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UPDATE: The Big 4 plus a Gorey

This list has actually changed a lot more than I thought it would in first year of existence. The small mysteries of life...

1. Heaven's Prisoners - James Lee Burke
Still on top. When I first created this list I strongly considered Robert Crais's LULLABY TOWN for the head of the list, primarily under the assumption that the cost would prohibit me from buying it. It was not and now HEAVEN'S PRISONERS has been here since the beginning. Soon, I'll head to the same Pasadena Book show where I was tripping over copies last year, and with the express purpose is to land a copy there. Writing that dooms the whole enterprise. [Editor's Note: B'ah it totally did...]

2. The Beekeeper's Apprentice - Laurie R. King
Previously I have written that my hopes are pinned the acquisition of this book at the Long Beach B'Con in a few months time. That plan has not changed. [Editor's Note: I can no longer state with any certainty if this assertion or the one above is true any more. I suppose neither book will be available at the shows and then this whole thing is moot. Working under the assumption that the books will be available I am no longer certain that I should purchase them...now. The reason being strictly financial. Whether that is an actual issue is a concern that shifts daily for no actual reason other than the my occasionally conflicted views about this hobby]

3. A Morning For Flamingos - James Lee Burke
I walked into a book shop recently and was brusquely treated by the owner. He assumed, incorrectly, that I had wandered off the street into the wrong the shop. He quickly mentioned that this was not a browsing shop...whatever that means...and that he only had first editions for sale. He then pointed to a photo of him and Johnny Depp. It was an odd experience. Perhaps his manner related to something unseen by myself.  Perhaps another customer in the back of the store? As a Midwesterner my default is that it must be me, then I picked up a copy of NICK'S TRIP by George Pelecanos. He was charging $1,750 for a book in lesser condition than the one I bought in the Spring for a quarter of the price...and decided the guy was a douche. Long story short...he also had a copy of A MORNING FOR FLAMINGOS that you could not pay me to buy from this jackass.

4. The Tourist - Olen Steinhauer
This books has popped up in a couple places. I was in NYC and saw a few dinged up copies at The Strand. I hate to think this would be a difficult book to acquire.

The Fatal Lozenge - Edward Gorey
First of the Alphabet books from Gorey. I need a greater plan for this author as I have roughly 63 books to collect with a sizable portion of the collection being expensive privately pressed small editions. Perhaps collecting all of the Alphabet books is a good first objective. In any case it is unlikely that The Fatal Lozenge will be the next Gorey book I buy. With so much to collect it is just nice to have examples in my collection. Maybe it could more accurate of my designs on THE FATAL LOZENGE that I'll try and find a copy in better shape than I normally would for my Edward Gorey collection. 
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