The Beautiful Loosers

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:19 pm

I have found this book difficult to get hold of, due to it being out of print here, but finally managed to get a copy via Amazon.

I have read a little and think that it will be a challenging and rewarding read.

I'm taking it on holiday with me to The Lake District in a couple of weeks. I feel that the Cumbrian lakes and mountains will go well with this book.

I'll keep a diary with it and give some impressions when I arrive home.

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 4:08 am

Hi Dylan,

You've not read Beautiful Losers yet? It will definitely be a challenge. It can be difficult to get through. I haven't read it in a long while, so I should probably reread it. That way I'll get more out of it. I prefer the Favourite Game, but that's just me. Two totally different books. Enjoy!

Linda.

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 2:11 pm

Hi Linda. Thanks.

I have set myself 25 pages every morning and 25 pages every evening.

I've scanned through it a bit and think I'll be OK. I'm buying a new note book and pencil to keep notes of any questions that arise.

I'll get The Favourite Game next. All Leonard Cohen's novels are out of print here so I have to wait until one comes up on amazon.

Dylan.

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 5:39 pm

Hi Dylan,

The Favourite Game is much different (as I said before). I think you'll really enjoy that one. As you probably already know, it's supposed to be somewhat autobiographical. It's a much easier read and (should) be availablae at fine bookstores everywhere.

Maybe we have more Cohen books in Canada because....? Lucky us. We still have to search hard for the poetry, though.

Cheers,
Linda.

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 8:42 pm

Hi Linda,

It's impossible to get any of Leonard's novels or poetry collections in bookstores here. I don't know why.

I do have Stranger Music. I've had it for a while and read something from it most days.

Dylan

jurica · Post by **jurica** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:27 pm

well, Favourite Game tends to appear in my local bookstore from time to time. i don't know why it isn't there all the time, but every two to three months i see a fresh copy on the shelf.

it may be the same in your bookstore. perhaps you just need to be patient...

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:52 am

Dylan wrote:I'll get The Favourite Game next. All Leonard Cohen's novels are out of print here so I have to wait until one comes up on amazon.

The novels are in print. They're normally available on Amazon and other sites, and Jurica is right, both novels are regular in bookstores.

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:31 pm

Not in England.

I've checked the shelves in Waterstones, which is one of our best and biggest book sellers, every week for the past few years, and have never come across any leonard Cohen boooks other than Stranger Music, and that didn't make a re-appearance after I bought it.

If I find an email address, I'll email them and ask them.

I got The Beautiful Loosers from amazon but it had to be brought from abroad.

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:48 pm

All Leonad's books are published by McLelland/Stewart, in Toronto. Maybe if you looked it up on the web, you might find a way to get a wee bit closer.

Some Cohen fans are mighty diligent when it comes to findng their material. I had no trouble at all buying his novels (and replacing them when the binding cracks). I thought Britain had a lot of Leonard material.
Unfortunate. Try some Canadian outlets. Google.ca is your search engine for Canada.

Linda.

annaedith · Post by **annaedith** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:50 pm

i wish you all luck you need to find all the books!
i never had any problems, too. got the two books and flowers for hitler from my parents, they had bought it when they were still new. but i got a poetry book as a souvenir from a trip to england and i bought the english version of the favourite game when i was in montreal last year. they even had a large poster of lc in the window of this "indigo" bookshop in the town centre! and in a bookshop in germany specialised for french books i could order the french version of beautiful losers. i wanted to read it in other languages to read it attentively once more.
enjoy reading this great book! it answered such a lot of questions for me. (but i was only 13 when i first read it and didn't spend a thought on interpretation, but just saw images in a new world)

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:22 pm

I found a copy of The Favourite Game on Amazon. Only one copy available, and it is used.

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 4:42 pm

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 53-7700618

The same edition Jurica is reffering to. I bought it also, it's recently printed (2003) by Vintage. Vintage is printing both novels, each one had few reprints in 1990s-2000s (with different covers).

I'm glad you found it

Tri-me · Post by **Tri-me** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:31 pm

Read Beautiful Loosers back in '87. It was challenging but very visual. Suprised it was never turned into a film. Being surrounded by beauty will help with the reading of it I think, can get depressing.

I should get a copy and read it again, must have been lost in a move.

When I liven in Toronto 13 years ago I would walk for hours and hours. I would duck into every used book store that I happen to pass to see if there were any books. One dealer, book dealer, told me that if a Leonard Cohen book makes it into his store it leaves as fast as it arrived.

I moved to Fredericton N.B. in 1992.

In 1947 the Government of Canada proclaimed Fredericton, New Brunswick, to be “The Poets’ Corner of Canada” in recognition and honour of three Fredericton poets: Bliss Carmen, Charles G.D. Roberts, and Francis Joseph Sherman.

A friend lived at Bliss Carmen's house, the owner would have great dinner parties with an eclectic variety of people.....

Within the first week I was here I went to a used book store. OH MY GAUD there were 5 books: The Favourite Game, Death of a Ladies Man, Selected Poems, Let us Compare Mythologies, and my favourite Energy of Slaves. I was in heaven!!! Gus had a first edition hard cover he was sending to the States, but I was living on $450/month at the time and could not. I regret not buying it now.

It is a shame that his books are out of print. maybe we need to flood M&S with letters to get them re-printed as a collectors item. Beautiful hardbacks with photos.

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:46 pm

Tri-me,

I think you're right about flooding M&S with letters. I dont know if McLelland had much say toward the end, but he certainly introduced some great and innovative authors to Canada over the years. I would think, that they'd re-release this stuff. I can't see why they don't, esp. with LCs continuing popularity and his advancing age. Who knows? Maybe they're waiting for the 'right' time to re-release his books. You know the kind of thing I'm talking about? "In honour of the late .....we're releasing a boxed set for only...." that sort of thing.

Linda.

margaret · Post by **margaret** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:56 pm

Dylan

I have bought lots of books using http://www.abebooks.com - some are in bookstores in the UK and in Canada and US. A lot have been quite cheap too

Just search under author - Cohen Leonard or Leonard Cohen and you'd be surprised how many there are. You can also request those in the UK to be listed first. It's also worth checking on http://www.ebay.co.uk now and again for second hand copies.

Margaret