get to a bookstore to buy a book that I've read about (sometimes in your newsletter). I felt the same way about Jillian Hess's recent post in Noted about the Zettelkasten method for notes. I would never want to be so organized that I never discovered anything by chance.
The “serendipity of the stacks!” Yes! When I taught Eng Comp, I tried to instill that joy in my students. When I was RA for the Seminary of the Southwest’s theology professor, I would go often to explore the UT library stacks for books on Shakespeare. He gave me the best compliment, that I had eyes in the back of his head.
Sadly, though, I stopped at Half Price Books yesterday to pick up an order. I meant to look for a copy of Middlemarch because I’ve not read it, but got caught up in my other finds that I forgot Middlemarch. Came away with The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde (want to reread); M.T. Anderson’s The Pox Party (I’m reviewing Nicked, due out in July); Play, by Stuart Brown; and Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club (finally—it’s hard to get at my library).
Thanks for all you shared; it’s a bright spot in what’s been a stressful work week. Gonna spend some time with the wave.
I'm so excited that there are going to be two more Thusday Next books coming to the US. And I think Jasper's hoping to do a bigger US tour when they come out. I just got Red Side Story for my birthday.
Me, too! I haven’t bought Red Side Story yet, but was so excited when I’d heard that it was due out!
I used to work at BookPeople in Austin, TX, and was there for his Early Riser tour—a full house that night at the store. He spoke about the sad break in his writing; he asked which series we wanted him to publish next. Most said Thursday Next, but a couple of us booksellers said a sequel to Shades of Grey.
I keep hoping for a character named Christinabelle. When I saw him at the Texas Book Festival in 2012, he was making list of names that he found interesting, which might use for characters. He added mine to the list.
4. I feel less guilty about finishing off my evenings with old superhero comics now :) OK, I really don't feel guilty and revisiting these makes me appreciate the workaday professionalism (or lack thereof.) I also find the failed experiments interesting too, like when Marvel stopped putting punctuation marks in their word balloons...
9. Because I can't help but chime in on Stax (lol): if anyone liked Stax Soulsville, you really, really, really need to check out the Stax/Volt Revue Live in Norway 1967 if you haven't already. Clips are on YouTube, available on Amazon's Coda Collection channel (free trial), and the DVD is pretty cheap too. The documentary used quite a few clips from it. Booker T & the MGs (utterly vicious, badass version of "Green Onions") and the Mar-Keys open and back up the whole show and the Sam and Dave performance is incredible and may leave you exhausted even as a viewer.
Oh, and I sorta forgot that I have a brick from the original Stax building? ::facepalm:: I should post a pic in the "beloved object" chat thread...
“Lighten up at night.” Im loving watching Pennyworth and finished the latest Bridgerton.
#7 yes to serendipity in the stacks. When I was a children's librarian planning storytimes I would get lost in the stacks and find so many wonderful stories to share. I always found it magical to have books find me.
Sadly, many people want the books in perfect order because they are fulfilling a reading list and they don't want to stray.
I admit my picture books are in order by author. I did that so when a critique partner brings up a topic and I have a book to share, it's easy to turn around and grab the book. The rest of my books have sort of groups, but they move around when they get pulled out and then put away.
So much magic on the bookshelf.
Thank you! Really needed these exact points today as I'm continuing on with my "12 weeks of fortitude" - chipping away every day at my goals for 12 weeks without worrying about progress on a day to day basis. Number 4. especially was helpful. After spending the day studying The Trial and Death of Socrates, I think I'm going to spend Friday night in, curled up with a light and fun book :))
Love ‘Serendipity in the stacks’. I don’t organize my books either. It’s also a great joy of mine to go to the library without a book in mind and come home with an armload of books I never knew I wanted to read! Thanks, Austin. I look forward to your Friday missives to brighten up my week, always.
Perhaps my favorite of your 10 Things Worth Sharing This Week since I began reading a year ago or so. Thank you.
“I believe so strongly in this serendipity of the fact stacks that I don’t even organize my books.)”
My books are not organized either. Though most of the art books are in the same general area. I often find what I need, not what I was looking for. Thanks @Austin Kleon for the newsletter I needed this week.
#2 reminded me of the late great Charles Sawtelle, bluegrass guitarist and "expert" (his business card had only his name and the word "expert") on a memorial to him in Boulder, CO is one of his many wonderful quotes "Never turn anything all the way up"
Hi Austin. I am so happy you are tucking into the Middlemarch! Thanks for the amazing list, as always. I am eager to check out the music selections.
Great issue as always Austin.
The serendipity of the stacks!!! OMG <3