Book Recommendations at Blackbirdinc
Though the proximate demise of the book is often foretold these days, almost 300,000 new titles were published in the U.S. in 2008. (This according to Bowker and their Books In Print database.) Readers are dying off, it’s said, succumbing to the lure of their various screens—though I’m at my screen as I write this, and I have yet to be rendered insensate. And if I’m part of a dying breed I’ve got plenty of company.
Along this line, here’s a heartening website. Jeff Haden has taken to asking people whose books he admires to recommend the books they love, or are currently reading. blackbirdinc.com. presents an eclectic group, and it’s a fascination to me to see what other writers suggest.
When Jeff Haden asked me for my recommendations, I found I couldn’t choose a half dozen books from my shelves—because that would have left out dozens of others that I’ve loved. So I picked the best book of all, ever (might as well go out on a limb), the book I’ve read over and over and that has moved me like no other, James Salter’s novel Light Years. That’s Salter on the left. I added two other of his books, made some comments about them, and they’re all at blackbirdinc.com. You’ll find Haden’s website well worth the click.
Tags: Add new tag, blackbirdinc, bowker, james salter, jeff haden
