Good. I'll remember that and combine them when the time comes. I rarely look in the used book stores in Vienna, but that book jumped up and down and waved and shouted at me from a store window two or three times until I just had to go in and buy it so it would calm down. You don't believe that? It sure felt like it. Then a few years later I saw a book at the National Library that I really, REALLY wanted a copy of: An out of print catalogue for the works of a monk who stitched gorgeous paraments. I looked on-line and found that the same book store had it. I called them and got downtown within a day or two. Now I keep an eye on the window.

posted by MarthaJeanne at 4:54 pm (EST) on May 7, 2008

We have a lot of overlap in our libraries. And there will be a lot more by the time I have all mine in. BTW Do you have a German title for Lehman's Christian art in Africa and Asia? My Afroasiatische Christliche Kunst isn't in yet, but I suspect they are the same book.

With the bilinguals, there's no way to tell whether the ancient language is there because the person can handle it or in spite of their not being able to handle it. My Greek is fairly bad. (Latin the same, Hebrew even worse)

I have Song of Songs because it was the only edition available when I bought it. I read the German (some of it anyway) when I was writing a paper. I'm not terribly likely to even look at the German again. On the other hand, I'm working on Greek again, so because I have it, I might just pull it out to get a taste of Origen's Greek. (At the end of the course.)

Synopsis I bought Greek/English deliberately. This way I can use the English most of the time, but check out how the writers varied the Greek when I want to get down to that level.

In general I like the fact that with bilingual editions there is some sort of check on the translation. A lot of early church stuff has been published in Latin or Greek/German editions, and I'm coming around to prefering them to English alone just for that reason. I want to be sure I'm reading what the original author wanted to write, and not what a later scholar thought he should have written. Besides the German slows down my reading pace, which is quite useful for these things.

posted by MarthaJeanne at 3:28 am (EST) on Apr 30, 2008

Hi Robert,

I just read your review of "Hungry Tide" a book I also loved a great deal. I read it last year before I started writing reviews for everything I read. I, too, gave it a four-and=a-half star rating.

I took a look at your profile and noticed that you love books about "travel, linguistics and languages" so I thought I'd write and mention that "Fieldwork" by Mischa Berlinski is a marvelous book that would fit in that category. It was a National Book Award finalist even though it is a first novel!!!

Also, you say you love "public transportation (rail, buses, scheduling)" ...another good (but not marvelous) book in that category is "The 8:55 to Baghdad" by Andrew Eame. I would never have read a book like this, but it was on one of my book club reading lists, so I gave it a chance and I am happy that I did.

I've written reviews for both those books...in case you're curious.

Reading your review of "Hungry Tide" made me remember how much I enjoyed that book.

Barbara

posted by msbaba at 11:12 pm (EST) on Apr 23, 2008

Here's a link to that wonderful used book store down in CT that I was telling your wife about yesterday.

http://www.bookbarnniantic.com/

It was great meeting you both.

G

posted by Irisheyz77 at 1:21 pm (EST) on Apr 21, 2008

Found you on the Christianity board. Suspect we have more than the 66 books in common listed as I've listed only about 15% of my library. Good to "hear" your voice online.

posted by medievalmama at 6:04 pm (EST) on Apr 12, 2008

Dear vpfluke, How wonderful to receive your reply. I attended General Theological Seminary. While I worked on my doctorate in religious education at New York University, I served as a part time associate at Holy Apostles. When I am in Manhatten, I still prefer to attend church there. I was last there when Bishop Tutu was at GTS for the opening of the new Center. I began using LibraryThing when I had to cull my library when I retired a year ago. All the culled books are listed. Now I am working slowly at my remaining collection. However, I am about to enter hospital for major back surgery and will not be able to lift anything heavier than 5 lb. or, for that matter, bend over. So it will be a while before the additions continue. I was thrilled to be able to preside at the Eucharist at the parish we now attend this morning. This was the first time since August 2006. I could not do the bending to distribute communion. Nonetheless, I was at last again at the table. The rector is tremendously generously and allows me to volunteer at the level my health will provide. Bless you in your continuing lay ministry in the church and in the world. Faithfully, Ann McElligott

posted by aepmc at 12:18 am (EST) on Apr 7, 2008

Dear vpfluke,
I have looked often at your library since we share, at latest count, 119 books. Since I am still in process of entering books and our libraries have common interests. I had been planning to let you know you were a library of interest to me. So welcome. Faithfully, Ann+

posted by aepmc at 7:12 pm (EST) on Apr 6, 2008

Hi;

We're up and rolling on the GEB read at http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=33412
Looking forward to your comments. Jim

posted by torus34 at 7:37 am (EST) on Apr 1, 2008

Welcome to our group. I wish I were nearly so organized about traveling, I always end up without that one essential piece of information. Usually it comes out alright in the end, but it's always very annoying. If you want to post anymore about public transportation drop by, I can always use more tips to make travelling easier^_^
Sydney

posted by sydaisy at 7:32 am (EST) on Feb 11, 2008

Hi, you have a typo in a tag, one of your linguistics books is tagged linguisitics.

posted by jimroberts at 5:57 am (EST) on Jan 25, 2008

Dear vpfluke: Thank you for your wonderful Christmas greeting. Yes, Christ Himself is with us! God be praised for Emmanuel, "God with us"!!! All the fullness of the Godhead resides in us through Him! May you, your wife and all whom God has put on your heart be blessed by Him! Have a blessed New Year as well. yangguy

posted by yangguy at 5:48 pm (EST) on Dec 25, 2007

Hi Bob,
thanks for your reply re bestsellerlists.
You are right - Der Spiegel has had bestseller lists for some decades now - but they do not seem accessible without paying for access to their online archives.
Thanks anyway!
Kind regards
Christian

posted by cnrenner at 1:50 pm (EST) on Dec 17, 2007

Hi Bob,
I like your bestseller lists. Where do you get them from? I would like to have German bestseller lists for years past, but could not find the right sources.
Kind regards Christian

posted by cnrenner at 5:57 am (EST) on Dec 16, 2007

hey ^.^ you wanted a review on Sampson's 'Schools of Linguistics' so here you go.

I wonder, do you read all the entries in the 50 book challenge board?! (o=

mi

posted by mi-chan at 7:48 pm (EST) on Dec 13, 2007

You are the only person besides myself who had the Dept 56 catalog so this led me to your library. Quite impressive. I have read all the Jan Karon series and see you have the Cookbook as well. Have you tried the famous "orange marmalade" cake yet?

Happy Reading

posted by investory at 1:19 pm (EST) on Oct 24, 2007

Hello..logged on after a long time and saw your message. Rumer Godden doesn't seem very fashionable these days but a few of her titles (including the two volumes of autobiography) are all time favourites, like comfort food. Have been trying in vain to get hold of China Court and Lady and The Unicorn..but even the staggeringly well stocked second hand bookshops in Hay On Wye(Wales)didn't have them. And some of the shop owners were a bit dismissive, as though I had very plebeian tastes.

posted by catface at 1:47 am (EST) on Aug 16, 2007

vpfluke: I'm glad that you found the Hazelbaker edition! Thank you too for the explanation on combinations. Enjoy the journey along the Highway of Holiness to the Celestial City. yangguy

posted by yangguy at 9:17 pm (EST) on Jul 17, 2007

Just a thought, but if you'd like to find a place to start with your planned reviews, there's a Go Review That Book! community. It's basically a game where someone picks a book for you to review out of your library or out of certain tags, you read, review it and so on.

It can be a great way of picking books to review when the pile is too daunting. Thought you might be interested. If you are, drop me a message for an actual invitation, or you can, of course, search the group page.

Hope this wasn't spammy.

posted by Caramellunacy at 3:53 am (EST) on Jul 5, 2007

Bob, I hope you do make it up for Readercon, I think you might like it. Besides the programming, there is a whole ballroom filled with almost nothing but books! There are several authors who cross genre lines like John Crowley, Karen Joy Fowler, James Morrow, Jeffrey Ford, Elizabeth Hand and Maureen McHugh. If you 've looked at previous years' schedules on the website you'll get the gist of what we talk about. If you do come, look for me in the bookshop (a.k.a Dealers Room), which is what I'm overseeing once again this year. Best, Lois

posted by avaland at 3:50 pm (EST) on May 19, 2007

Yes, we do seem to think along similar lines.

posted by dawh at 9:05 pm (EST) on May 15, 2007

Hi,

I already had a catalogue of my books, using readerware. I must admit I'm happy I've changed this way, but I uploaded about 2,000 books all at once. Newer books, and some where I've recently added to a series I've tagged. I will fill in other tags as I can, or as I find the time and willingness, but I do agree tags are useful, it's just rather daunting looking at so many to do all at once!

posted by lewispike at 6:08 am (EST) on Mar 14, 2007

Bob, thanks for the encouragement to join up. I've been busy but may do it soon.
Fred

posted by Freder1ck at 12:08 am (EST) on Feb 12, 2007

My collection includes books that my wife owns. I have about 3000-4000 books, and am in the process of cataloging them, about 100 a week. My interest include public transportation (rail, buses, scheduling), travel, linguistics, some fantasy and science fiction, Oulipo, religion, Episcopal church, mathematics, almanacs.

posted by vpfluke at 12:11 am (EST) on Jan 13, 2007