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Subject: Percy-L: Literary, Religious, Scientific, and Philosophical Discussion on Walker Percy

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  • From: "Beck, David A" <dabeck AT iupui.edu>
  • To: percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [percy-l] "American Dream"
  • Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2006 23:56:30 -0400

Larry, Jim et al,
I think that you are both correct. University presses aren't producing Dan Brown-like bestsellers. My hunch is that the reason the books are so high (besides the legit reasons Larry gave) is that they expect libraries to be their main customers. Hence they can gouge libraries and forget the mass market.
The upside of all of this is that the amazon market place offers most of these books at a reasonable price. My academic mentor in grad school (the late Tony Sherrill) published a great book that also discussed Percy (Road-Book America). It had a similiar price, but I found it in the used marketplace of amazon for half-price (and it looked like it had never been opened).
The problem, of course, is that the author probably won't receive any royalties. But, if you are like me and just want the book to be read, the internet offers some great deals. I receive such a small commission on my books that I'd rather give them away to more people than receive the chump change I get for each book sold.
I wrote two obscure (small press) books on Eastern Orthodoxy a decade or so ago. I'm amazed to see that some book sellers are offering each book at $40 or more. If someone goes via the publisher s/he can get each book for under $12 (paperback).
Anyway, I am going to ask our university library to purchase the book, if they haven't already ordered it. Looks good and I look forward to reading it.
BTW, as a follow up to the last discussion I brought up (on The Moviegoer), I'll dive into that book next week. I plan to give a big intro, using some of the work that Karey and Rhonda provided me. I'll have to admit, however, that I am still a little hesitant. Today we concluded our poetry section. I thought that it would be cool to use some song lyrics. I chose Springsteen's "Thunder Road", Counting Crows' "Round Here" and Jakob Dylan's (the Wallflowers), "One Headlight." 2/3rds of my students weren't familiar enough with Springsteen to be able to name ONE song he wrote/sung. They thought that Counting Crows were from "my" generation (I'm 47!!!).
I felt so old that I thought I'd should ask for a handicap parking sticker. I mean, I asked, didn't you guys ever "roll down the windows and let the wind blow back your hair"?? If Springsteen is so dated, how will they get Bill Holden and Rory Calhoun??
Sorry, I won't go on, in fear that no one here will get it either.
Feeling old in Indy ("I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"--no, wait, "I shall wear my trousers sagging").
Time to go to bed (no mermaids sing to me).
-David



Quoting Lawrence Rhu <rhul AT gwm.sc.edu>:

Jim--

Pity indeed. I take your point without any comfort to offer. The
crisis in humanities publishing continues, and university presses
have had to take drastic measures to survive. Of course, these
include such prohibitively high prices, more limited printings, fewer
paperbacks at least vaguely in the purchasable range, etc. Still, I
am pleased that you express some interest. Thanks.

Larry

Lawrence F. Rhu
Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
Tel: 803 777 0144
Fax: 803 777 9064
Email: rhul AT sc.edu

JHForest AT cs.com 07/04/06 6:13 AM >>>
The pleasure and satisfaction of having a new book just out have
irresistibly combined with the easy availability of an appropriate
listserv and a "hard
url" to make advertising its recent publication almost effortless. As you may
recall, I have previously mentioned the presence of Percy and especially The
Movigoer in my book as a matter of possible interest for subscribers to this
list. So here it is, just a click away (with my sincere apologies for the
price). <<
http://www.cas.sc.edu/engl/faculty/faculty_pages/rhu/cavell.html

What a fine title and inviting cover! But what a pity that it costs so much.
I fear this will put it beyond the budget of many who might have
wished to buy
a copy, myself included.

Jim Forest

* * *
Jim and Nancy Forest
Kanisstraat 5 / 1811 GJ Alkmaar / The Netherlands
tel: (31)(72) 511 2545
Jim's e-mail: jhforest AT cs.com (alternative address: jhforest AT gmail.com)
Nancy's e-mail: forestflier AT cs.com (alternative address:
forestflier AT gmail.com)
Jim and Nancy Forest web site: www.incommunion.org/forest-flier/
Forest-Flier Editorial Services: www.incommunion.org/forest-flier/ffes/
Jim's photo web site: www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/sets/
Orthodox Peace Fellowship web site: www.incommunion.org
* * *

--
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