<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">I have enjoyed this vigorous discussion regarding book selections, and their availability. <div><br></div><div>Definitely agree with Wes (and Rick) that there should be discussion on the topic of availability & accessibility of choices next week at the December Reading Group. </div><div><br></div><div>Tracy, I hope you will attend, even if you haven’t read the Murderbot book. </div><div><br></div><div>Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🥧🍾☕️</div><div>Gloria <br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Nov 28, 2024, at 4:43 PM, Rick Kovalcik <rick.kovalcik@gmail.com> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>I'm not (really) a member of the Reading Group, but as NESFA President, I agree that books chosen by the reading group should be generally available in libraries. This is an accessibility issue. Rather than come up with a list of "required libraries", one way of doing this would be to nominate a book one month and then everyone interested check that they can easily get a copy (from their local library, from the NESFA LIbrary, for MITSFS, from Kindle unlimited, or however they normally get books) and then confirm the nomination the following month.</div><div><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:12.8px">-Rick Kovalcik (RKOV) (<span style="font-size:12.8px">he/him/his)</span></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px">+1-508-259-6819 (worldwide cell phone)</span><br></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Nov 28, 2024 at 4:26 PM <<a href="mailto:tracy@windweaver.com" target="_blank">tracy@windweaver.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif">
<div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:monospace">Wes, you assume that everyone can pay, what you deem a small amount (and which is a small amount for most people), for books or go to the NESFA room.<br><br>I am homebound on Medicaid (with six chronic conditions), which means I attempt to support myself (but can't, and I'm out of credit and means to pay my bills) on poverty level income. I can rarely go anywhere, including doctor's appointments.<br><br>Since I don't attend the book club every month (I won't be there in December but have intended to do so in January with Davy), I don't expect the group to adapt to my particular needs, which is to have a rule of: available-library-books-at-least-in-the-Boston-area. But Gloria just wrote that book-buying is not in her budget right now, and there may be others in the same situation.<br><br>Almost all of the many book clubs I attend have a books-available-in-libraries-only rule. At least four do, and I don't know about the others.<br><br>As an author who gets minimal royalties now (the typical 5% of sale price on sales of new books, none for used books, very small amount now after my books have been in print for 35 years), I completely urge people to support authors by buying their books at retail price. But if I hadn't spent much of my life being an author, teaching adults and earning only a small income, I would be in the position to keep buying every book I read for book clubs, currently about five per month.<br><br>Right now, the money I spend on books is entirely related the books I teach online through Lexington Community ed. Winter term it will be Ursula Le Guin's Dispossessed (5 weeks, starting Thursday evening January 16 - please sign up <a href="https://lexingtoncommunityed.org/class/huld/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lexingtoncommunityed.org/class/huld/</a>) and later, Cervantes' Don Quixote, book one. <br><br></div>
<div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:monospace">Since I won't be at the December meeting, I hope at least one of you will make my voice heard in regard to the library-books-only options.</div>
<div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:monospace"> </div>
<div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:monospace">Thanks for "listening"</div>
<div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:monospace">(And happy Thanksgiving)<br><br>Tracy Marks</div>
<div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:monospace"><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/tracymar.bsky.social" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/tracymar.bsky.social</a></div>
<div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-family:monospace"><br><br><br>--------------------------<br><br>On 2024-11-28 15:44, Wesley Brodsky wrote:
<blockquote type="cite" style="padding:0px 0.4em;border-left:2px solid rgb(16,16,255);margin:0px">Hello Everybody;<br><br>In my opinion, and my opinion only, it should not be too difficult to find the books we read. I have researched all the books proposed with "Davy"; with the results below.<br><br>For Hardcover and Paperback:<br>Used prices include delivery, if any. New prices do not include delivery because that depends on your Amazon account.<br><br>Spindle’s End (2000)<br>Robin McKinley<br>All the creatures of the forest and field and riverbank knew the infant was special. She was the princess, spirited away from the evil fairy Pernicia on her name-day. But the curse was cast: Rosie was fated to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a poisoned sleep-a slumber from which no one would be able to rouse her.<br>OCLN* Available: Whitman Public Library, Canton Public Library<br>In NESFA Library<br>Available in Kindle {$10}, Audiobook {$19}, Hardcover (New {$12} & Used{$7}), Paperback (New {$15} & Used {$8}) from Amazon<br> <br>The Breaking of Northwall (1980)<br>Paul O. Williams<br>One thousand years after a devastating and chaotic series of nuclear exchanges, all that is left of the United States of America are scattered, warring tribes and small city-states. One of the latter is Pelbar—proud, civilized, and intolerant of change and new ideas. Rebels and troublemakers are sentenced to a year of exile at the massive midwestern fortress of Northwall, defending Pelbar against the fierce Shumai and Sentani tribes. Restless and brilliant Jestak is a visionary who has seen and learned too much in his distant travels to be content with life in Pelbarigan. During his exile at Northwall, he makes contact with Pelbar’s age-old enemies and risks all to rescue his beloved Tia from nomads armed with long-lost weapons from before the atomic holocaust.<br>None in OCLN*<br>In NESFA Library<br>Available in Kindle {$13}, Paperback (New {$14} & Used{Cheapest ~$5}) from Amazon <br><br>Davy (1964)<br>Edgar Pangborn<br>Davy is set in the far future of our world, in the fourth century after the collapse of what we describe as the twentieth-century civilisation. In a land turned upside-down and backwards by the results of scientific unwisdom, Davy and his fellow Ramblers are carefree outcasts, whose bawdy, joyous adventures among the dead ashes of Old-Time culture make a novel which has been hailed as "a frightening, ribald, poignant look at the imaginary future," as "this chilling and fascinating book," as "superb entertainment - unique," as "so unusual as the make it both refreshing and thought provoking."<br>None in OCLN*<br>In NESFA Library<br>English Available in Hardcover (New {$30} & Used {Cheapest ~$25})<br><br>*OCLN = Old Colony Library Network<br><br>We can discuss the next meeting, if it pleases us.<br>-Wes<br><br>________________________________________<br>From: reading-group <<a href="mailto:reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org</a>> on behalf of Aleksander Slominski (NY10) <<a href="mailto:ALEKNY10@gmail.com" target="_blank">ALEKNY10@gmail.com</a>><br>Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 12:53 PM<br>To: NESFA Reading Group<br>Subject: Re: [nesfa-reading-group] Davy by Pangborn NOT available in any Massachusetts library<br><br>seems to be available in Queens:<br><a href="https://www.queenslibrary.org/book/title/552759" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.queenslibrary.org/book/title/552759</a><br><br>best,<br><br>Alek<br><br>On Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 12:48 PM Wesley Brodsky <<a href="mailto:wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu" target="_blank">wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu" target="_blank">wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu</a>>> wrote:<br>The NYPL site you gave has an option “Request Scan” for people with a user account.<br>I don’t know if someone with an account has to pay, or if there is a limit on size.<br>-Wes<br>________________________________________<br>From: reading-group <<a href="mailto:reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org</a>>> on behalf of Gloria Lucia Albasi <<a href="mailto:trebbiana61@gmail.com" target="_blank">trebbiana61@gmail.com</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:trebbiana61@gmail.com" target="_blank">trebbiana61@gmail.com</a>>><br>Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 12:22 PM<br>To: NESFA Reading Group<br>Subject: Re: [nesfa-reading-group] Davy by Pangborn NOT available in any Massachusetts library<br><br>FYI:<br>New discovery: DAVY is available in two formats in the NYPL Research Catalog:<br>(1) Ballantine Edition in microform;<br>(2) Garland Edition on paper (I think).<br><br>Both must be requested in advance. See link below.<br><br>In theory I can sit in The Rose Room and read the book. It’s not Proust.<br><br>Also in the recent decade or so public libraries have been shifting a little towards ebooks, and newer or past neglected genres. There is only so much shelf and inventory space budget wise. If library patrons haven’t checked out DAVY in years, then there’s an increased likelihood of this title being removed from circulating collections. IMHO.<br><br>Of course, this is where specialist collections enter: NESFA, MITSFS, the universities receiving libraries & papers of prominent genre authors.<br><br>Hope this helps.<br>Gloria<br><br><a href="https://www.nypl.org/research/research-catalog/search?q=Davy%2C" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nypl.org/research/research-catalog/search?q=Davy%2C</a> Pangborn<<a href="https://www.nypl.org/research/research-catalog/search?q=Davy%2C%20Pangborn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nypl.org/research/research-catalog/search?q=Davy%2C%20Pangborn</a>><br><br><br>On Nov 27, 2024, at 12:02 PM, Wesley Brodsky <<a href="mailto:wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu" target="_blank">wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu" target="_blank">wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu</a>>> wrote:<br><br>The Old Colony Library Network lists no copies.<br><br>Amazon (not Prime) seems to have a used version available for $9.99 shipped.<br>Beware; some versions are in Italian, and Amazon often mixes up this book with “West if the Sun” by the same author.<br>I think it is unusual that a novel with these awards is so hard to find.<br>During the next Reading Group meeting, we can discuss if we want to choose an alternative or not.<br>Anyone who has already bought a copy should let us know, since that will influence the decision,<br><br>-Wes<br><br>________________________________________<br>From: reading-group <<a href="mailto:reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org</a>>> on behalf of Wesley Brodsky <<a href="mailto:wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu" target="_blank">wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu" target="_blank">wesbrodsky@alum.mit.edu</a>>><br>Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 11:36 AM<br>To: NESFA Reading Group<br>Subject: Re: [nesfa-reading-group] Davy by Pangborn NOT available in any Massachusetts library<br><br>a copy of Davy by Pangborn is in the NESFA library (I looked)<br>-WES<br>________________________________________<br>From: reading-group <<a href="mailto:reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org</a>>> on behalf of Richard Schwartz via reading-group <<a href="mailto:reading-group@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group@lists.nesfa.org</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:reading-group@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group@lists.nesfa.org</a>>><br>Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 10:24 AM<br>To: NESFA Reading Group<br>Cc: Richard Schwartz; NESFA Reading Group<br>Subject: Re: [nesfa-reading-group] Davy by Pangborn NOT available in any Massachusetts library<br><br>I've been reading "Davy" from Kindle Unlimited.<br><br>Richard<br><br>Nov 27, 2024, at 9:55 AM, cjhi <a href="http://newcastle2.com" target="_blank">newcastle2.com</a><<a href="http://newcastle2.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://newcastle2.com</a>><<a href="http://newcastle2.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://newcastle2.com</a>> <<a href="mailto:cjhi@newcastle2.com" target="_blank">cjhi@newcastle2.com</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:cjhi@newcastle2.com" target="_blank">cjhi@newcastle2.com</a>><mailto:<a href="mailto:cjhi@newcastle2.com" target="_blank">cjhi@newcastle2.com</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:cjhi@newcastle2.com" target="_blank">cjhi@newcastle2.com</a>>>> wrote:<br><br><br>BPL has an in-house-only copy (or maybe two; their cataloging system is ... interesting).<br><br>I would be astounded if MITSFS (<a href="http://mitsfs.mit.edu" target="_blank">mitsfs.mit.edu</a><<a href="http://mitsfs.mit.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://mitsfs.mit.edu</a>>) did not have a copy on reserve. (It's also likely to have a borrowing copy, but borrowing costs $15/year or $5 for 3 months.)<br><br>It's very likely that NESFA has a copy.<br><br>/CHip<br><br>________________________________<br><br>From: reading-group <<a href="mailto:reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group-bounces@lists.nesfa.org</a>>> on behalf of David G. Grubbs <<a href="mailto:dggrubbs@gmail.com" target="_blank">dggrubbs@gmail.com</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:dggrubbs@gmail.com" target="_blank">dggrubbs@gmail.com</a>>><br>Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 9:45 AM<br>To: NESFA Reading Group <<a href="mailto:reading-group@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group@lists.nesfa.org</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:reading-group@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group@lists.nesfa.org</a>>><br>Subject: Re: [nesfa-reading-group] Davy by Pangborn NOT available in any Massachusetts library<br><br>I have a copy of Davy, which I got from the Commonwealth catalog a few weeks ago. I will read it and return it soon, so maybe you can request it and wait on the queue.<br><br><br>On Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 2:17 AM <<a href="mailto:tracy@windweaver.com" target="_blank">tracy@windweaver.com</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:tracy@windweaver.com" target="_blank">tracy@windweaver.com</a>><mailto:<a href="mailto:tracy@windweaver.com" target="_blank">tracy@windweaver.com</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:tracy@windweaver.com" target="_blank">tracy@windweaver.com</a>>>> wrote:<br><br>This group is discussing Davy January 3, so I thought it was time to order it from the library, since there's often a wait.<br><br>HOWEVER, there are NO copies of Davy in the Minuteman Library Network and NO requestable copies of Davy in the Commonwealth catalog for all of Massachusetts. The cheapest used copy on Amazon is $10.99, but most are a lot more. (Even on eBay, all copies for sale are $11 or more.)<br><br>However, I did find two copies on Abebooks for just under $10 including shipping. If I wasn't barely living on a survival level due to a lifelong medical condition, I wouldn't have an issue with buying it, but I won't have the credit to do so until January.<br><br>I can't read a book online - but there's not even a Kindle version anyway, though there appears to be a collected works of Pangborn on kindle.<br><br>I wish we'd only choose books for which printed copies are available from the library.<br><br>Tracy<br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Join Zoom Meeting<br><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/94460014978?pwd=a1BFQndDa1NYTnlNcUVCMU95dWdNZz09" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/94460014978?pwd=a1BFQndDa1NYTnlNcUVCMU95dWdNZz09</a><br><br>Meeting ID: 944 6001 4978<br>Passcode: 244476<br><br>Recurring Meeting; Generally the first Friday of every month at 7 PM<br>See <a href="https://www.nesfa.org/events/nesfa-reading-group/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nesfa.org/events/nesfa-reading-group/</a> for group info.<br>_______________________________________________<br>reading-group mailing list<br><a href="mailto:reading-group@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group@lists.nesfa.org</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:reading-group@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group@lists.nesfa.org</a>><mailto:<a href="mailto:reading-group@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group@lists.nesfa.org</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:reading-group@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group@lists.nesfa.org</a>>><br><a href="https://listsmgt.nesfa.org/mailman/listinfo/reading-group" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://listsmgt.nesfa.org/mailman/listinfo/reading-group</a><br>_______________________________________________<br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Join Zoom Meeting<br><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/94460014978?pwd=a1BFQndDa1NYTnlNcUVCMU95dWdNZz09" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/94460014978?pwd=a1BFQndDa1NYTnlNcUVCMU95dWdNZz09</a><br><br>Meeting ID: 944 6001 4978<br>Passcode: 244476<br><br>Recurring Meeting; Generally the first Friday of every month at 7 PM<br>See <a href="https://www.nesfa.org/events/nesfa-reading-group/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nesfa.org/events/nesfa-reading-group/</a> for group info.<br>_______________________________________________<br>reading-group mailing list<br><a href="mailto:reading-group@lists.nesfa.org" target="_blank">reading-group@lists.nesfa.org</a><br><a href="https://listsmgt.nesfa.org/mailman/listinfo/reading-group" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://listsmgt.nesfa.org/mailman/listinfo/reading-group</a></blockquote>
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