Old favorites also appeal—you can read them while medicated because you know them so well. McMurty’s Lonesome Dove (1999) at 856 pages hardcover may be too heavy for my drugged arms to hold up, but Donna Tartt’s The Secret History (2004) is more compact. That book includes a bacchanal, which is appropriate for a reader on oxycodone.
Ed just bought all six books in the Away Goes Sally series begun in 1934 by Elizabeth Coatsworth. These are a great memory from his childhood but new to me, so I’m eager to get into them while Ed dutifully provides ice packs and Schedule A narcotics to keep the pain at or below three. Finally, I’ll surely revisit two books from childhood that I had to hunt down (and pay a bit of $$ for because they’re both first editions): A Candle in Her Room by Ruth M. Arthur (1972) and Magic Island by Madye Lee Chastain (1964). In both a clever girl faces uncertainty but perseveres to save the day, something I hope to do once I’ve got two good knees and have kicked my oxy habit! What is your favorite book to read in an altered state?
By Carol Van Why, Library Committee Co-Chair
Originally published in the September 2019 issue of the 1666 Coffman Newsletter Close to forty residents and Library Committee members mingled in the Library on a recent September afternoon. Showcasing an enticing selection of forty brand-new books and sharing passions for reading was the impetus for the gathering. Our signout sheets tell us that Library users’ favorite books are fiction, mystery/spy/adventure, biography, and history. Our new books reflect those interests. We’re also happy to offer new titles from favorite Minnesota authors and timely books on politics and government. This year, while the Committee was developing its summer book order, it received a significant gift of Milkweed Editions books from 1666 resident Veena Deo. In addition to her position on the Hamline faculty, Veena serves on the Milkweed Editions board. Portland, Oregon’s esteemed “Powell’s Books” views Milkweed as one of the twenty-five most important small presses in the U.S. We were pleased to include the Milkweed Editions books at the open house. Hope you picked up our list of all of the new books. The list contains the books we ordered as well as each of the Milkweed Edition titles donated by Veena. Find extra copies of the 2019 list in the Library. Throughout October, unless already signed out by other residents, you’ll find those books on the Recent Arrivals shelves. |
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