I know I’ve posted a link to this site before, but here it is again. I love everything about it. It makes me aware of the fragility of the moment, of our ties to one another, but it also is one of those wonderful sites that celebrate the evidence we leave behind. I have a ton of books from my first boyfriend – and we would always leave notes of significance in the front pages. These act as ghost-stories now … they almost seem written in code. I’ve lost the key. But at the time, they were potent. I also love the images of the book covers. I have bought books because of the inscriptions (this one is probably my most treasured – mainly because it is the oldest) – but I love them all. Fragments of relationships, gifts, private messages … captured in the first pages of a book, and now captured in the Book Inscriptions Project. What also strikes me – when I flip through the archives, reading them all – is the generosity of everyone. The need to give something to someone: “here, you might like this”, “read this and thought of you”, “this book reminded me of you …” Note after note after note. It’s a really special site.
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- “I have a fan base that’s super, super loyal.” — Lance Kerwin
- “I decided to write the book to open the eyes of the people of how corrupt John D. Rockefeller company was and the unfair ways he used to be successful. I wanted the people to know the truth about the Standard Oil Company.” — journalist Ida Tarbell
- Happy Birthday, Ralph Macchio, or: How one episode of Eight is Enough saved my life
- “People say I’m a one-note actor, but the way I figure it, those other guys are just looking for that one right note.” — Joel McCrea
- “Suppose I were to begin by saying that I had fallen in love with a color.”
- From the archives (March 16, 2005): Silhouette, Parts 1 and 2
- “If the thing is there, why, there it is.” Happy Birthday, Walker Evans
- “I’ve had the kind of fame which I felt was just the right amount.” — Lois Smith
- Nov 12-15: AFI Silver Classic Film Weekend
- From the archives (February 29, 2008): Patrick Stewart as Macbeth
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Oh, I love that site. Thanks for sharing. The inscription from the Mother of a dead son to his best friend about killed me(Gregg and Adam). I have bought several used books because I liked the handwritten inscriptions in them, and I have a few other favorites rescued from the estates of close relatives. I have one wherein the golf professional Sam Snead wrote an inscription to my Grandfather–signing it “Your ole pro.” Anyway, thanks for sharing that site. I have a soft spot for inscriptions.
Sheila, Thanks for posting this one. I love inscriptions & if i ever receive a book from someone without one in it I MAKE THEM WRITE something.
When i lived in Ireland, i started a book swap where we had to write our thoughts about the book, life or whatever in it and pass it on. How I would love to see some of those now!
Cheers
Michael – good to hear from you! :)