Rare Book Monthly
Articles - November - 2010 Issue
BookFinder Issues List of the 100 Most Sought After Books
Madonna's never reprinted book on her favorite subject.
10. ERIC : The Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins, by Rasiel Suarez. 618 pages of data for those who collect really old coins.
9. Rage, by "Richard Bachman" (penname for Stephen King). A King obscurity is bound to be desirable.
8. Eve of the End, by Allan D. Richter. Not sure what this one is about.
7. Codex Seraphinianus, by Luigi Serafini. This one is not easily explained. It's something of an illustrated encyclopedic work about a fantasy world created by the Italian artist/architect. Even the language printed in the book, though internally consistent, is incomprehensible.
6. Ticket to Ride, by Dennis Potter. This one can be classified as a psychological novel by the writer of books, plays, and films.
5. Promise Me Tomorrow, by the prolific Nora Roberts. Not even she likes this book, so it has never been reprinted, and hence hard to find.
4. Basic Building Data: 10,000 Timeless Construction Facts, by Don Graf, a book that cannot possibly be as tedious as its title sounds. Everything builders, architects and designers could ever want to know, and then some.
3. The Secret of Instantaneous Healing, by Harry Douglas Smith. Who wouldn't want a book with a promise like that? This was not written by a physician, but by a spiritualist. I don't buy this stuff, either literally or figuratively.
2. In a Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting, by Ray Garton. Sure it's a true story. Not even author Garton believed the story by the residents of the "haunted" house once he investigated their tale, but was contractually obligated to treat it as nonfiction.
1. What always sells? Sex, by Madonna. She was another generation's Lady Gaga. This is one of those works that could be called either "art" or "pornography," depending on whether you want a respectable explanation for buying it or an honest one. It is perennially #1. It was issued in a limited edition in 1992 with no plans to ever print again. This is a picture book, and the photographs, while not quite indescribable, are not ones I am going to describe. This brings us full circle from #100, which was also from a person who made his name in music. The difference is that he wore black, she wore nothing. That's why Johnny Cash is #100 and Madonna #1.
You will find the entire BookFinder Top 100 list at the following link: BookFinder 100.
