I like your description of a "pipe book." With a pipe, do everything at a relaxed pace."Starlight Nights" by Leslie Peltier, 1961
This is the autobiography of Leslie Peltier, 1900 -1980, a skilled, dedicated, and very successful amateur astronomer. Probably one of the most widely loved books among amateur astronomers. I first read it quite a few years ago, I'd suppose late '70's or early '80's, and I really wasn't that much impressed. HOWEVER, I recently pulled it out again for a second read, and LOVED it.
The thing was, the first time I read it like a "college book..." A fairly fast read, looking for relevant facts, etc. This time, I read it like a "pipe book..." Slower, enjoying the way it was written and absorbing the thought and feeling that Peltier put into it.
What a wonderful book...View attachment 412049View attachment 412050
A modern (post-modern?) classic!!! However, a sad commentary on the publishing industry. Toole was unable to get it published in 1969. Years later, after he’d committed suicide, his persistent mother convinced Walker Percy to read it who got it published by the LSU Press. It won the Pulitzer in 1981.
I enjoy his writing, even his forays into fiction. Our boy Linus is a descendant of Evans' dog featured on the cover and in the book, "The Upland Shooting Life" - no doubt so have been hundreds of other Rymans, but it was fun to research the FDSB and other resources to track down his lineage through the ages.
I have two, lol. As a pup, he chewed up a good part of the dust cover so I had to buy another edition!
