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beppe · 07-26-2010, 07:36 AM

Yesterday, in an Italian paper on the Cultural section, I found this advice on how to choose the books to carry along for the summer. The author imagines someone that goes around in the the bookstore picking up a book here and there and wondering if it is worth reading it or not. With "all these novelties and classics that every day increase."

The method to choose a book. Take the first words in the book, take the last, put them together in a phrase. And if the phrase that comes out makes some sense, it means that the book has some value.

The article lists a number of examples. Italians and not, among which The Red and the Black by Stendhal, The old man and the sea (the old men fished lions). Proust, Daniel Defoe, F.S Fitzgerald.

I just made a quick check and those are my findings.

Sophie's World by Jostein Gardner
Sophie Amundsen was on her way home "We'll both go, Dad"

The inimitable Jeeves
"Morning Jeeves," I said.
"Very good, sir," said Jeeves

To have and have not
You know how it is against the stream

More die of heartbreak Saul Bellow
last year was not remote enough

Travels with Charley Steinbeck
when i was home again

white teeth Zadie Smith
Early in the morning, thought Archie.

The Complete Polysillabic Spree Nick Hornby
So this is good to have it back

The shipping news Annie Proulx
Here is an account without pain or misery.

What am I doing here Chatwin
What am I doing on this advice

St. Urbain's Horseman Richler
Sometimes Jack, an ordinary, decent man.

Goodbye Columbus Roth
The first time I was back in plenty of time for work.

Wait until Spring, Bandini John Fante
He came along, a small star-shaped snowflake.

Will you please be quiet. Please? Carver
I felt moving over him.

H.M.S. Ulysses Alistair Maclean
Slowly, deliberately, Starr limped out into the sunshine.

Funny. I am picking up books and verifying that it works. I will stop now to list examples, but I saw that it works with Triplanetary also. Practically with every book I pick up.
I do not need this as I have ebooks galore for the Summer, but to buy a gift it might come handy.

07-26-2010, 07:36 AM	#1
beppe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,161 Karma: 81026524 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Italy Device: Kindle3, Ipod4, IPad2	Advice for the Summer Yesterday, in an Italian paper on the Cultural section, I found this advice on how to choose the books to carry along for the summer. The author imagines someone that goes around in the the bookstore picking up a book here and there and wondering if it is worth reading it or not. With "all these novelties and classics that every day increase." The method to choose a book. Take the first words in the book, take the last, put them together in a phrase. And if the phrase that comes out makes some sense, it means that the book has some value. The article lists a number of examples. Italians and not, among which The Red and the Black by Stendhal, The old man and the sea (the old men fished lions). Proust, Daniel Defoe, F.S Fitzgerald. I just made a quick check and those are my findings. Sophie's World by Jostein Gardner Sophie Amundsen was on her way home "We'll both go, Dad" The inimitable Jeeves "Morning Jeeves," I said. "Very good, sir," said Jeeves To have and have not You know how it is against the stream More die of heartbreak Saul Bellow last year was not remote enough Travels with Charley Steinbeck when i was home again white teeth Zadie Smith Early in the morning, thought Archie. The Complete Polysillabic Spree Nick Hornby So this is good to have it back The shipping news Annie Proulx Here is an account without pain or misery. What am I doing here Chatwin What am I doing on this advice St. Urbain's Horseman Richler Sometimes Jack, an ordinary, decent man. Goodbye Columbus Roth The first time I was back in plenty of time for work. Wait until Spring, Bandini John Fante He came along, a small star-shaped snowflake. Will you please be quiet. Please? Carver I felt moving over him. H.M.S. Ulysses Alistair Maclean Slowly, deliberately, Starr limped out into the sunshine. Funny. I am picking up books and verifying that it works. I will stop now to list examples, but I saw that it works with Triplanetary also. Practically with every book I pick up. I do not need this as I have ebooks galore for the Summer, but to buy a gift it might come handy. Last edited by beppe; 07-26-2010 at 10:00 AM. Reason: Adding Will you please be quiet. Please?