She and Eric begin passing the book between them, making notes in blue cursive (Jen) and black block letters (Eric). Jen found the book, read a few chapters and returned the book to a library workroom with a note. Twelve years later, Eric's book is found by Jen Hardway, an undergraduate at the (fictional) Pollard State University, who works at the library.He stole the book from the library-so presumably his is the last due date stamped in the back, October 14, 2000. First are penciled marks and brief remarks, made by Eric at about age 16.The margin notes come in five different sets, representing five different time periods. Caldeira is supposed to be a Brazilian who died in his own home town in 1964. Caldeira was the sole translator of Straka's works from 1924 on, but never met the writer in person. Caldeira, who wrote an introduction and the footnotes.

He may have been killed. The book was originally written in Czech (I think?), and translated by F. Ship of Theseus is his last book-he reportedly died in 1946, in Havana, and some of the last chapter of this book was lost. The authorship controversy is more popular than the actual novels. Straka, a writer of 19 books whose real identity is unknown. The text of the novel 'Ship of Theseus' is the work of mysterious author V.M. It is a love letter to the book as object. I am chalking this up to the power of the physical object-the book, not just the words inside it, is really the topic of this project. Patrons are instructed to 'KEEP THIS BOOK CLEAN'-pencil marks or other defacement to be reported to the librarian.Īlready, this review has become even more digressive than most of my others. The library motif continues inside, with browned pages, a 'stamp' printed on the inside cover 'BOOK FOR LOAN' and a replica of due date stamps in the back, showing desultory borrowing from 1957 and ending in 2000. Straka. There is even a Dewey Decimal sticker on the spine, listing it as '813.' The cloth cover is drab, the graphics are definitely mid-century. Inside is a book that has been carefully constructed to look like a vintage library book. On the back is an impressive masted ship. there is a sticker that holds the book inside the cover, printed with a monkey on the front side, with the names of the co-creators. The slipcover is black with a large, gothic 'S.' printed on it-also in black. It comes as a book inside a slipcover, sealed in cellophane.

S jj abrams book