See -- last night as I made my way to the elevator, loaded down with grocery bags, I glanced into the open door of the laundry room in my apartment building and there was a pile of books on the folding counter. And next to them a sign that said "Take these! FREE!"
Most of the books were absolute junk. Like real boring. [Meanwhile, the ice cream in bag number three is melting, you get the picture]… I had to look through them all, of course.
Then my eyes nearly popped out of my head.
There, amid the riffraff, and in pristine shape, was a hardcover volume of Jose Saramago.
Blindness and Seeing, both novels combined in this one edition. Beautiful.
Did I take it? Of course I took it.
I revere Jose Saramago's writing, and these are two of his best books. Not only have I read EVERYTHING by him [except his book about Portugal], but I also had the privilege of meeting him in person. Being in his presence, if you will, in the year 2005.
He is just such a gem. Since his passing in June of 2010 -- I have had the pleasure of reading several of his posthumously published works. And finding this beauty last night was a real treat.
Enter a moral dilemma, though -- Is it wrong for me to have absconded with this thing when I already own both books? In fact -- having an autographed copy of Blindness here on my shelf? [see below]. Is it wrong for me to have deprived someone else of discovering Saramago?
Crime or guiltless Good Fortune. What is your verdict?
Thank you Alyce, for hosting this terrific Saturday Snapshot meme @ At Home With Books.
18 comments:
Not boring!
I think it was your Good Fortune - after all it was unwanted by someone had left it there and if you hadn't rescued it, it could have ended up in the bin. Now it has a home and will be kept for others to enjoy.
If you hadn't absconded with it, you wouldn't have written about it and I wouldn't have learned about the author. So thank you. Here's Mine
One never expects to find treasure in a laundry room! What serendipity!
That gives me an idea of another place I can leave books that I want to "release," since there are too many for my shelves.
Here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST
I love the surprise you found in the laundry room. :)
ENJOY!!!! Nothing wrong with taking something that was free.
GREAT photos.
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Saturday Snapshot
How wonderful for you to find a book you wanted like that - and what a great way to try and find new owners for unwanted books. My Snapshot is at http://goo.gl/ZoRZX
He has some unpublished work that you have not read yet, hasn't he?
Ehn, I dunno. I'm a proponent of finders keepers and first come, first served. Yesterday was your lucky day! I say, keep them.
What a find! It's a beautiful copy and no-one could appreciate it as much as you, so revel in the lucky find :)
I love book finds!!! You were totally right to take it - good for you, maybe someday you can place it in the hands of a friend you know will appreciate it. :)
Yay for book finds -- not boring at all! Here's my Saturday Snapshot post!
Definitely better than it ending up in the recycle bin! Someday you could always pass it along to someone you know would love the stories.
I think it was meant for you to find the book!
Absolutely Good Fortune, do not feel guilty. You can see it gets into some willing readers hands.
I haven't read anything by Saramango (yet) but one my best girlfriends loves him!
Definitely good fortune! How lucky that you rescued them.
My Saturday Snapshot
thanks !! very helpful post!
My page :: lovelybbws.com
Guiltless good fortune. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth and all that :)
Thank you, dear readers -- for all your comments, and endorsements of my current purloinings.
-- Cip
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