Rare Reads and Expensive Editions: Some of the World's Priciest Publications

Rare Reads and Expensive Editions: Some of the World’s Priciest Publications

By Erin Sherry, Spring 2018 Intern

  

As a lifelong book lover, I’ve been known to rack up quite the bookstore bill, and often find self-control difficult to exercise when I’m lost in the stacks. Unique copies of my favorite books, such as a holographic edition of Haruki Murakami’s A Wild Sheep Chase and a signed copy of the illustrated Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, are among my most prized possessions. However, there are some limits to how much I’m willing to spend on books, and these rare reads—cashing in as some of the most expensive titles in the world—definitely make the cut!

The Tales of Beedle the Bard (“The Moonstone Edition”), J.K. Rowling: $3.98 million

Arguably, you can’t put a price tag on the magic of the Harry Potter series. However, two copies of this handwritten and illustrated companion collection have sold for upwards of 4 million (muggle) dollars!

The Birds of America, John James Audubon: $10 million

Only 120 copies of this hand-colored, life-sized book were ever completed by the renowned artist, so its frequent moniker as “the most expensive book in the world” comes as no surprise.

Codex Hammer, Leonardo da Vinci: $30.8 million

Microsoft’s Bill Gates took this rare notebook (full of over 300 original notes and illustrations) off the market in 1994, though he has been lending it to museums once a year ever since.

Though I think I’ll remain loyal to the discount tables at my favorite bookshops until I strike the lottery, it sure is fun to dream!

Beauty and the Remake

Beauty and the Remake

By Trina Scuderi, Spring 2018 Intern

When I was little, I would have Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast playing on loop. I watched those movies so often, I’m sure even my mom could quote them verbatim. 

Recently, Disney has been reimagining these classic tales as live-action; replacing animation with actors. So it was no surprise that I was thrilled when Disney released their adaptation of Alice in Wonderland in 2010.

The 2010 version wasn’t bad as a standalone film, but it couldn’t compare to the magical quirkiness of the original. I was left disappointed. It just didn’t hold the same enchantment as its predecessor.

When the live-action Beauty and the Beast was announced, I was much more skeptical. My hesitation grew with every cast report and photo release. I almost expected to be disappointed.

Instead, the remake held the magic of the original. I was enthralled by the music, cast, CGI, everything. The cast was especially incredible. Luke Evans and Josh Gad were the perfect Gaston and LeFou, respectively. It was the Beauty and the Beast of my childhood.  

The sheer perfection of Beauty and the Beast has restored my excitement for Disney’s live-action remakes. I’m definitely looking forward to the upcoming remakes of Aladdin, The Lion King and Mulan!

The Great Debate: Pens vs. Pencils

The Great Debate: Pens vs. Pencils

By Alex Belloli, Spring 2018 Intern

Which is better: pens or pencils? It’s a controversy that has been plaguing academia for centuries. Math teachers often tout pencils as superior due to the paramountcy of the eraser. But does the ability to erase mistakes always translate to preference?

Well, here at PSG, that doesn’t seem to be the case:

• Melina prefers writing with a Sharpie ink pen because of the smooth motions it allows across the paper. To her, that outweighs the inherent neatness of the pencil.
• Tess is also partial to pens, though her preference didn’t solidify until college. The four-colored pens are her favorite, as they allow for easy color-coding!
• Nora often does creative writing in cursive, which is the perfect style for her preference: pens. Contrastingly, she likes using pencils when taking notes, especially when she anticipates erasing a lot.
• Trina sides with the math teachers of the world on this: pencils are her choice, largely for the ease of correcting mistakes.
• I almost exclusively use pens (the Pilot G2 is my favorite) because they glide across the page, which allows me to write faster (albeit messier).

It seems PSG by and large prefers pens, though the merits of a good eraser aren’t lost on the staff!

The Hostel on Mango Street: Following Poet Sandra Cisneros to Greece

The Hostel on Mango Street: Following Poet Sandra Cisneros to Greece

By Erin Sherry

Have you ever fantasized about meeting your favorite writer? How about serving her a plate of mountain trout, with a hearty helping of Sriracha sauce on the side? While working at a restaurant in Western New York last summer, not only did I get to serve dinner to the beloved poet Sandra Cisneros—I got to tell her about the time I followed her words all the way across the globe!

Sipping a pot of green tea, my favorite writer listened as I told her that, while studying abroad in Europe, I traveled with three of my fellow Cisneros-loving friends to the postcard-perfect island of Hydra, Greece, where she had written The House on Mango Street.

Using Cisneros’s memoir, A House of My Own, as our travel guide, we ate calamari at the crest of the mountains, took turns reading her poetry aloud as we hiked along the turquoise coast, and admired the limestone houses she had accurately described as seeming “carved out of feta cheese.” Cisneros’s eyes lit up at the mention of Hydra, and she said she was thrilled to hear that she had sent a group of young female writers like herself to such a special place.

Though I often feel like my favorite books have transported me around the world, I’ll always remember the time one actually did!

PSG's Kryptonite: The Staff's Favorite Superheroes

PSG's Kryptonite: The Staff's Favorite Superheroes

By Trina Scuderi, Spring 2018 Intern

Over the past few years, superheroes have emerged as Hollywood’s victors. Between the Avengers series, Wonder Woman and the many incarnations of Spider-Man, the hype hasn’t faltered. 

Here are some of PSG’s favorite heroes!

• Annette’s favorite is Wonder Woman. She’s been waiting a long time for a female superhero, and believes the wait has been worth it. She loves how fierce, smart, inspiring and brave Wonder Woman is. You may even see Annette donning her Wonder Woman shirt—complete with a cape!
• Although Tess isn’t a huge fan of superheroes, she also loved watching Wonder Woman over the summer. She too was happy to finally see a strong, independent female superhero.
• Given her love of cats, it’s no surprise that Melina’s favorite is Catwoman. She loves how Catwoman is able to strike the perfect balance between heroism and villainy.
• While Nora loves Black Widow and believes she’s exceptionally underrated, the members of the Incredibles are her favorite heroes. She thinks The Incredibles is one of Disney-Pixar’s best films, and is eager for the upcoming sequel.

My favorite superhero is Spider-Man. He’s awkward yet sweet, and proves what we all want to believe—that anyone can be a hero.