I used to look forward to receiving the Common Reader catalog in the mail. They had a wonderful selection of interesting intelligent books, described in a way that made me want to read them all. I was very sad when they went out of business. Recently I found one of their catalogs in a box. To celebrate I am making a list of the titles in the catalog, leaving out CDs and other non-book items. This list is a sad shadow of the real catalog with its tempting commentary.
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100 books · 16 voters · list created February 7th, 2013 by Clarissa (votes) .
21 likes · 
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Comments Showing 1-15 of 15 (15 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Emily (new)

Emily I used to look forward to getting this catalog too! I can't wait to see the rest of the titles. Is it ok if I vote when you have more up (and when there are some that I've read)?


message 2: by Clarissa (new)

Clarissa Go ahead and vote! That would be great!


message 3: by Jaye (new)

Jaye It's good that I save things like the Common Reader catalog. I have about 6 of them !

Recently I saw one for sale on ebay for $6.00 !!
I don't think anyone bought it.


message 4: by Clarissa (new)

Clarissa Wow, I am tempted to go on eBay and look for some catalogs to buy...


message 5: by Jaye (new)

Jaye It was one I don't have, but 6.00 (!!!!)! too much.
I was hoping to, one day, see a selection of them for a reasonable price. i guess i should be content with what i have, though i feel guilt because my lack of buying must have contributed to their downfall.


message 6: by Clarissa (new)

Clarissa I feel guilty too! I wish I had bought more books from them!


message 7: by Jaye (new)

Jaye http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...

it's up again, reduced to 3.99
i'm not bidding as i already have enough.


message 8: by Clarissa (new)

Clarissa Ooh! I am tempted!


message 9: by Michelle (new)

Michelle I have saved about 20-30 of these catalogs, from No. 101- 157, with some gaps. We are moving to a much smaller home, and so I must finally part with these, but hate to just throw them away. Is anyone interested in these?


message 10: by Diane (new)

Diane Harvey Michelle wrote: "I have saved about 20-30 of these catalogs, from No. 101- 157, with some gaps. We are moving to a much smaller home, and so I must finally part with these, but hate to just throw them away. Is anyo..."

Michelle, today I was inexplicably seized with a pang of nostalgia for the old Common Reader catalog I used to receive with such pleasure. The catalogs were always such a joy to read, and it never failed to stoke the hope and anticipation of discovering new literary treasures. I've been poking around the internet to see if anyone else savored these catalogs as I once did, and came upon your post. Do you still have these old catalogs, and are you still trying to find them a home?


message 11: by Debbie (new)

Debbie Mattsson Thank you so much for this posting. I, too, fondly remember those catalogues with their personal reviews and beautiful cover artwork.
I am trying to locate a book that was reviewed on a Common Reader catalogue. Unfortunately I do not remember the title. It is a series of essays written mid 20th century by a British lord or baron who inherited a small island off the coast of England. The essays covered every aspect of his island - geology, flora and fauna, navigating to the island, what kind of boat he needed to have built to travel there. Each essay had a similar introduction, exposition, and ending, seemed as if they had been written as free-standing essays. Does this ring a bell with anyone? I would be interested in purchasing a copy of this book. Thank you all!


message 12: by Stephanie (new)

Stephanie Thank you for this list!


message 13: by Amanda (new)

Amanda THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS


message 14: by Clarissa (new)

Clarissa Debbie wrote: "Thank you so much for this posting. I, too, fondly remember those catalogues with their personal reviews and beautiful cover artwork.
I am trying to locate a book that was reviewed on a Common Read..."


Hi Debbie,

The Common Reader Hebridean memoir that I remember best is The Hills is Lonely by Lillian Beckwith which can't be what you are looking for. Maybe it was The Isles of the Sea by Sir Fitzroy Maclean?

Clarissa


message 15: by Duane (new)

Duane Andersen A couple of books from the Common Reader catalog that aren't on this list (books I bought from the catalog and still have):
"Endurance" by Alfred Lansing
"Catapult" by Jim Paul


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