Vertigo Books

The Audacity of Soap

Vertigo Books — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:30:34 +0000

Scrubya creator Kavita Pillay is at it again with Soapbama: The Soap with Hope for the politically inclined bather. Inspired by Freud’s idea that "soap is the yardstick of civilization," Kavita has created a translucent soap (symbolic of transparency in government and other good things) scented with eucalyptus and spearmint. Soap proceeds benefit the Obama campaign. Just 5.95 for that fresh clean feeling–available exclusively at Vertigo.

PS-Despite Wonkette’s predictions, we were not overrun with dirty hippies at our Obamanomics event and we do have signed copies left.

A Comfy Chair & a Good Book

bw — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:40:33 +0000

"A room without books is like a body without a soul.”–Cicero

We agree. However, we have heard about folks who view books as "clutter." If you have the misfortune to live with someone like this and they are not swayed by the Cicero quote, perhaps you can repurpose your paperbacks. Artist David Karoff has this chair on display at Myopic Books in Providence, RI. It is made of recyled mass market paperbacks, drilled through and placed on a rebar frame. And it is probably not so comfy.

But then again, perhaps you can make a case for book shopping as a Magical Mystery Hunt of sorts. All of these treasures and oddments have been found in used books: "thousands of dollars, a Christmas card signed by Frank Baum, a Mickey Mantle rookie baseball card, a marriage certificate from 1879, a baby’s tooth, a diamond ring and a handwritten poem by Irish writer Katharine Tynan Hickson." Read more.

Travel the World & Save 20%

Vertigo Books — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:34:53 +0000

Save 20% on select literature in translation through August 3. If gas prices are keeping you home, do some armchair traveling this summer.

Since Vertigo opened in 1991 we’ve carried a strong selection of international literature in translation. So, we were on board right away when a small group of publishers and booksellers came together four years ago to jointly promote literature in translation. Luckily, the reading world has started to take notice. This past year was especially strong and we have a tempting display of books for you. Stop in soon.

So it goes. 2008

bw — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:37:59 +0000

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way— in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.” –Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities

There are some quotes that are always worth revisiting. Years ago customers and staff helped us choose quotes for a selection of bookmarks. But is there a literary quote you feel strongly enough about to have tattooed? Share your favorite quotes with us, maybe it is time to do the bookmarks again.

Bursting with Books

ts — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:23:50 +0000

As a bookseller, one whose house is overflowing with books both read and (mostly) unread, I know I should stop acquiring even more reading material. Indeed, I sometimes wonder if I should radically downsize my collection. I read somewhere years ago (can’t remember where) that there are two kinds of personal libraries: those that show where one has been, and those that show where one aspires to go. I definitely fall into the latter category.

I have done a rough calculation, and figured at my current reading rate there is no way I will read all the books I have filled my house with over the years. I admit this gives me pause when I bring home another four coals to Newcastle. But recently I plucked one off the shelf–Cloudstreet, by Tim Winton. It had been sitting there, staring at me, for something like 17 years (the publicist’s letter still tucked inside). I packed it in my suitcase with other books for a recent vacation. And when I read it–wow, what a book. It was an amazing reading experience, one of my favorite books of the past few years. How can I get rid of my books now? Who knows what other gems are waiting to be discovered?

The Beautiful Struggle

Vertigo Books — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:52:50 +0000

Check out this great video of next week’s author, Ta-Nehisi Coates, then join us at the event. Cuz truth be told, he is a splendid writer. Perhaps it’s OK that bookselling thing was temporary (although Vertigo did experience an up tick in sales of Franz Fanon titles when Ta-Nehisi was working at the store).

Ta-Nehisi’s father is W. Paul Coates of Black Classic Press.

A Random Quote

ts — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:45:25 +0000

A university is a place where people pay high prices for goods which they then proceed to leave on the counter when they go out of the store.–Loren Eiseley

Despair & Hope

ts — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:34:53 +0000

Our store is located a block or so from the campus of the University of Maryland, so we get quite a few students and academic types passing through.

Despair:
Students overheard while buying books for classes: "Didn’t they make a movie of that (Toni Morrison’s Beloved)? Yeah, they did–I don’t need that one."

"Six books? Man, this is so not what I signed up for."

"I can’t even remember the last time I read a book."

"I’m not going to read them–I just need the professor to see me in class with them."

"It smells like books in here."

My eldest daughter is off to college next year, and one of the panelists interviewing her for a scholarship had this comment on reading: "I just don’t have the concentration to read an entire book. Sports Illustrated and Cosmo are all I can handle."

Hope:
The student who had to read Samuel Beckett (Nohow On) for a class and loved it so much he’s been back to buy two more copies to give as gifts. (I hope his friends appreciated it.)

The student who asked me for Tolstoy, Dickens, Pynchon and Philip Roth. When I asked if they were for a class (curious as to what class would be reading such a wide variety of books), he replied, "No, they’re just to read."

A group of parents who got together and decided that instead of giving the kids coming to their children’s birthday parties more useless knick knacks in a goody bag, they’d give them each a book.

"It smells like books in here."

Hmm. . .Despair currently outnumbers Hope 6 to 4.

What to read after The Golden Compass?

Vertigo Books — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 15:05:05 +0000

Of course, booksellers loved The Golden Compass, which has its orgins in Milton, Blake and Kleist. But now it is a holiday season Hollywood release, a fantasy movie inspiring a good deal of controversy. Some might say that Christians have their C.S. Lewis, now the agnostics and the atheists have their fables, too. Or you might just enjoy a good read and put the brouhaha aside.

If you liked the Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy (of which The Golden Compass is the first volume), you might want to try these titles.

Un Lun Dun The revolution will be started by a soccer hooligan with a PhD in Marxist economics. China Mieville is a fine writer who may have found his groove with this kids’ novel. Use it as an intro to linguistic theory, enjoy the cool monsters or don’t even give it to the kids. Keep it for yourself, sit on the couch and read all day.

All adolescents should be handed The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy at some point. And we conveniently have a 5 volume boxed set available for only 19.99. If you need more ideas, swing by the store.

PS-And we have Horton Hears a Who to look forward to as well.

Wash George W. Away with Scrubya!

Vertigo Books — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 16:00:54 +0000

Does news of Dubya & Company’s antics leave you eager to take a shower? The founder of Scrubya soap agreed and took action. She’s brought us Scrubya Soap in 3 scents and now we can wash George W. away. Just lather liberally and repeat until November 2008. Choose from Cameliza Rice, Neo-Con Coriander and Smell the Damn Coffee! 5.95 each or 17.50 for the trio, all are naturally good for you. Scrubya’s proceeds benefit organizations that are cleaning up after the Bush administration such as Physicians for Human Rights. Update: as seen in the Washington Post.