Gutbrain Records

Monday, 17 September 2007

This book arrived in the mail for me today. That's not usually a big deal. I frequently order books, CDs, DVDs and who knows what else and they show up sooner or later. This is an extreme case of later, though.

When Tim Lucas started taking pre-orders for his biography of Mario Bava, I sent him a check. That was sometime in the last century. Looking back over my records, I find a cancelled check from November 1999 that could have been my Bava book pre-order. I can't remember, though, and it doesn't matter. It's here now!

As a result of shelling out the cash on faith — the price was around $100 — I and many others are included in a list of "Patrons" at the back of the book.

My only concern now is with its size. The thing is huge, as you can see if the jars of cumin and other spices provide a useful reference. It weighs about twelve pounds and is too big to fit on most book shelves. Will I be able physically to read this book? To pick it up and hold it?

It brings to mind Martin Amis's review of Isaac Asimov's two volumes of autobiography, "considerably longer than War and Peace". "I went along to meet Asimov having just let In Memory Yet Green crash to the floor, and having just winched In Joy Still Felt on to the lectern."