Today is the first day of the
Spotlight on New York Review Books Classics! I am very excited for this week's Spotlight Series because NYRB is my favorite publisher. I am so thrilled that over 40 book bloggers signed up to participate in the series this week. Hopefully by Saturday, May 22nd, you will all instantly recognize the very distinctive cover of an NYRB Classic book.
As many of you already know if you have been reading this blog for some time now, I read and loved Stephen Benatar's
Wish Her Safe at Home. This is the first book I read by NYRB Classics, and the cover, introduction and story all made me want to learn more about the publisher. When I visited the publisher's website and browsed the catalog, I realized that the books chosen for publication were wonderfully diverse- by subject matter, author ethnicity, time period written and any other criteria I would use to judge a publisher. They publish everything from
Dante's Inferno to
Viking battles to
stories of Nazi occupation to
criminology to treatises on
growing food organically. So many books in the NYRB catalog pique my interest that now, if I see one on a bookshelf somewhere, I automatically pick it up as I am sure to find it interesting in some way.
Small press publishers such as Persephone, Hesperus Press and NYRB Classics make a concerted effort to bring forgotten books back into publication for the betterment of readers everywhere. I am so glad that they give us the opportunity to read books that otherwise, we might never have known. I hope that some of this week's Spotlight Series posts inspire you to pick up one of NYRB's distinctive covers the next time you see one. Having picked up several myself, I can say that they are definitely worth the shelf space!
Today is the first day of the Spotlight on New York Review Books Classics! I am very excited for this week's Spotlight Series because NYRB is my favorite publisher. I am so thrilled that over 40 book bloggers signed up to participate in the series this week. Hopefully by Saturday, May 22nd, you will all instantly recognize the very distinctive cover of an NYRB Classic book.
As many of you already know if you have been reading this blog for some time now, I read and loved Stephen Benatar's Wish Her Safe at Home. This is the first book I read by NYRB Classics, and the cover, introduction and story all made me want to learn more about the publisher. When I visited the publisher's website and browsed the catalog, I realized that the books chosen for publication were wonderfully diverse- by subject matter, author ethnicity, time period written and any other criteria I would use to judge a publisher. They publish everything from Dante's Inferno to Viking battles to stories of Nazi occupation to criminology to treatises on growing food organically. So many books in the NYRB catalog pique my interest that now, if I see one on a bookshelf somewhere, I automatically pick it up as I am sure to find it interesting in some way.
Small press publishers such as Persephone, Hesperus Press and NYRB Classics make a concerted effort to bring forgotten books back into publication for the betterment of readers everywhere. I am so glad that they give us the opportunity to read books that otherwise, we might never have known. I hope that some of this week's Spotlight Series posts inspire you to pick up one of NYRB's distinctive covers the next time you see one. Having picked up several myself, I can say that they are definitely worth the shelf space!
I love the covers! I'm definitely heading over there to check these out!
ReplyDeleteI love NYRB, but sadly I didn't love my pick for this tour!
ReplyDeleteI am kicking myself for not doing this one. I could have made it work if it hadn't been for the ash cloud. I am definitely reading Wish Her Safe At Home
ReplyDeleteLike Amy, I sadly wasn't too crazy about my pick for the tour, but I know I'll be reading more NYBR Classics in the future.
ReplyDeleteThese sound lovely! How exciting to spotlight the old classics.
ReplyDeleteMy salon:
http://laurel-rainsnowsaccidentallife.blogspot.com/2010/05/sunday-salon-may-16.html
i love nyrb ,got 3 or 4 on my tbr pile the covers are always great ,fav would be hadrian the seventh at moment ,all the best stu
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Wish Her Safe at Home b/c you so highly recommended it. I have a few others on my shelves. I love the stories by Mavis Gallant- great writer
ReplyDeleteyay! I also love NYRB classics!
ReplyDeleteNever read any NYRB classics, but I will check them out, now that you mentioned them. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI am also very excited about this weeks Spotlight Series. I discovered NYRB books through their Children's Classics and now have a very long wishlist of their books. Have a great week, Aarti!
ReplyDeleteI love the covers too. I didn't really know about NYRB until the Spotlight Series announced the new series tour, I confess. I am so glad I got to participate and I look forward to reading other books put out by this publisher.
ReplyDeleteWow, so many of these look great. I did like Wish Her Safe at Home.
ReplyDeleteI am so upset that I couldn't do this, this time. I'm trying not to make commitments on my reading for a month, so that I can finish my thesis and then read to my heart's content. I'm hoping to participate in the next one.
ReplyDeleteI agree though, NYRB has some awesome books in its catalog!
Lovely! I can't wait to read everyone's reviews.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how I missed the call for participants for this event; it would have been a lovely one in which to take part. But I'm sure I'll enjoy reading the reviews: it is a fantastic press to be sure!
ReplyDeleteWish Her Safe at Home was so haunting and wonderful. I love these beautiful covers as well! Looking forward to seeing the posts (and seeing you this weekend!)
ReplyDeleteI am so excited about this spotlight on NYRB books! I am anxious to see all the reviews that will be posted so I can decide which ones I just have to have!!
ReplyDeleteI love NYRB classics and wish I had signed up. But it will be fun watching you all and your reviews!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the two I read earlier this month, and I'm sad I couldn't feel I could commit to this week. I'm looking for more by the publisher! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
ReplyDeleteI love NYRB but did not like my pick...but every book is not for every reader! I was excited to see "The Bear that Wasn't" as one of NYRB's books....I wish I had chosen it. The author Frank Tashlin was my Uncle's Father and I could have offered a more personal review...if you haven't you must check it out!
ReplyDelete