Common Reader Editions

10 thoughts on “Common Reader Editions”

1. Two points in regard to Akadine Press/Common Reader:

   1] Probably my most prized possession from Common Reader are the set of books “The First Cuckoo”, “The Last Cuckoo” (and two others, which, since I can’t find my copies at the moment, I can’t give their exactly titles…)

   The books consisted of selections from the letters page of The Times of London. Quirky britishism at it best –but alas, I can’t find any place where that they might be available on-line.

   (If you’re wondering about the title, apparently The Times used to [perhaps it still does?] publish letters from folks around Britain hoping that they might be the first to announce having seen a cuckoo each spring.)

   2] In regards to their wonderful catalogues: For a while Common Reader sold sturdy slipcase covers which would hold a dozen or so catalogues. (Somewhere around here I have a few of these, chock full of catalogues –but, again, alas, they’re not findable at the moment.)

2. This is excellent news! Thanks for sharing the link.

3. The Wayback Machine has archived the Common Reader website (and some of the A Common Reader catalogs) for the years 1999-2006:

   https://web.archive.org/web/*/www.commonreader.com

4. I envy you. Back when I received them, I never thought there would be a day when they wouldn’t keep coming in the mail. Now, they’re almost impossible to find.

5. I have held on to a few copies of The Common Reader catalogue. I loved reading the catalogue and wished I could purchase every single book they offered, knowing what a splendid library I would have. It’s been awhile since I perused a catalogue, but I opened up the August 2002 edition this morning while lounging in bed. What a pleasant read to start the day. I so miss this catalogue and richness it gave my imagination to be an owner of many good books.

6. I agree. I should see if there are any copies still around I could incorporate into this site.

7. When I moved I had to get rid of all my back issues of A Common Reader catalog. Sad, because they had so many books that I wanted to read one day, or that I wanted to introduce to children when they were old enough, etc. I cam online specifically to try to find out the title of a book they used to offer that explained physics in simple terms, for children or for adults, I’m not sure which. From the description, it was quite simple. I seem to remember a cartoon picture of someone swinging an object in a basket as an illustration of centrifugal force. Wanted to find that book as inspiration for a godson who is a budding engineer and loves to build ‘devices that do things.’

   I wish that whoever ran A Common Reader would come back as a website with reviews and recommendations. I so enjoyed reading the descriptions of the books – just the catalog was a pleasure to receive and read. I’m sure it would be a successful website.

8. The Common Reader website did go offline years ago. This particular page just lists the books published under their own imprint when they were still in business.

9. PHYLLIS ROSE’S BOOK: THE SHELF- reviewed by THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR BOOK REVIEW STAFF is a book that is somewhat fascinating as a read. She suggests books and other reading possibilities, why a book is discarded by a library, censorship, translations, how professors suggest how to read a book which book they consider a student should read in the class and hopefully later in life. Rose suggested looking at the COMMON READER SITE ONLINE. Is this the online COMMON READER WEB PAGE-1 REASON. The author said this site went belly up years ago. Looking at the write up by this page suggests this is it the site she wrote concerning book suggestions read or not to read.
   Stay with this site until you get bored with its suggestions???

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