The Book Thread Book • Page 187

might take my semi-annual break from fantasy to jump back into the presidential biography project

 

I’ve prob mentioned it before but if you want more like this check out Marlow Murder Club.

 

Taking suggestions for bookshelves! I've never had a nice bookshelf but now that I have my own office, the time is now

 

I use Ikea's Billy. There's several sizes so they can fit in any space.

 

Crazy that you came in here to ask that because I just moved into a new apartment and was going to ask you guys what your bookshelf setup looks like, haha.

 

You inspired me to try and do this. I know with my life and the way I read, this is going to take me the rest of my life, haha. So I'm going to make an Excel spreadsheet and keep track. I finally decided to do it after I saw some tweet about James Garfield's assassination. I was like I don't know nearly enough about the presidents no one ever talks about and I'd kinda like to know, especially since I teach Social Studies in middle school.

 

I will check it out, thanks!

 

hell yeah, I pretty much plan on this taking the rest of my life too haha. I started summer 2023 and have only read up to Jefferson, but each book has been incredible. There are a ton of options out there for the more well-known presidents whereas there aren't many option for someone like Martin Van Buren lol.

I have been using this page as basically written law. This dude read hundreds of presidential bios over the years and is continually updating the list: ***The Best Presidential Biographies***

 

I don't think I've ever bought a new bookshelf, just collected them from friends/family who were getting rid of them, or maybe picked up a couple at yard sales. I have six shelves completely full, but we're in the middle of a big house renovation right now so nothing is in its normal place and I can't take nice pictures. I considered building floor to ceiling built-in shelves in my home office, but I'm glad I haven't yet since I might be moving my office to the basement soon.

 

Two chapters in and I like laughter in the dark more than Lolita. I feel like it’s so much more accessible and weighed down by the prose.

 

I have a built-in bookshelf right by the windows at the front of my house, and it's bursting at the seams with too many books. might be my favorite corner of our home

 

Picked up Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury on a whim at the library. Apparently it's part of a trilogy of sorts along with Dandelion Wine and Something Wicked This Way Comes. I've read Something Wicked and loved it, but haven't read Dandelion Wine yet.

While his prose is a little saccharine and very flowery, it's often beautiful and extremely evocative. No one can describe late summer and early fall like him. Like King, he has a preternatural ability to evoke nostalgia for a time I never experienced, yet hits on a universality that's undeniable. To put it another way, holy shit his words make me feel a lot.

 

I loved Something Wicked. It does the best job capturing the feeling of childhood fear. The whole thing feels like a nightmare you would have when you're 12 that sticks with you for the rest of your life