My Updated Bibliography

I was at the Manila International Book Fair (SMX Convention Center)
And oh boy. I can't believe that I got the books that I got.

*I am just in heaven right now.

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Back story.
I've bought a lot of books this month, mostly because it's the discount season. And even though I can't read them right away...I buy more!

Again I offer no justification. I just relish the experience of seeing my humble bookshelf filled with books that I like to read. And besides, I've been reading so much theory na--I've lost touch na with fiction LOL!

--> I will get to read them eventually. I have an arsenal of books that I could, quote, swear, and weep by--anytime I want! And don't get me started on how I am loving the reception theorists most particularly Norman Holland (such a brilliant mind ) right now-->how he got me into reading Edgar Allan Poe.

--> Since the Man Booker Dozen and shortlist was announced, I have been itching to get Sarah Hall's "How to Paint a Dead Man", Byatt's "The Children's Book and the other one--the Quickening Maze.

-->what else...I've also been pining over the Folio Society over the net. Man, I want to become a member, and just have all of those beautifully crafted books. *sigh... but they are just so, so, so expensive--it's insane, I can't afford them (I mean I can, but the consequences would be too dire)

-->Also this month, I've been revisiting Kazuo Ishiguro. Mainly because his new book "Nocturnes" is coming out...(I am considering not waiting for the paperback and buying the hardcover). To coincide with the release of the book, Faber (his publisher) has recorded a special two-part interview, which i've been listening to over and over again since last week.

what can I say, I really am an Ishiguro fan, and hearing him talk about how all of his novels came to be is something I get excited about. My admiration for him went through the roof after hearing these. I loved how he related his feelings of growing up as a Japanese kid in Britain, how his first two novels were really just mainly about preserving the Japan of his mind--which he confessed was slowly fleeting.

but my most favorite part is the insight about his relationship with his wife, and how his novel "The Unconsoled" came to be. I've talked about it before na The Unconsoled is the Ishiguro book that I never finished mainly because I was put off by it. But after hearing his machination of the novel, this particular insight has renewed my interests for it--so much, that I scoured the bookstores for it.

Anyways


Here are the books that I got:

1. "2666" by Roberto Bolaño

I have Ishiguro to blame for this. He mentions this book in passing while he was trying to articulate his method of crafting the stories in Nocturnes. How---most of our famous novels read like separate stories--or a series of short stories, most notably Anna Karenina with Anna and Levin's story (Ha! I'm reading it right now, and I agree [a book I bought last month, I've been trying hard to look for the Pevear and Volokhonsky trans. for months na, so I immediately got the only single copy at Fullybooked Gateway when I chanced upon it] )...

Well what can I say it is a massive book. which is really ok, I am into door-stopper novels right now. The thick spines and the delirious lengths satisfy me (pls don't psychoanalyze that). Heck! I wanna read "War and Peace"!

I was very curious after googling the author... and the fact that he is kinda in the Borges/Murakami territory was a plus. The book was never completely finished since Bolaño died prematurely...but he intended it to be published as 5 separate novel. anyways... the Picador edition has a nice cover (another plus) --can't wait to get mind f*ckd by this.

2. "Labyrinths" by Jorge Luis Borges
3. "Jorge Luis Borges: Selected Non-fictions"

Where to start on Borges. Well my first Borges story was "The Gospel According to Mark" which literally blew away (you have to experience it!). After that I heard him again while I was listening to a discussion of "Atmospheric Disturbances". And finally the last straw was when I read Poulet's "The Phenomenology of Reading" where in he uses this powerful imagery from one of Borges' stories. Uhmmm well actually Baudrillard uses Borgesian imagery too in his discussions of the simulacra--so I just said f*ck! i'll be damned if I die never reading Borges!

and besides pronouncing his name is really fun, "Horhey Luwisz Borhess"

So there. I bought two.

His collection of non-ficition REALLY made my day.
Because I got it for a really cheap price! and mind you its a penguin deluxe edition with a deckle edge!!!

--> I was in the more popular bargain bins in the book fair the one by "A Different Bookstore" early in the morning to see the goods before people start rummaging for everything (and the are a LOT)...and voila! there it was...for almost 75% off... I bought it in a heart beat!

and I'm loving the essays already. I started reading "The Profession of Literary Faith" on my way back to the office (yeah, I couldn't stay all day) and man, I think this is going to be a great read.

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My original plan was to get some academic books that I might find useful for my paper...but I ended up not buying anything cause sobrang mahal...
like this

The Cambridge Introduction to Walter Benjamin.
Php 1,900 (!!!)

Gusto ko ngang sabihin dun sa nagtitinda kung pwede ipa-xerox ko nalang sandali. hehehe



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I should get a girlfriend. LOL!