Library of America Book Tour

I show you all my Library of America books. It’s so thrilling! I hope you can handle all this excitement.

[@waltera13]

I love the subtle, ironic sense of humor that's so often informs your video thumbnails. Wryly self deprecating, they bring a smile to the slow painful scroll.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks Walter!

[@mediumjohnsilver]

Of course, I could not resist reading over your shoulder when you showed the text in that Raymond Chandler edition. “The girl slept on, motionless, in that curled up looseness achieved by some women and all cats.” 😸 I have GOT to get me some Chandler.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yes you do! So many sentences like that!

[@TheMikester307]

I had not heard of David Goodis!! Thanks for telling me about a writer i didn't know!

[@corytracy8993]

KEEPING IT CLASSY!

[@donaldmartineau8176]

Beautiful collection. I own about a dozen. Key word: Book envy!!!

[@thegeniusofthecrowd354]

The Raymond Carver one is amazing. Why did I ever stick it on Ebay? My life's not complete without it.

[@bjminton2698]

Beautiful collection!! Thanks for sharing.

[@BobBbro]

Chandler has a cameo in the film of Double Indemnity. He's sitting outside of "Key's" office, reading a book, as "Walter Neff" exits, and passes by him.

[@BookBlather]

Great collection, Mike! I actually had the Poe one in my hand at the book fair after listening to you talk about these, but I put it back. I don’t own any, and told myself ‘be realistic, you’re not going to start a collection of these at this point.’ 😜

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Well, that was the best Poe! I’m going to have to find an extra one for you. I’m now convinced that you need it.

[@rovingwolverine5786]

There is now a fourth Melville volume that covers all of his poetry.

[@anthonyvictor3034]

My encounter with LOA were from university libraries in Johannesburg and New York. Must admit they were elegant productions ( I remember reading Poe, Hawthorne, Hurston, Philip K Dick, classic sf from the 50s, as I recall) and certainly tough. Loved them.

[@curtjarrell9710]

Impressive collection. My own LOA collection includes most of these as well as volumes by/about Abe Lincoln, John Cheever, James Baldwin, Flannery O'Connor, William James, WW1, The Civil War, Vietnam, and Eudora Welty. Happy reading.

[@ReadbyFred]

"... read them through the spaghetti sauce stains" lol. I will always be impressed with your wide range of reading tastes. The sci-fi box sets look interesting, not a fan of the thin paper though. I picked up The Haunting of Hill House (eBook) after seeing your Shirley Jackson book in this video - looking forward to reading this in October. :)

[@battybibliophile-Clare]

I have a few volumes of LoA that are available on Amazon UK, but have been scribbling busily. I love the thin but strong paper, and the good bindings. Your video has encouraged me to look for more American history and literature. Steve Donahue's enthusiasm for Catton started me on your Civil War (I've long been interested in ours) and now I'm gradually reading your history alongside the literature. You video has been a great help. Thanks.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks for watching!

[@battybibliophile-Clare]

Michael, it was a pleasure, and I hope you come back, when you are ready. In the meanwhile, you have made a lot of excellent videos that I have not watched he'd yet.

[@johannemilsom7503]

Love your Posh Voice, Michael! Wow, those are beautiful books. Thanks for showing us the pages and the very readable print.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks! I’ve been working hard to be properly posh.

[@stews9]

I envy your collection. I've got only a few Library of America volumes myself. They really are quality productions.

[@GypsyRoSesx]

Lovely. I like the volumes you’ve selected. I would choose many of these too.

[@barbaraboethling596]

Awesome LOA collection! I currently have only three, two volumes of Edith Wharton stories, and a volume with Cooper's sea tales The Pilot and Red Rover. Wish I had more (+ the shelf space!)

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I wish I had more shelf space too!

[@bookssongsandothermagic]

Love this selection of books and how the series gives these starter packs for these authors - if that makes sense….great video!

[@waltera13]

This video sent me to the LoA website & I was tempted toward the shopping. SO much good stuff there. Thanks for the reminder!

[@ellesse3862]

Some good collections there for future me to read, those boxsets looks rather nice too. I was eyeing up the two volumes of The Future Is Female! classic science fiction collections at the Library of America online, I think I would really enjoy those from the descriptions. I thought of you when I spotted them.. especially when I saw the cover featuring an astronaut with one of those glass bubble helmets like the Jetsons cartoon, nothing says space travel better than a fish bowl on your head.

[@glennlawrence7251]

Another nice episode ..... I checked out their site ....also , I looked around my bookcases and I seem to have a few of their books including Hawthorne...Tales and Sketches ...I must have bought these used ...they are handsome and do hold up...several of these are pretty old... I love the ribbon bookmark ...

[@lock67ca]

The Philip K. Dick set is excellent, as is the Elmore Leonard. I picked up the Westerns volume a few months ago. Love that one too.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I need to get both of those.

[@jeremyfee]

Impressive collection. As a fan of The Last of the Mohicans, I'd be interested in reading those James Fenimore Cooper ones someday.

[@kimesch9698]

Love Library of America. I store the covers in a box and put the books on the shelf without them. I like the look better. Don’t know if it’s good for the book, but I haven’t noticed any fading.

[@vilstef6988]

Chandler also did the screenplay to The Blue Dahlia. I have it in an oversized trade paberback. The first copy I had was a mass market published by Paperback Library.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

That’s right! I forgot about that movie.

[@vilstef6988]

The mass market has an interesting introduction. When he was commissioned to write, someone else had a failed version of the script. Chandler was experiencing writer's block and was doubtful about doing the script. He proposed writing it while drunk with medical supervision, which is just what he did!

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I knew you had a bunch of LOA. Good to see them. I might have a few more.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I bet you do!

[@anthonyvictor3034]

Wow. What a collection!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@chrispalumbo5556]

I like your tie!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks.

[@nedmerrill5705]

In Library of America, I have a fairly complete Henry James collection (4 volumes), the John Cheever Stories volume, the John O'Hara Stories volume, and the Dos Passos volume that includes USA. I envy your Chandler and Hammett collections. Very classy books. I'm just finishing the _Memoirs of U. S. Grant_ (not LOA) - what a super read!

[@sgriffin9960]

Wow! That is some collection! That American Revolution volume looks great! I’d read it. Thanks for sharing your collection!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

You are very welcome!

[@sgriffin9960]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 I miss you so much!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

@@sgriffin9960 somebody aught to! Well, now that things have been squared away in the melodrama department, you should be seeing me soon.

[@sgriffin9960]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 that’s the best news I’ve heard all week! 🎉 Yaaay!

[@DebMcDonald]

Very impressive collection, sir! When you place your order check out the Lafcadio Hearn volume. Great stuff.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@Blondie101010100]

After this video, I bought my 3rd Steinbeck collection. One more to go! Great video 👏

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

I loved the four-volume Civil War set, and hope to read the _American Revolution_ book one day.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

That’s right! I need that Civil War set!

[@arlenemullally8056]

There are not enough hours in the day to read all I’d like to!!!

[@arlenemullally8056]

I just discovered your KZbin. I can’t get over all the books from around the’30s and then forward. Where did you find the oversized books. Keep the good work up.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks! I’ll do my best!

[@cmmosher8035]

I have been collecting the LoA editions for awhile including the First Chandler volume, Hammett, Dick (all 3) and Kerouac collections. My favourite are the Sci Fi collection from the 50s and 60s since they have unique artwork. There is a Bradbury boxset coming in October that iam looking forward to.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I didn’t know about that Bradbury boxed set. That’s awesome!

[@cmmosher8035]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 the second volume is supposed to have the Illustrated Man, October Country and other stories. I think it will get released around the same time. I also want to grab the Octavia Butler collection.

[@mattkean1128]

They have a Charles Portis collection coming next year I'm excited for.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Excellent!

[@DKrules9]

Enjoying your videos. Have you done a list of works that should be in the library of America?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

That is a good idea.

[@DKrules9]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 id like to see Charles Beaumont have his work republished. I learned too late on this great hardcover from 2013 that had a majority of his works and he’s underrated. That edition I’ve seen go for $3,000 which is disappointing

[@P.EnglishLiterature]

Hi, Michael. I enjoyed watching this video, it's a great video. Glad to know you enjoy Edgar's poem. I'm curious, do you like spiritual poetry, and the one that have dark themes?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Well, to be honest, I haven’t really read enough to have a decent opinion. My poetry reading had been a little lacking actually.

[@duffypratt]

I subscribed to LOA years ago and got about 75 volumes. I unsubscribed when I realized I would never be able to read it all, had no more room on my shelves, and grew less enamored with the idea of books as furniture. Mine are all in the nice white box slip cases. I was surprised at how little overlap there is between what you have and mine. So I decided to look up their catalog. They are up to about 380 volumes now, and I stopped getting them when the Hammett was published, which was about 125. Unfortunately for me, it looks like there is a lot of stuff they have now that I would like to get. On the other hand, they seem to be less completest than they used to be. They should just publish everything of Lovecrafts, for example. And Ross McDonald. And pretty much anyone else whom they deem worthy. Even so, its a great project they are undertaking.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yeah, I love these books. I agree they should be more complete.

[@ThisJustInBookTube]

Boy, I sure hope it is just spaghetti sauce… 🤢 Impressive collection, Mike! Tons of vital works.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks! Yeah, those LOA books in the Berkeley Library…I mean I hope that was spaghetti sauce.

[@nathanfoung2347]

Lovely selection. I'm a little surprised you dont have "The Western volume. I only have a couple, the O'hara volumes. I wish the font they used was a little larger, I would have bought more otherwise.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’m surprised I didn’t have it yet either.

[@anbuchelvan]

Can you please rank the authors: chandler,shirley,ross macd, elmore leonard, lovecraft ? I ld love to hear ur personal ranking..

[@DDB168]

They have so many great volumes. I'm keen for the Reporting Vietnam and Reporting World War 2 volumes.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

That’s right! Reporting Vietnam. I need that too.

[@DDB168]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 😲

[@troytradup]

One thing you didn't touch on: LOA is the perfect publisher for people with major book-spine OCD. Their jacket band and spine stamps line up with military precision, unlike certain other publishers of black spine classics who shall remain nameless. I keep suggesting a couple of "classic horror" sets from the 60s and 70s -- Rosemary's Baby, Carrie, The Exorcist, etc. -- but they usually just look at me askance and mumble something about rights issues. Come on, you're LOA, everyone wants to be in LOA (except for the estate of Edward Albee, apparently). I'd also like them to expand their scope to all of North America, just so I can get some nice new editions of Robertson Davies. Great video, BTW!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

That sounds like an excellent horror set! I wish that would happen. Maybe right after their Robert E. Howard volume.

[@frankmorlock1403]

I recently found an LOA copy of Nabakov at our bookstore here in San Miguel in mint condition for the exorbitant price of 50 Mexican Pesos. That{s about 2.50 in American money. I don{t when or if I will get around to reading it, but I am glad to have it on my bookshelves. I also have LOA collections of Faulkner. Lincoln, and Wallace Stevens all acquired here in Mexico.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I don’t have any of those! Now I’m going to have to buy more of these.

[@frankmorlock1403]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Forgot to mention a 2 vol set of Gertrude Stein.

[@lakeshagadson357]

I full you should go to my program and teach show me and my peers what kind of books you read

[@timmeyer9191]

I have the 2nd LOA volume of Raymond Chandler too. Lady in the Lake and The Little Sister are amazing novels. I have the Shirley Jackson one too. I need to get a Ross Macdonald volume. Which do you think is the best Macdonald LOA volume?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Hard to pick, but maybe the first one.

[@timmeyer9191]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Thanks Michael. Appreciate the feedback. Enjoy your time off.

[@mr_reborn]

I would've placed the text a bit further out on the page on that book you opened ...

[@garburtbradley8415]

Rex Stout wrote some great detective stories featuring the world’s greatest detective, Nero Wolfe.

[@Muttonchop_USA]

Somehow, I never read Rex Stout's books. Can you recommend some of your favorites?

[@davebrzeski]

Interesting list, which includes several that I'd already decided I needed to read at some point. The way you worded your description of the negative opinions on Moby Dick make me think you must have read one of my recent comments on another video. It is, I have to say, around 35 years since I read it, and I found it deeply irritating that every time I was getting really gripped by the story, Melville would interrupt it with one of those long asides. I may give it another go one day. I loved Frankenstein when I read it over 30 years ago. I'm pretty certain that was the 1839 version, so I really want to make time for the 1818 version.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

It would be interesting to see if you’re opinion of Moby Dick might change.

[@allenatkins2263]

thin paper doesn't bother me, but small font can be a deal breaker.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

It’s not too bad in LOA.

[@stretmediq]

I found the LoA Dashell Hammet set in a used bookstore and turned to my wife and said "I'm going to Hammett up yuk yuk 😆".. She just rolled her eyes at me and walked off. I swear that woman has no sense of humor 😒

[@wburris2007]

Are you going to read your LoA books after finishing your SF? I started read LoA from the library in 2019, then the apocalypse happened and I haven't been back to the library.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Well, more likely I’ll mix them up. I’m planning on having no definite reading plans for a while.

[@jackcandy8450]

I have the Phillip k dick set. I realize these books are meant to be compact but I’m not too crazy on how thin the paper is. I prefer the paper to be thicker, feels better and easier to turn the pages

[@bernie4268]

What about short stories? Eudora Welty?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I just looked this up at LOA. Yes, I agree, I should get her LOA books.

[@bernie4268]

Hey Mike How about non fiction? I’m slowly amassing a few books on the JFK assassination. Today “Twenty six seconds” - a book on the Zapruder film arrived.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

They have some good nonfiction and I need to get more of it. They have a two volume World War II set that is supposed to be amazing.

[@rondemkiw4492]

BUTTERFIELD 8 was made into an Elizabeth Taylor movie.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I really need to see that movie.

[@evanup2326]

I might be done video is gone does that mean your not done

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yeah, I would say that’s a safe bet.

[@thekeywitness]

LOA should have paid you for this PSA LOL

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I know! They didn’t give me a penny for this…and probably won’t!

[@salty-walt]

And now I'm spending more money. . . . ** (shakes fist at meddling KZbinr )**

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Sorry!

[@culturefan]

Glad you are continuing after the Steve D. debate thing. I thought that you would be kowtowing to a bully if you left. Why do that? Steve is okay, but can be very snide and could stand to be a little more humble. Granted the guy raising all the stink lately could stand that as well. I'd just unsubscribe to his channel, and carry on. Not a biggie.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’m going to try very hard to forget that entire episode.

[@lock67ca]

​@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Glad you've reconsidered. Don't let a few bad apples ruin something good.

[@codex3048]

"The thin paper is really nice"? Paper that can be easily torn, just by touching it, and is so opaque that you can clearly see the other side? Not to mention a page size and type point size so small it damages the eyes. People's enthusiasm for this series escapes me.