You know that feeling you get when you go someplace and see something and think, "Darn...that was my idea and she beat me to it!" I got that in spades this morning. Needing to do a brief errand, I got ready to head out, and then the brief errand got a bit more substantial when DB said, "If you're going to the bank, could you maybe go to the bank in Double Bay and take my shirts to the cleaners at the same time?" So, instead of walking up to the local shops, I got in the car and drove to Double Bay... Bonus was, the bookshop was open early for some reason, so of course I had to go have a browse - with my hands firmly behind my back! And in amongst all the new goodies was a new book - gorgeous little hardcover, too, with a silky dust jacket (drool...) - by Ramona Korval, By the Book: A reader's guide to life. A book about reading, about books she's read that have been important, and about how books can read us. I have been playing with an idea like this for quite some time - hence this blog... The lesson, of course, is to get beyond thinking about doing these things, and get down to actually doing them!
And, to go back to the bookshop when my next writing pay cheque comes in, and buy Korval's book...
I think we've all had similar moments Kaz. I've mentally discarded a number of 'dumb' ideas, only to see others subsequently making money out of it. Cloud computing (heard of it?) was an idea I had back in my Uni days...
ReplyDeleteHere's my idea for the day - and happy for you to use it - how about publishing book covers? No content - just beautiful looking and feeling book covers for bibliophiles to drool over.
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DeleteDo you know, Murph, there is a book blogger out there who just reviews covers...strange, but true!
DeleteRemember when Ramona Korval used to host the book show on radio national, if I missed a show I would always go and download the podcast but ever since she left I am afraid I have not felt the same urge to assiduously keep up with the replacement program, oh well I think I will have to check out this book, thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteI do - not that I managed to catch it very often. I was very good yesterday - the Korval book was just one of many I could have picked up and taken home...and I didn't spent a cent! DB was both amused and impressed. However, I think I need to go back...
DeleteMy weakness is used bookshops. They provide a glimpse into another world that sadly, is often no longer in existence - ways of thinking and writing that we've often lost touch with. I can rarely go into a used shop and walk out without buying several books. My library is filled with little jewels that may not have much monetary value, but are irreplaceable in the pictures they paint of changing cultures around the world.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Kaz!