Librarian in the Living Room

Just when I thought I would never read again (after an odd time of not wanting to read) a patron and a friend told me about this book. Now that the film adaptation is out on DVD I think there is again a renewed interest in this eerie, often grotesque yet stunningly beautiful novel of a truly odd and captivating murderer. I was amazed by the “unique” quality of Palahniuk’s murderer in his latest novel, RANT and didn’t think anything would rivel it … but this comes close. I like to think of Perfume and RANT comparatively — the novels both covering the genealogy and life story of a sociopathic individual. Perfume takes place in 19th century France, while RANT takes place in the future in what I would think of as a typical American podunk small town. Of course the point of views are different … Perfume being 3rd person while RANT is told in the very interesting oral history form.

I guess the interesting thing about all this was finding it on my very own bookshelf. Is this an indication that one has too many books? Not that there is any such thing as “too many books.”I have read about 80% of the books on my shelves, but the ones I have not read have begun to blend in a little too much. I think I need to reorganize the books … the top shelves being “books I need to read” and in the order I want to read them. I am not finished with this strange little opus yet … but I will be soon no doubt.

Oh and this is obviously not Teen Library collection appropriate … a lot of my older teen boys read Palahniuk, and I think books like these are best to be discovered by the teens themselves then recommended by their Librarian (if for no other reason than protecting yourself from being stoned in the town square).

One of the things about working in a library has to be what is found inside of books, the sometimes disgusting “bookmarks” people use are often amusing and repulsive. Here are just a few things that come to me now: lit cigarettes as “bookmarks” (a new kind of book burning I guess); sticky tissues that have something on them … one can only imagine. Lots of chocolate fingerprints (I am certain book lovers love chocolate, especially while reading their latest favorite; coffee’s my issue). People have used cash as bookmarks and checks as well. Q-Tips (used ones and new ones) … candy wrappers … other wrappers … but a tiny dead toad gets the prize for the most unique and most disgusting. I love the crumbs and hair surrounding his corpse to add that much more to the gross out factor.

This book was actually a donation, not one of our books and we are glad for that … the little ghost of a tiny dead toad haunting the stacks forever. Ribbitt Ribbitt?