Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Teaser Tuesdays: A Book of One's Own

This week, my teaser lines come from Thomas Mallon's A Book of One's Own: People and Their Diaries. It's a fairly old book, first published in 1984, so it was written back before blogging and online journaling came upon the scene; but it's still a fascinating look at the tradition of preserving one's thoughts in writing. This quote is taken from the Introduction to the 1995 paperback edition:
My diary has now been with me so much longer than any other companion or home that I cannot imagine life without it. I'm sure a part of me thinks I'd be not just diminished but threatened with extinction, if I were ever to pull its plug. [p.xii]
I feel exactly the same way. I started keeping a diary almost as soon as I learned to read and write, and I've had one going in one form or another ever since. It's probably the most boring narrative ever written, but at least it's a little proof that I was here. How about you? Are you a diary/journal keeper? Online? Hand-written? Or do you think it's just a terrific waste of time?


Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by mizB at Should Be Reading. If you'd like to read more teasers, or take part yourself, just head on over to her blog.

And please feel free to leave me a link to your Teaser Tuesday post in your comment here.
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14 comments:

  1. Bev HankinsMarch 8, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    I kept a diary briefly in grade school. Mostly full of who I had crushes on, as I recall. I do much better with my book blogging.

    Here's my Teaser: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2011/03/teaser-tuesdays_08.html

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  2. AprilMarch 8, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    What a perfect teaser! I love it.

    Here is mine:

    http://www.cafeofdreamsbookreviews.com/2011/03/teaser-tuesday-38.html

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  3. gautami tripathyMarch 8, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    Interesting teaser!It makes me wish to look out for this novel!

    Here is my Teaser Tuesday: The Noah's Ark Quest by Boyd Morrison post!

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  4. StephenMarch 8, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    I feel the same way, though I've grown rather lax about updating mine in recent years. :( Entries send to start out "Wow, it's been a while..."

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  5. UnknownMarch 8, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    Love this teaser. If you keep a diary and have for a long time, I think it's a wonderful accomplishment and a great tribute to your life. I wish I'd kept one more consistently because I love going back and reading over entries from years ago, seeing where I was and how I felt about life at the time!
    I'm going to check into this book! Thank you!

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  6. fredamansMarch 8, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    I stopped keeping a diary, since people wouldn't stop reading it.

    http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2011/03/teaser-tuesday.html

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  7. Laurel-Rain SnowMarch 8, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    I did keep a diary off and on for many years...now I wish I'd been more diligent about keeping it up during the years that a lot was happening in my life. I wish I could refresh my memory on some of those details...or maybe not. LOL

    Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST

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  8. ham1299March 8, 2011 at 6:04 PM

    Very interesting quote. I've tried having diaries many times over the years. So far, blogging – especially book blogging – is the only thing that's stuck! LOL NOt sure why!

    Thanks for visiting my site! :-)

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  9. YvonneMarch 8, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    I started a diary when I was younger, but then I just lost interest in it. Now, it's just my blog which isn't really a diary.

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  10. Karen and GerardMarch 8, 2011 at 6:52 PM

    I had a diary for 6 years when I was a kid--most boring reading ever but kept a journal again later when I was an adult for years. They came in handy when I wrote "My Funny Dad, Harry" shortly after my dad died. Now I don't bother since I blog. Good teaser!

    Here's ours if you get a chance to stop by: http://ourstack.blogspot.com/2011/03/tuesday-teasers-3-this-week.html

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  11. AnonymousMarch 8, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    Great teaser. I always wished I kept a diary but never have.

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  12. AnonymousMarch 8, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    I tried keeping a diary when I was younger, it lasted from 3rd grade through 7th grade. But I'm much more of a list-maker, and I keep all my lists. It's fun to look back at home my TBR lists and grocery lists and weekend chores have changed over the years!

    My teaser this week is from Tales From The Yoga Studio

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  13. Nina B.March 9, 2011 at 6:03 AM

    I'm the worst person to keep a diary. I tried doing it in my teens but I was never able to keep it up. And then the notebooks just get abandoned and lying around my room for everyone to read! Fortunately, nobody has read whatever I've written on it. I'm not very good at talking about every little thing about myself on a daily basis. I think the closest thing I've ever come to keeping a diary is my book blog, and I only talk about books mostly, and not about me.

    Thanks for dropping by my blog! I've already finished my book review for Room by Emma Donoghue and you're welcome to read it anytime. You really should read it soon! Great teaser, and really cool way to open up a discussion!

    Brush Up On Your Reading

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  14. Lisa (Southern Girl Reads)March 9, 2011 at 6:56 AM

    It does sound like an interesting book. I've kept journals on and off thru the years, but its been awhile. The last time I kept on I stored it on a floppy disc - does that tell you how long ago that was?! :0

    ReplyDelete

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