Hello! Welcome to the latest edition of Books on GIF, the fun and smart alternative to boring book reviews. This Sunday's book is 'BUtterfield 8' by John O'Hara. That’s not a typo. The book, which I bought at the wonderful Brattle Book Shop in Boston, takes its title from a 1930's-style New York City telephone number. (There's a short explanation on the title page.) The Brattle sells used books, and when I saw this 1961 Modern Library edition, I snagged it right away. For one thing, I really dig O'Hara's work for the beautiful way he tells bleak stories about infidelity, alcoholism and death. I also love the Modern Library imprint. Their books are just so well made. Although this edition is more than 50 years old, the pages have barely yellowed, the font is clear and readable, and the cloth-bound cover shows little sign of wear. Whoever owned it before me (who got it as a gift, as indicated by the diagonal cut on the inside flap) kept it on a shelf forever because while the dust jacket's spine has faded, its front and back look almost brand new. OK, enough about the book, let's talk about the book. The protagonist is Gloria Wandrous, whose story begins when she wakes up alone in a married man's apartment. Elizabeth Taylor won an Oscar for portraying Gloria in the 1960 film adaptation, which I'll see on Turner Classic Movies
Books on GIF #71 — 'BUtterfield 8' by John O'Hara
Books on GIF #71 — 'BUtterfield 8' by John…
Books on GIF #71 — 'BUtterfield 8' by John O'Hara
Hello! Welcome to the latest edition of Books on GIF, the fun and smart alternative to boring book reviews. This Sunday's book is 'BUtterfield 8' by John O'Hara. That’s not a typo. The book, which I bought at the wonderful Brattle Book Shop in Boston, takes its title from a 1930's-style New York City telephone number. (There's a short explanation on the title page.) The Brattle sells used books, and when I saw this 1961 Modern Library edition, I snagged it right away. For one thing, I really dig O'Hara's work for the beautiful way he tells bleak stories about infidelity, alcoholism and death. I also love the Modern Library imprint. Their books are just so well made. Although this edition is more than 50 years old, the pages have barely yellowed, the font is clear and readable, and the cloth-bound cover shows little sign of wear. Whoever owned it before me (who got it as a gift, as indicated by the diagonal cut on the inside flap) kept it on a shelf forever because while the dust jacket's spine has faded, its front and back look almost brand new. OK, enough about the book, let's talk about the book. The protagonist is Gloria Wandrous, whose story begins when she wakes up alone in a married man's apartment. Elizabeth Taylor won an Oscar for portraying Gloria in the 1960 film adaptation, which I'll see on Turner Classic Movies