by In the early 1990’s Gordon Dahlquist was one of my Columbia University coursemates in the MFA Playwriting program.
Gordon was always brilliant and unique and his innovative and quirky
mind spoke genius ideas many minds could not easily comprehend.
The minds at Random House got Gordon’s genius for storytelling and for
crafting the human spirit from the page and they paid him $2,000,000.00
USD last September for the right to publish his 1,300 page novel, The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters.
I
am thrilled for Gordon he hit so big and so hard with what is reported
to be an exceptionally fine and nuanced novel. I believe the book is
available for purchase in August, and I also believe it took a decade
to write — proving how faith and hardship share an inseverable
kinship in the necessary creation of meaningful art — so keep an eye
out for Gordon’s great lifeforce work:
I looked at the Random House website and The Glass Books of Dream Eaters looks interesting. I’ll have to send an email to my local library to pick up a copy or two so I can check it out!
I had the library order a copy of The Cost of Being Poor and I’ve noticed that it is checked out so often that they have another copy on order. And, that book is relatively esoteric.
I’m sure the same thing will happen with Gordon’s book as people read it and spread the word.
Hi Chris!
That $2 million doesn’t include the film rights. Or the stage rights. So that $2 could quickly triple.
😀
I love it you use your library so extensively! I’m a book addict so I buy as often as I can to get my “personal library” all around me at all times. My books are my friends so I like to always have them here with me.
I’d go broke if I bought as many books as I check out from the library. They seem to have many of the best sellers available and are willing to purchase books upon request.
Since they have many different branches, if they buy a book for one branch, it seems that people will see it in the catalog and request a copy for their branch, increasing sales for the authors!
We didn’t use our library for a while until our oldest son was required to read a certain number of books every month. Now, it’s fun for my son to go to the library and check out the selections in the children’s department. I find it’s fun to curl up with a good book and just spend a couple of hours immersed in a good book.
You’re right about spending too much money on books, Chris. I do!
I’m sure authors would prefer to sell a book to 100 people than 5 branch libraries with 20 people on each branch’s waiting list.
😀
Good books are good for sure!
It sounds like an interesting read; it is added to my “to buy†list. If I am not sure about a book I try to read it before I add it to my personal collection.
I had a habit of going broke every year during the famous Calcutta bookfair, and if I really miss anything here then it is the bookfair. What a great way it was to go broke!!!
😀
Yes, Katha, if we spend all our money on books we will never be poor and always richer. It is an investment that forever pays off.