In 1999, I read an article about “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri. This was a debut collection of stories that won the Pulitzer
Prize for fiction. As you may know, I generally don’t prefer short stories with
just a few exceptions, but something about this article made me buy not one,
but two copies; I knew I would want to give a copy to someone else as a gift
and that was true. They loved it as much as I did.
According to Wikipedia, The “Christmas book flood” (Icelandic: Jólabókaflóðið)
is a term used in Iceland for the annual release of new books occurring in
the months before Christmas, as it is common to publish new titles in the
weeks before Christmas.
Newly published books are listed in a yearly compilation
that is distributed to all households for free.
The NPR article talks about how books are given as gifts on
December 24th, and people stay up all night reading them. How cool
is that?
There are so many things I never considered about a tradition
like this:
- I have a terrible (aka no)
reading lamp on my side of the bed. The lamp is on Jeff’s side, so I watch him read. When I can feel him
shaking, I know he’s laughing about something he’s reading. He reads me
that part, or tells me about it. So I kind of read what he does, and
that’s just silly. Why don’t I get a lamp for my side? It’s not like
they’re a million dollars or anything.
Note: Jeff JUST texted me from our beloved independent bookstore.
He’s reading “Tiny Love”, the new book of stories by Larry Brown. He wrote
“Holy cow, one of Larry Brown’s stories has my sides splitting. Can’t wait to
read you the excerpts later”. Jeff takes his already purchased books with him
every day, with the receipt taped inside. Sometimes he buys another book or
poetry journal, sometimes he doesn’t. He always buys coffee and has never had
any trouble with the store, just so you know.
- As a writer with a new
book forthcoming next year, I do want it to come out as early as possible.
I would never think of waiting
until just before Christmas. It’s not like I sell them anyway, I mostly
give them away, but I want to do that as soon as I can. I must admit I’ve
bought twenty-three copies of “Slices of Alice & Other Character Studies” so that Amazon can package and deliver them, and we don’t have to
go to the Post Office. Is that another silly thing? I cannot deny that. But
I’d rather spread the cost throughout the year.
Truly, I think that most writers
would rather have their books come out earlier rather than later so they can
schedule readings and book tours, and weather does factor into that. So does
time. Most would like as many reviews as possible too. Susan Tepper has 31
reviews of “What Drives Men” on Amazon, and that just came out June 21st!
Also, for writers interested in submitting their books for awards, they are usually
eligible if published any time during
the year, so why not get it as early as possible?
Back to Jolabokaflod, it’s the middle of December already.
Do you have all your shopping done? It’s definitely something to consider. When
my son was grumbling about reading short stories in college, I empathized a
hundred percent, and sent him copies of the few collections that I loved. When
he came home for Thanksgiving, he brought me a book he thought I’d love. That
meant so much to me.
What are you enjoying reading these days? Cholla Needles has
an amazing catalog of books that are beautifully made, and reasonably priced.
If you are lucky enough to live in the High Desert you are near five local
independent bookstores. I’m not suggesting that any of them stay open all night
so you can bring a friend and read there, but I am suggesting that no matter
how young or old, there’s a book out there for everyone, and you probably
already know what it is.
“Let us be grateful to the people
who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” (from Les plaisirs et les jours: "Soyons reconnaissants aux personnes qui nous donnent du bonheur, elles sont les charmants jardiniers par qui nos âmes sont fleuries. Mais soyons plus reconnaissants aux femmes méchantes ou seulement indifférentes, aux amis cruels qui nous ont causé du chagrin. Ils ont dévasté notre cœur, aujourd'hui jonché de débris méconnaissables, ils ont déraciné les troncs et mutilé les plus délicates branches, comme un vent désolé, mais qui sema quelques bons grains pour une moisson incertaine. c.f. Luke 6:35"
– Marcel Proust
I think we know that books can help us all do this. What
better gift is there in the world? xo
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Tobi Alfier's most recent collection of poetry is Slices Of Alice. She is also co-editor with Jeff Alfier of the San Pedro River Review. Don't miss Tobi's columns on the craft of poetry: insert your email address in the "Follow By Email" box to the right of this article and you'll be notified every time a new article appears.
