I was about half way through a gloomy day just now, when the doorbell rang and a dripping UPS man handed me a package. I thought it might have been some hoofs, or some 1940s teenage girl's scrap book I'd bought on eBay, but it was a surprise package. A little while ago I signed up for the Book Club With One Member at Crawford-Doyle. A member of their staff will carefully select a book just for you once a month and send it out. "The books will be paperback or hardcover, fiction or nonfiction, just released or classic. The goal is a book chosen with one recipient in mind that will enlighten, delight and entertain – a gift to a booklover throughout the year." I sent them a list of things I'm interested in, you know, like shadows, and indexes, faded wallpaper, Moby Dick, cabinet cards, microscope slides, turn-of-the-century comic strips and old tattoos... lost, found and mended things. Other people's letters, from famous people or ordinary people. Paris, especially old Paris. William Blake. Volcanoes. Hoofs. I don't know, that kind of thing.
This is what arrived.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeCWP9ghvEdw772A73Np2w-5n1QlLjXgwoMV1sQHHnHVhioMAE2f22LjMtTKnBgt4id1svnOCIaqjXyrxzJSVQde3DK5MN1-8n5vXO8Sl8sxvhyphenhyphenVHdbtjopTvs-pAUDpcUaZ0QUFkXpxn/s400/islands2.jpg)
This book has made me unbelievably happy. It is an uncommon size. The paper feels nice. There is a cloth bound spine. And it was handpicked for me. I feel like I'm back in the 19th century. I will be expecting a bespoke suit next. Show me a kindle that can do that.
11 comments:
I want to join this club. But that would mean it has more than one member.
that is such an amazing idea! it looks like they chose a really great book for you too.
Love it! Reminds me of the movie 84 Charing Cross Road -- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090570/
That is SO COOL. The book and the idea of it all.
(I've been thinking of remote islands these past 24 hours myself)
Oh what a great idea! I love the sound of the book they chose you too. So special!
Books are such special objects! eBooks just don't do it for me.
haha hoofs...
I saw this book yesterday AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT! Yayyy!
Oh, that's one of ours. I'll have to get it! Thanks!
I'm in love with this idea - can other people join the bookclub? Or rather, form similar 1-member clubs?
lovely. thank you for telling us, too.
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