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October 05, 2008 |
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A Less Difficult World
FOUND by Annie
in Los Angeles, California
Found this note on the title page of a secondhand copy of a book of Adrienne Rich poetry. I like to think Doris gave Sam the book early on in their courtship, and I hope things worked out for them!
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We collect FOUND stuff: love letters, birthday cards, kids' homework,
to-do lists, ticket stubs, poetry on napkins, telephone bills, doodles -
anything that gives a glimpse into someone
else's life. Anything goes...
It's hard to believe that 1996 was 12 years ago.
If the book turned up in a second hand shop, obviously the courtship/relationship didn't fly. Shame.
Somebody obviously insisted on speaking an uncomfortable truth. Many people don't like being forced to be honest with others.
Interesting variation in the handwriting.
True, baby basil. And at the same time, many people don't like it when you're honest with them. I've been hurt both ways, and hurt others both ways. It IS a difficult world.
. . . Man, I wish I had room for a decent herb garden.
Who is Sam? What am I missing here?
clover... shhhhh!!!
two memories are invoked for me by the mere mention of the name Doris:
Doris and the Trolls, old book by Richard Atwater
and Doris E, who I used to beat up in 2nd grade.
Beauty does not insist on telling the truth.
beauty is most often illusion, and therefore a LIE.
Awww...so sweet.
Who is Sam (wondering the same myself)?
A Lot was added as an after thought.
Otherwise, not much else to say. (Who names their girls Doris these days?)
maybe sam (?if that's the name?) already read the book then doris put the note in it and same never opened it again, just gave it to he thrift shop :(
I think the relationship might still have worked out...
Maybe *Sam and Doris* just donated some books that they had already read and are now de- cluttering their house?
baby basil in the herb garden, maybe Sam passed away and this book was among his belongings that made it to the thrift shop, and the scenario that seems so obvious to you is just a reflection of something in your own life.
fooch in the kitchen, I think "A LOT" was written in caps for emphasis, not as an after thought. And maybe Doris was born in the days when the name was more popular.
Geek NOT in my mom's basement, Annie in Los Angeles probably saw the name "Sam" on the top of the page and it was cropped off by Found.
I agree that 96' doesn't seem like 12 years ago. And this note is just sooo sweet.
When we all wake up, woozy and stumbling, to begin our collective hangover from the last eight years, we'll wonder how we managed to let it happen...
Doris the Finkasaurus!
Quite likely that Doris is older than you assume Fooch. Though maybe not, as I know a 6 year old named Ellen, another name people don't use any more.
Smallbear
The recent spate of girls named 'Madison' -- do you suppose that came from people who saw the movie 'Splash' as kids? Where do these trends come from?
All I can see is Doris Day's face.
And an old gray haired lady named Doris that I was in a play with in the late 70's (Fiddler on the Roof).
I never knew anyone named Doris, either old or young, until I met a linguistics professor by that name at the University of Oregon. She is not old at all! Some people call her "Dorrie."
Oh and btw, my mom looks like Doris Day in the face, but my mom is brunette.
perhaps Doris & Sam(?) are both deceased and their hypothetical children gave their book collection away.
I would prefer to think this was given later into their relationship, like maybe they were married for a number of years and this was just a thoughtful gift to let Sam know how much she still cared, old married couples are probably one of the cutest things in existence.
Actually, that Find is on what we call the "half title" page not the "title page". The latter contains the title, author/editor, place of publication, publisher/printer, & date. Or usually all of them ... but certainly at the very least the title and author/editor.
(I was so taken aback by the bibliographic faux pas of the Finder that I didn't even read everyone else's comments, which are sure to be more entertaining that mine.)
@ baby basil ... not necessarily. My spouse just recently cleared out some books that were taking up space and not getting used or read any more. At least one had a long-ish inscription from me (on the HALF TITLE!). In this case, it was the book that didn't fly. Our relationship is flying along famously, thank you very much.
Ah Librarian! Good to have you in the house!
I think this find is interesting, not in and of itself, but the 'chatter' that is produced.
@Another p.o.v, I was amused at your attempt to set everyone straight. Good think I didn't post this morning!
Librarian, why do they have a "half title" page? Is it so that people can have lots of space to write inscriptions? I always use the title page to find the copyright date, which is always on the back of the title page. Is there anything on the back of the "half title" page?
Interestingly, in France, the copyright is at the back of the book. Really different from here.
@ Clover ... there's nothing on the back (verso) of a half title. Its origin comes from the days way back when, when book printing and binding were separate industries.
They would print a simple page with just the title that would be at the front of the stack of loose folded sheets. You'd go in to the printer's place, buy the stack of printed sheets and take them so your binder to have the covers put on them (or sometimes the printer also bound books if you wanted their generic binding).
So the half title was there to protect the real title page during the time it sat on the shelf or table waiting to be sold.
It was given early in the relationship; in fact there was no relationship. Doris also gave him a mix tape of Our Songs after their only date. Sam ended up changing jobs/moving away/filing a restraining order.
That looks like a boring book. If someone gave it to me as a gift I am sure it would end up in a secondhand shop eventually. Not because I don't like the giver, but you can only have so many bad books.
http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Difficult-World-Poems-1