To kick off the new LAShTAL Reading Circle, let's start with the revised and expanded edition of Richard Kaczynski's Perdurabo.
To start: Acknowledgements.
Nice to see fellow LAShTAL member Clive Harper "acknowledged". The "fine madness" remark isn't a comment on this remarkable and charming man's mental health! It's a reference to his Fine Madness Society, members of which receive amusing notices of bibliographical indulgences.
And how about the physical appearance of the book? I'll start by asserting that it's an extraordinarily handsome volume, beautifully bound and with an attractive dust jacket. It'll generate sales just from its 'look and feel', I'm sure.
Owner and Editor
LAShTAL
I am quite jealous. We in the US are still eagerly awaiting ours.
Me too 🙁
me thwee :'(
Just got an amazon.com notice mine has shipped to NZ. My USA friends must be getting theirs soon!
Thanks for the notes Paul. I cannot wait to curl up and dive into this one!!
S
I received the USA ship notice a few hours ago, myself.
Received notice from Amazon US that my copy of Perdurabo is being prepared for shipment 😀
But let me digress for bit :
My own introduction to Crowley was while I was serving in the US Air Force in 1973. A friend of mine (fellow military) and I decided to go into Baltimore on one Saturday afternoon and pay some visits to the local bookstores. We passed a Christian bookstore (as in Catholic) and my friend, familiar with the store and an avid reader of all subjects, convinced me that there is a very interesting title in this store that he purchased for himself months ago. There on a back shelf of this particular store was Crowley's HAG (Bantam edition, paperback, 1971) of all places. I was tempted and purchased the large volume for a mere $1.95.
After a couple of weeks I cracked open the book and in about 2 months, as time permitted, read (and annotated) the entire work. I was impressed, fascinated, and couldn't believe that one individual could accomplish so much in a lifetime. I envied Crowley's spiritual quest and accomplishments.
That book led to many, many others, and other related outcomes... And my life has not been the same since. It has meaning and perspective and priorities. My spiritual outlook has broadened and Magick has led me along the Path.
The long awaited Perdurabo is here! Maybe I've come full-circle now... 93
Wow, what a strange title for a Catholic bookstore to be carrying! Also, what a very good deal you got on the HAG, it makes me want to go and scope out my local christian bookstores.......okay not really, that actually seems like the least fun thing I can think of. 😈
Amazon tells me that Perdurabo has shipped. Estimated arrival August 14.
Yeah, mine shipped 5 a.m. this morning. Suprised the Weiser Antiquarian signed edition isn't up yet...
I preordered mine yesterday and it has shipped this morning too hooray 🙂 It will be fun to discuss this book in real time as we read it.
Will there be dates or times like due dates for certain chapters or we just go free for all?
I am doing a similar thing watching x-files discussing each episode so this will be fun based on how that is going!
Chris
93!
My copies are on the way too. I hope that as many people as possible used the Lashtal Bookshop for their orders to generate some money for this site. And if not, that they feel guilty for a few minutes....
Love=Law
Lutz
Strange...I have not received a shipping notice on mine yet! 😕 ❓
I would love to join this reading circle, but I can't seem to find a copy here in the US that's under $85?
One moment please, Lutz, while I take some time out to add up all the orders through this site, generating some income...
Still counting. Bear with me.
Okay, all done. It's two. Yep, two.
Owner and Editor
LAShTAL
I would have ordered mine through the shop if it was available through amazon US because it makes more sense to just donate here than to pay more for UK shipping and to wait longer. I am sure you agree 🙂
And aleatoric the book we are all buying is only around 19 dollars before shipping due to a preorder price. Its the new version, if it is over 50 it is probably the old or first version.
edit here you go a link directly : http://www.amazon.com/Perdurabo-Revised-Expanded-Aleister-Crowley/dp/product-description/1556438990
Thank You! That helps a lot!
I certainly would have ordered my copy from the Bookstore on this site A.) if it was Amazon USA and B.) if the bookstore had been up at the time I pre-ordered. That said I do plan on sending a donation to the site next paycheck. 🙂
Looking forward to receiving the book and joining in on the discussion once we've all gotten ours.
I ordered mine before the shop was up.
GIVE THE SHOP A BIGGER LINK OR A NEWS ITEM!! 🙂
93,
I just received the notice that my copy has shipped! 😀 FWIW, I ordered my copy well before I became aware of the LAShTAL Bookstore! That is probably the case with a lot people here. However, I'm sure there will be other opportunities for everyone to use the store though. I certainly plan on doing so.
93 93/93
phthah
Stupid delivery man came when i was in the shower and i missed it!
I see Weiser Antiquarian now has their signed copies for $25.
93,
One moment please, Lutz, while I take some time out to add up all the orders through this site, generating some income...
Still counting. Bear with me.
Okay, all done. It's two. Yep, two.
My apologies. I would have used the Site to order, but I had no idea I could. 🙁
93 93/93
lol
sorry :-p that was funny though..
next time try putting up a little notice on your door like please leave on doorstep? That usually works for me.
If that doesnt work there is often the 'tracking online via the tracking # like a madman every hour.' which is usually helpful if a little sad 😀
Just received my copy...
Yay, Just received my amazon copy. Maybe my signed and inscribed copy will arrive today too (not Weiser).
**edit**
First impression. what a beautifully made book, simply stunning!
Ha ha- Just 5-10 minutes later my other copy arrived-nice. Now I can take a shower safely:)
Yes, they actually reduced the price they advertised on my invoice although I ordered it yesterday morning for $35! (and worth the extra $10 for the autograph, IMHO)
Home Sweet home! I guess I know what I'm doing tonight.
93,
The power went out in the county. My wife walked into the house from the mailbox. She said, "Did you buy a book?" And there it was... Then I got to spend two lovely hours reading (with neighborhood kids screaming) until the power came on, roughly 6pm.
93 93/93
lol
our power went out last week but not from heat, from idiots in either cable or energy trucks (the irony!) driving their truck with the boom elongated (where the men sit up high to work on power lines) and so not suprisingly it got tangled in the power lines leading to no power for a lot of us. idiots 😀
as far as perdurabo since i ordered it later than most i expect it tomorrow or the day after 😀 im excited to read this as everyone keeps touting it as the best AC bio and I have read quite a few as I know you all have.
And Paul you probably didnt notice my question is all, so , the reading circle how does it work? We have set schedule or chapters or?
the book is very good so far! Around page 50 after an hour which is fast reading for me. The type is kind of small but I am glad he packed so much information in so give and take!
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law,
I just got mine today. I will start reading it tonight.
Wonderful pictures, and seems to be a well researched book. I am one who never owned the first edition, never read it.
On to read I go!!!
Love is the Law, Love Under Will
What a great book. on the 3rd chapter already it's already unputdownable.
Such detail! I can only marval at the the research and toil
As per my initial post, let's just start with the Acknowledgements and stick with them until enough copies have been delivered to allow others to join in.
Owner and Editor
LAShTAL
93
Copies have made it (by Pony Express) to the hinterlands of Buffalo, New York, USA.
Thank you, Dr Kaczynski. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
93 93/93
Chuck
I just received a notice from Amazon.co.uk saying that they dispatched my order today! 😀
…but won’t be here before the 23rd of August…. 🙄
At last, Predurabo is in my hands. Gods, but it is a thing of beauty.
Predurabo? I thought only Paul got advance copies.
Mine is forecast to arrive September the something. Keats says that a Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever so I have to not mind.
OK
More often than not, I type faster than I think 🙁
I was pleased to find my signed copy of Perdurabo from Weiser Antiquarian in the mailbox yesterday. Even being sent media mail it arrived quickly. Currently in the middle of chapter three.
not only is it a beautiful work but at long last, a photo of Roddie Minor and after a recent thread regarding no photos of her having circulated. She lived to 95 and died in 1979.
A photo of Roddie Minor you made me real crazy, I shall have this book, only recently ordered (17' of August 2010), and than can see for myself, it will take eventually a considerable amount of time when I shall read this book, I have so much else to read, but anyway looking forward to having it, so that I can read it later. . . , best wishes.
At around page 500, enjoying it very much.
Perhaps we need another thread (yes gah another) strictly of readers reviews and discussion, of those who are currently reading it or have read it, as this thread has turned into a `OMG I got it` thread.
I don't suppose a new thread is necessary - it will get going when enough people get the book.
Maybe its time to start chatting about it. Someone offer some thoughts...I don't have my copy yet but I will chime in with something that I hope proves to be insightful when I do 😉
Still counting. Bear with me.
Okay, all done. It's two. Yep, two.
In March I walked down Cecil Court and was surprised to see that Watkins Books, one of the King of Iona's old haunts, had bitten the dust.
I thought about the last dozen books I had bought. I could have bought all of them at Watkin's but I had bought all of them online.
Watkin's has reopened. I suppose I ought to pay the extra and buy my books from there to make sure it stays open. I also ought to use Atlantis Books on Museum Street - I am sure they need the custom. As do the bookshops along the Charing Cross Road. Quinto, Henry Pordes, Any Amount of Books...
I would prefer that anyone purchasing genre titles did so from specialist bookshops - my personal recommendation for US purchasers would be Weiser Antiquarian and for UK purchasers would be Treadwells, Atlantis or Watkins. The bookstore here simply gives an option to make small donations towards the running of this site for those purchasers that have already decided to take advantage of the lower prices charged by Amazon.co.uk.
Owner and Editor
LAShTAL
also a short but informative little bio on Roddie Minor in the notes.
I got my copy today, in Béziers, France.
My first impression agrees with the other "gushers" here - attractive to the eye, weighty in the hand.
As for the acknowledgments, I can't tell if he's left anyone out, but he sure has put a lot of people in. Including all the well-known and best authorities. This is essentially the book's "imprimatur", its peer review.
I never got the first edition, so I cannot compare them or illustrate the differences between them, except to note that from descriptions, the 1st ed. had less than 600 pages, while this one has 720 - so if the format is the same, this one is *very* much expanded.
here is a tombstone listing that lists Roddie Minor Warwick's before she died.