Showing posts with label Chris Bohjalian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Bohjalian. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Too Many Books, but I'm addicted

I and my friends are helping to build a library at my sister's retirement center in Atlanta, GA. I don't mean I'm doing any sawing or hammering. I donate books to the library which the residents are already enjoying. At first I heard that only hard cover books would be accepted, but found out later there is a section for paper backs in good condition. I only have one problem. The books I collect from friends call me to look at them, read the inside dust cover, and then I want to keep them for myself. Of course I come to my senses and realize I have more books on my shelves now than I'll be able to read unless I live to be 100. Tonight I'm drawn to keep The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian, a psychological literary thriller. This is the author of Midwives, a Publishers Weekly Best Book and an Oprah book club choice. The first two pages grabbed me and I will have to finish it before it goes to the library shelf at Somerby. This book is based on a story of a homeless man's death and the box of photographs he left behind. This part is true, but the rest of the story is fiction, I understand.
Reminds me of Mike Keller who found an old leather wallet at a flea market and upon searching through it, found old, old, letters crumbling but readable with a story that begged to be told. She wrote a poem. Now is this a found poem, a letter poem, a persona poem or what?
Our other Team member, Nancy, might tell us.