PN6700-PN6790: A Comic Book Collection

The Weeding Is Almost Done…

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:02:20 +0000

So this Saturday I will be done with this phase of the great Summer ’11 Weeding, and there is a big post 0r two in the journey of the last few weeks. But not for this morning. For this morning, a quick reminder of why we do this…

Just one more book, that's all I want...

Warey Myers Decorative Arts “The Basement Stacks”

“Books breaking through the (faux) wall downstairs, referencing the “basement stacks” every library has. In this case it’s as if those stacks had been sealed up during some remodel, and are anthropomorphically breaking through, referencing the old library, history, roots, poltergeists… Created for the VIA Advertising Agency, which recently renovated and moved their offices into the old Baxter building, which served as Portland’s public library from 1888 until the 1960s.” (via Boing Boing)

And so it begins… The Weeding!

admin — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:30:35 +0000

Sounds a bit like a parody of a Stephen King novel from 1983. But I took advantage of the relatively free nature of this weekend (no freelance, no visitors, no vacation, beautiful weather) to get started. To clear off the dining room table and start filling it with books to dispose of. And for something that seemed to be so simple at first,this weeding has become more and more difficult as it goes on, especially when I look back at the bookshelves and they still seem to be overflowing.

Intellectually I understand that this should be easy. I’ve made peace with getting rid of a portion of my things. I know from past experiences that I will barely miss these the items that I get rid of; I have had almost no moments of regret from the last few years of culling. I know that if worst comes to worst I can re-acquire things that leave an aching hole in my soul, and that much of the older material will possibly be re-issued in an even better format. And I know the amazing feeling that will come when I walk into a home that, while still full of books, is not aggressively drowning me in four-color art and print.

But oooooooohhhh the anxiety…

The anxiety seems to come from a variety of places. Part of it is the impulse to use these books, this library, to define who I am. Do I keep all of the art-comix so that I am au courant? Do I keep the old, nostalgic super-hero comics of my youth or do I purge all modern cape-&-cowl books that don’t have an emotional response anchored in childhood? All these various aspects of this collection are meant to reflect on me and my personality and my likes. What does it say about me if I get rid of them? Am I getting rid of those parts of my “self”?

Day One of Weeding 2011: It seems like so much, and yet so little.

There is also the sense of breaking the chain of custody, the collector’s mentality. I enjoy gently mocking the many wonderful geek personality quirks, mainly because I am aware enough to see them reflected in myself. But one that always brings the evil specter of condescension out in my words is when I talk about the completest mentality. I look down on the impulse to continue to buy every single thing in a series after enjoyment has left, but I still find myself doing it. There still exists a sense of needing to see something through or not wanting to break up a set, no matter how I find myself able to laugh at that impulse in others.

With my book collection I fight this completest impulse in a few ways. One is fighting the impulse to need every single book by a specific creator. Part of me needs the entire cannon. Every single, every ep, every boxset. Ever comic, every graphic novel, every short story, every collection. But you realize that they aren’t all good and you try to put the mediocre volumes on the sell pile, but it hurts. I’ve tried to find a balance, and “allow” myself certain authors to be obsessive over. But I’ve even gotten rid of some of my Alan Moore books and my Grant Morrison is far from complete. I even only own ONE of Chris Ware’s self-publish books on ragtime sheet music. For some people it is easy (I’m not a huge fan of Lewis Trondheim’s more child-directed work, but it was difficult to pull his lesser autobiographical works) and for some it is hard (getting rid of Gilbert Hernandez’s more surreal works).

There is also a problem with getting rid of items that I am proud for have collecting. An example, I have a complete run of the anthology series A1. This was a British anthology that I ran across in the late ’80s (how I don’t know) and bought because it had work by a wide range of creators I loved, both British and American. It went through a variety of publishers and formats, including a series of four issues published by Marvel Comics, and over time I tracked them all down; some while they were being released and some years later. But what am I going to do with them? I haven’t read them in awhile. The quality of work (and binding) is inconsistent. Part of me says it is time to let them go, but I put in all that work to get them; all that work that impresses no one but myself.

Day Two of Weeding 2011: The piles reach a little higher

And I admit, another thing that makes this all so hard is to admit what it really means and reflects on me as far as monetary investment. I spent money on all of these things, and while I have gone over and over in my mind that it is okay to look on it as fleeting enjoyment, like a movie or a play or a meal, it still seems to my own lack of self-control spitting in my face. And there is still future investment as I do pre-order some books through a mail order company, so there are still books coming my way over the next few months that reflect my state of mind from before this last effort to weed. So I’ll continue to be reminded of my “mistakes” through at least the end of the year, but I hope I can use those reminders to help me keep the future spending even more under control [and it is 1000% times better than it was two years or so ago].

A pile of books put aside "to read" in order to give one more look to see if they deserve to stay or go. Most will go. Few will stay.

So I keep at it. Two days of filling a desk and I’m gonna try to go back for more, for one last little push. Then box it all up and try to figure out the next steps for getting this all out of my house. Some will go to friends. Some I’ll try to sell to eBay or Amazon. The majority will probably go to the used book stores in bulk.

And then the long process of buying and reading and keeping and selling continues. And hopefully each time I go through this cycle I get a little bit better.

Pulling The Band-Aid Off

admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:11:43 +0000

The wall of books inside "The Barn of Books"

I think I passed a breaking point last night. Last night I actively hated my library.

Since I decided to get back on the blogging the past week I’ve been trying to figure out what to write. I’ve stop-started several entries, trying to get back to the themes of why I buy things and why I keep them. Or to give you a new photo tour of my current library set-up (which will still come). Or how I plan to get rid of things this time.

Last night I had hoped to spend a little time packing up some Ebay items and then maybe do a little writing. Then I decided to try out this new thing that Amazon has called “Trade-Ins” where they’ll buy your items (books, games, etc) for a small price and give you credit. You get far less then selling them elsewhere, but it seemed like a nice alternative with less stress. Then book after book after book was either not available for trade-in or the price offered was less than a dollar. Suddenly even this method was turning into another dead end.

And that was when the library finally became a massive anchor and dragged my soul to the bottom of the ocean. I was never going to get rid of these books. Not the way I wanted. The way I wanted was to have the world line up outside my door and let me individually hand each person a book that would make them happy and they would thank me while handing me cover price in cash. I need to make as much of a break as possible, and as quickly as possible. When I started this in 2009 I wanted the time to say goodbye to each individual item. That time has passed. I’ve said goodbye when I packed them and unpacked them three times over the past five years. Goodbye.

So I walked away with a decision. Later this month I start the real weeding. I will weed harshly and strongly. I want to empty two to three bookshelves when this is done, maybe more. I will choose a small amount, maybe two small boxes worth, to attempt to sell through channels like Ebay in order to get something resembling a price for them. The rest will go to used bookstores that will pay me very little but take all of them. Anything that isn’t taken will be donated.

And then I’m done. Walk away. And keep any eye out on what is left so that this doesn’t happen again.

We’ll see if I can do this. I don’t 100% trust myself but I know in my heart I’ll feel better.

Bullet Points: Stewart Lee: “My Life On A Shelf”

admin — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:30:19 +0000

[This post was also originally written in August of 2010. Things started happening then.]

Another piece to share. British comedian Stewart Lee (brilliant stand-up, director of Jerry Springer: The Opera, interviewer, and comic book fan): “What happens to a man who compulsively collects comics, books, records and CDs? He becomes very good at building shelves…”

The whole thing is worth a read, but here, from the conclusion:

Negotiating my friend Andy’s abandonment of his lifetime of books, and my own deranged tendency to keep everything, as if to prove that I existed, I have set myself a limit to my shelf space– a generous one by the average person’s standards, but a limit nonetheless. Each month I carve out a little more length and unbox a few more treasures. It’s a slow process. But there is a finite point. And the rest must go … But philosophically I remain none the wiser than I did when I first racked my Marvel comics on the wall of my bedroom, aged eight or nine. To paraphrase Larkin: “What are shelves for? Ah, solving that question/brings the priest and the doctor/in their long coats/running over the fields.”

Stewart Lee, “My Life On A Shelf”, Guardian.co.uk, The Observer, August 1, 2010

Bullet Points: The Two Story, Climb Inside Bookshelf Tower

admin — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 18:30:43 +0000

[Well. I wrote this post in August of 2010. Enjoy!]

Another recent find online. “The Ark”, designed by Rintala Eggertsson Architects, was a project for the Victoria & Albert Museum, and is nestled in the stairwell leading to the library the Museum. A two-story, immersive bookcase. Now I know another thing to keep in mind when I build my dream home.

Originally found via www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/

More information, and many more photos from the blog Design Boom

And a video of the construction of the project.

Rintala Eggertsson Architects – ‘Ark’ construction from Architects Build Small Spaces on Vimeo.

It’s the book store and the library on the second floor, so we wanted to connect those two parts of the museum with a book tower so that you could read the continuity from the stored books to the books that are sold and become eventually a part of every people’s life out there.

The tower is a bookcase in itself, the first thing you meet is the white backside of the books and they don’t reveal themselves until you get to the inside where you get the spine of the book. I think it is important for us to show that architecture is not a mystical thing but it’s about putting one stick on top of the other like every small child does in the beginning of their life.

Dagur Eggertsson

Here We Go Again: The More Things Change…

admin — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 18:00:29 +0000

So, ever wonder what an entire apartment of books looks like when it has been taken off the shelf and placed in at least 120 boxes?

I stopped counting at 90 boxes...

I moved in October of 2010. I packed up the apartment where all the previous posts on this blog took place. Where I started with 12 bookshelves full of books (to say nothing of the comics) and swore to cut this out of my life. So… was it successful?

Was it my ass.

I had one moving company say no to me, that they would need two trips to move everything. The movers I ended up with showed up, took one look into the back room where I had all the boxes of books and started shooting daggers at me with their eyes. And these photos don’t even take into account the kitchen full of comic book short boxes (including all back issues of Alter Ego and many short boxes used to hold actual books). My estimated inventory accounted for 120 boxes and 35 short boxes. I have no idea what the final count was. I couldn’t count through the tears.

And yet progress had been made. Over a thousand books and over twenty-five hundred comics were disposed of since I started this grand project. I thought I was making huge cuts; I thought I was massively cutting down on what I was buying; I thought I was doing this right. But I started so far in the hole that I hadn’t been able to dig myself out.

I’ve been in the new apartment for a little over half a year now. I am living with a wonderful woman who appreciates and celebrates my love of books and my collection. She has asked for no changes, and even took some of the more attractive books for displays in the living room. I have a wonderful library/office that brings smiles to the faces of visitors.

But I still feel trapped. Trapped by these bookshelves (7 full, two half, 1 tall skinny). Trapped by these books. I really don’t know why I don’t have panic dreams where I am crushed in an avalanche of books. I have a two read pile which never goes down. Some day I will move again, and I don’t want to have to pack these books again.

So I’m starting again. Starting fresh. I’m going to try a different tack for the actual culling. I’m going to try a different tack for getting rid of them. And I’m gonna be back here, talking out-loud to myself (and those poor few that have utterly forgotten about the RSS feed they added in 2009).

So be back here tomorrow for a new mission statement and a better idea of what I am still working with. And thanks for your support.

Bullet Points: An Image For A Monday

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:30:00 +0000

Well that declaration of content didn’t work. But here is the first of a few short entries for you. First, enjoy this weird photo (no idea what the provenance is). UPDATE: Well know I do know what it is. “Olivier Charles creates his vision of the Stockholm Public Library, a virtual world of Architecture and CG Art.” Thanks Dad!

Welcome Back, Frank

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:43:38 +0000

I’ve tried. I honestly have. I want to say that the process has continued, even though the writing ceased sometime last fall. Since I started this blog in February of last year I’ve had a fairly large promotion at work (at just about the time blogging stopped regularly), started performing improv regularly for money, and started a very positive long term relationship. All of this has meant a year of readjusting and rearranging projects and otherwise. All very good things, which have meant that writing down the thoughts on the inside of my skull has taken a back seat.

But the weeding, the purging, the mental cleaning has continued all along. I’m proud to say that in the last year I’ve cleared out one more bookcase worth of books, started a pull list at my local comic shop (to help control and manage my regular purchases), canceled my eMusic membership, and managed to cut down my month graphic novel purchase to around a fourth of its previous size. Looking at the regular tally of eBay results it appears that since last March I’ve sold just under 2,500 comics, just under 1,000 graphic novels, 28 manga volumes, 75 magazines, and 69 mini-comics (with an additional 70 books sold through Amazon or given away)! While new items have entered into my world during this time, the three empty bookshelves, and partially empty shelves, along with the reduced monthly output feels great!

But I’m not done. Before I move house in October I intend to clear out some more in various aspects (including music). Plus I’ve had interesting conversations with people asking me further about the why of what I am doing, what I want to get out of it, and if any aspects of this process might be a mistake, and that leaves me wanting to write some more to try to understand and explain.

So, as I said, I’m back. For the next month I’m gonna try to post at least twice a week, possibly Sunday and Wednesday, to get going with a bit of regularity. It won’t all be Irv Kupcinet quality columns, but I want to see if I can do this.

Let’s go!

Long Time Gone: Some Quick Links

chrisday — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:38:01 +0000

I look at my books as being sculptures of books. They’re regular books, too, but they’re also sculptures.

Douglas Coupland

It has been a busy five months, and I hope to post a real post in the near future with things I’ve learned, steps I’ve taken, and other important things. But in the meantime, here are a few important links I’ve discovered over the months, mostly through Twitter.

First a few “books” and “book collection” related links:

Here is an article with photos of the manga collections of various manga journalists. [via Deb Aoki]
Here are some photos of singer Amanda Palmer‘s vinyl collection.
While we are sneaking into rock star’s homes, here is a short video of Glenn Danzig’s book collection. [via Chuck BB]
Would you like to organize your collection old style-ee? Then here is an onlin Card Catalog Generator. [via Kelly Sue DeConnick]

Also via Kelly Sue, the book staircase.

If you haven’t seen this yet, well, you can now. Neil Gaiman’s Bookshelves. Shelfari blog post. Full set of images. And another set of images from that shoot. [via, well, just about everyone]

And a few cool comic book related links:

A set of sketches of Tintin characters collected over the years. [via Leigh Walton]
Because everyone should see this as often as possible, a link to Hey Oscar Wilde, a collection of literary portraits by a variety of artists.
Here is a first hand account of what comics publishers used to do in order to put together all these collected editions that I love so much, in this case KC Carlson’s story of assembling the original V For Vendetta. [via Johanna DC]
From the same author, the story of the grunt work of the early days of the direct market, at Capital City distribution in Wisconsin.
Production notes on putting together and designing the massive Gahan Wilson Cartoon collection that will be mine a mere two weeks after it is finally released. [via Fantagraphics Books]

Looking forward to writing more in the near future, including my “recovering alcoholic” visit to WizardWorld Chicago back in late July, my continued attempts at getting rid of books and comics, and how clean living leads to happiness, or some such.

A Video Tour Of The Schulz Library

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:02:15 +0000

A quick YouTube tour of the Charles Schulz Library at the Center For Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont. This is a bit what I imagine my library to look like in my dream home. Well, my sub-Ellison Wonderland dream home. (Found via The Comics Reporter)

Back soon after a brief career & rest related vacation. Many more thoughts to come.