Books and "Troy"

I've been selling books from my collection on Amazon.com. This started when I noticed my living room was being overtaken by books. I didn't want to throw any out, so I started selling.

Sales have been brisk this weekend and last. Last Monday, I mailed off around 15 books. This weekend, I've got almost an equal number of orders.

Not only does this clean out some books, it also brings in sorely needed funds. And I'm fascinated by the process.

I can access the Amazon.com site and see what I've got listed, what has sold, fees charged for each sale, what I receive and even comments by buyers.

The names and streets and locations are interesting. Rappahannock; Entrada Drive; La Mesa, CA; Tewksbury, Ma; N Elkriver Way; Fiincastle, Va; Iron City, Tennessee; Olathe, KS; Floydada Drive; Cahuenga Blvd; Ismo Loop; UCLA; brooklyn park, mn; Suffolk University Law School; Quarterdeck Road; Black Locust Ct; encantado loop.

By far more orders have come from California than any other location. And none from my own state.

According to what I've read, "Troy" is definitely not true to Homer. I was prepared to be bored by it; but I rather enjoyed it.

Brad Pitt is Brad Pitt. He's far more a personality than a performer. But that simply makes him part of movie magic.

Until I saw a "Making of" on HBO, I'd not realized that there were no stunt doubles. Brad does offer several ferocious leaps in battle that are almost ballet like.

Peter O'Toole is also there. Again in the desert as he was 40 years ago in "Lawrence of Arabia." And there is indeed a frail dignity to his performance.

PAX!