Member: tombrinck

I'm surprised I haven't noticed your name, with the number of books I share with you. I saw your comments about recommended books on Basho that alerted me to your interests!

posted by bridgitshearth at 3:04 am (EST) on Nov 10, 2009

Tom

I know you posted a note to me months ago, but I do have trouble keeping up with things. The overlap in our libraries is a noticeable 15% eh, somewhat astonishing since the combination of interests I wouldn't think is too typical.

As for recommendations, well, if I look at books that make me sit and think for a long period, then there's a class of books written by scientists who, in 'renaissance man' style, pull together all sorts of evidence from diverse areas into some kind of global thesis (and, notably, are not crazies or pseudoscience). What stands out is Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel (and not shared among us). It was a very satisfying and important book, it has my highest possible recommendation. Diamond's more recent book is also very good but a little too long and harder to get through (still working on it). Interestingly, Lenneberg's Biological Foundations of Language (on both our lists) is my prototype of this kind of book, and, as out of the way as it is, would make the list of best books of all time (even though much of the evidence in it is now questioned or qualified).

As for lighter books, hmmmm, I just finished Jack Williamson's The Stonehenge Gate, which is a solid fun and easy read (although nothing inspiring) - it intrigued me since the main character shares enough characteristics with the author himself I've been trying to think what the Williamson was trying to say with the book (that's thinking of a sort I suppose).

posted by hblanchard at 10:20 am (EST) on Sep 29, 2008

Have you seen the (relatively new) anthology, Baseball Haiku (Norton, 2007), ed. Cor van den Heuvel and Nanae Tamura. Uneven, but delightful. Nice format and comments on each poet.

posted by bfrank at 6:44 pm (EST) on Dec 2, 2007

Thanks much. I'll check that one out. But, no, it wasn't the one that I'm searching for--which would have been published some forty years earlier. And the translation one I do know, but don't own. I admire--and envy--your collection on haiku.

posted by bfrank at 12:37 am (EST) on Nov 26, 2007

I appreciate--and agree with--your review of Net of Fireflies, which I had not read until after I had written mine. I just can't imagine why someone who gets so many things right in his essay and publishes in such a well-made book could put forward such incredibly bad translations. Along with the Henderson book I cite in my review, the other essay on haiku that I read early on was, by far, the most influential on my thinking. But I have lost it, and cannot remember the author or title. It focused particularly on the classic haiku--the one about the pond / frog / kersplash, by Basho. If you have any idea where I found this, I would be most grateful.

posted by bfrank at 7:05 pm (EST) on Nov 25, 2007

Oops, meant to add that I have my own personal library on here too as awssu. Added together they make quite a haiku collection!

posted by bhslibrary at 3:07 pm (EST) on Jul 21, 2006

Hi Tom, thanks for the comments. I am indeed cataloguing on behalf of the British Haiku Society. Well spotted!

posted by bhslibrary at 3:05 pm (EST) on Jul 21, 2006

hi tom, i listen to the design critique podcast. it is great. you mention library thing and joining it in your most recenty podcast and i decided to give it a shot. i thought i'd check out your collection. when i need usability stuff, i know where to go! - alex

posted by atrofim at 1:22 pm (EST) on Jun 7, 2006

I haven't gotten around to adding all of my ratings yet (obviously), nor have I even finished adding all of the unread books. But yes, sf, graphic novels, travel, and a little web programming. I'm actually a librarian-to-be at this point.

posted by kbuxton at 2:00 pm (EST) on May 21, 2006

It's a shame that there's no way to see the books you don't share with someone :) I can see you have a much greater interest in poetry than I do, but it's harder to dig for everything else.

I just put a hold on your book at the library :)

posted by kbuxton at 12:14 am (EST) on May 17, 2006