Comments on: Coincidences and mug shots http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2006/06/18/coincidences-and-mug-shots/ Writing about reading Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:44:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ann http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2006/06/18/coincidences-and-mug-shots/comment-page-1/#comment-57438 Ann Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:19:46 +0000 http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2006/06/18/coincidences-and-mug-shots/#comment-57438 I don't know if anyone is still reading this, but hey, I just found it so who knows. My coincidence, or sort-of coincidence: I've just finished reading New York Trilogy and am fascinated by its themes so decided to google Auster. When not reading, I am the owner of a new bookshop in a small fishing village close to Cape Town, South Africa. Recently, I contacted the local publishers of Siri Hustvedt to enquire about the possibility of hosting her in my shop when she's out here for a literary festival in June 2007 (in another village close to Cape Town, called Franschhoek -- come and visit, you'll love it here). I had no idea she is married to Paul Auster until I googled him. Now, of course, I also want to get him to visit my bookshop. Paul -- are you reading this? I don’t know if anyone is still reading this, but hey, I just found it so who knows. My coincidence, or sort-of coincidence: I’ve just finished reading New York Trilogy and am fascinated by its themes so decided to google Auster. When not reading, I am the owner of a new bookshop in a small fishing village close to Cape Town, South Africa. Recently, I contacted the local publishers of Siri Hustvedt to enquire about the possibility of hosting her in my shop when she’s out here for a literary festival in June 2007 (in another village close to Cape Town, called Franschhoek — come and visit, you’ll love it here). I had no idea she is married to Paul Auster until I googled him. Now, of course, I also want to get him to visit my bookshop. Paul — are you reading this?

]]> By: Kristy http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2006/06/18/coincidences-and-mug-shots/comment-page-1/#comment-3635 Kristy Mon, 11 Sep 2006 07:27:44 +0000 http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2006/06/18/coincidences-and-mug-shots/#comment-3635 It's 3 am, I've insomnia, and I'm reading your archives. I've always wanted to peruse your book reviews, and this evening (ha!) I'm doing it. How in the world did I miss this one just a few short months ago?! I do not know how. But what a delightful post. And your dad? I'm with him. I, too, have a favorite mug -- EVERYTHING tastes better in it. And, when I recently found it had a chip, I too, was devastated. Entirely devastated. So, now, with this post as inspiration, I'm off to Google my mug... It’s 3 am, I’ve insomnia, and I’m reading your archives. I’ve always wanted to peruse your book reviews, and this evening (ha!) I’m doing it.

How in the world did I miss this one just a few short months ago?! I do not know how. But what a delightful post.

And your dad? I’m with him. I, too, have a favorite mug — EVERYTHING tastes better in it. And, when I recently found it had a chip, I too, was devastated. Entirely devastated. So, now, with this post as inspiration, I’m off to Google my mug…

]]> By: Country Dweller http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2006/06/18/coincidences-and-mug-shots/comment-page-1/#comment-1672 Country Dweller Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:54:07 +0000 http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2006/06/18/coincidences-and-mug-shots/#comment-1672 I noted your discussion on ‘The Red Notebooks’ through Mrs Mitchel’s link. The stories are true, I believe, and not usually listed as fiction in his bibliography. Auster also hosted a popular programme on American National Radio in the late nineties where the listeners told the same kind of stories from their own lives. He edited a book with stories from the programme, ‘True Tales of American Life’ (2001), which you may like to read if you enjoyed The Notebooks. I don’t think Auster ‘embellishes’ the stories (that would be cheating), but I’m sure he leaves things out. Actually, I think he’s the master of leaving things out in everything he writes. I don’t know if you’ve heard the true story, which travelled the world news last year, of the Finnish twin brothers who were killed in two identical traffic accidents a few hours apart. They were both hit from behind by a truck on the same road as they were bicycling home. If you google it, you’ll get hundreds of hits, from the highly academic to the semi-religious. When you learn that the twins were 71 and riding home in a blizzard on a very busy road, even the second accident is not very surprising, I think. Moreover, the odds of something happening are often very different from what you’d expect. In his gem of a book, the short novel ‘Timbuktu’(1999), he writes of this in a deeply moving way. Please, don’t be discouraged that the story is told by an old dog. You’ll get used to it after a few pages. I noted your discussion on ‘The Red Notebooks’ through Mrs Mitchel’s link. The stories are true, I believe, and not usually listed as fiction in his bibliography. Auster also hosted a popular programme on American National Radio in the late nineties where the listeners told the same kind of stories from their own lives. He edited a book with stories from the programme, ‘True Tales of American Life’ (2001), which you may like to read if you enjoyed The Notebooks.

I don’t think Auster ‘embellishes’ the stories (that would be cheating), but I’m sure he leaves things out. Actually, I think he’s the master of leaving things out in everything he writes.

I don’t know if you’ve heard the true story, which travelled the world news last year, of the Finnish twin brothers who were killed in two identical traffic accidents a few hours apart. They were both hit from behind by a truck on the same road as they were bicycling home. If you google it, you’ll get hundreds of hits, from the highly academic to the semi-religious.

When you learn that the twins were 71 and riding home in a blizzard on a very busy road, even the second accident is not very surprising, I think. Moreover, the odds of something happening are often very different from what you’d expect. In his gem of a book, the short novel ‘Timbuktu’(1999), he writes of this in a deeply moving way. Please, don’t be discouraged that the story is told by an old dog. You’ll get used to it after a few pages.

]]> By: **SilvermOOn** http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2006/06/18/coincidences-and-mug-shots/comment-page-1/#comment-1663 **SilvermOOn** Mon, 26 Jun 2006 05:40:38 +0000 http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2006/06/18/coincidences-and-mug-shots/#comment-1663 Visited Veronica's site to take a gander at that mug! OMG Visited Veronica’s site to take a gander at that mug! OMG

]]> By: SuzanH http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2006/06/18/coincidences-and-mug-shots/comment-page-1/#comment-1621 SuzanH Thu, 22 Jun 2006 23:46:27 +0000 http://bookworm.pilcrow.biz/2006/06/18/coincidences-and-mug-shots/#comment-1621 I love coincidences. The one with you reading the book is just wild. I don't understand how people go through life just ignoring/downplaying them. I love coincidences. The one with you reading the book is just wild. I don’t understand how people go through life just ignoring/downplaying them.

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