This And That

In a world where the mundane often masquerades as the remarkable, Diana Good’s “This and That” emerges like an awkward penguin at an aristocratic ball, wading through the shallow waters of relativity. Published in the year 2000 – a time when flip phones were all the rage and Y2K had us all questioning our digital existence – this curious compilation offers a collection of thoughts so eclectic they could very well be the ruminations of a particularly indecisive squirrel on caffeine.

A short phamphlet of poems.

Printed in A5 and stapled with card cover.

28 pages.

The book is an amalgamation of what-ifs and maybes, tantalising readers with snippets of philosophical musings that appear both profound and utterly baffling. One moment you’re pondering the existential weight of a poorly made cup of tea; the next, you’re questioning why you ever left the house in the first place. Good’s approach is as refreshingly unpredictable as a British summer, and just as likely to leave you wondering why you ventured out into the drizzle.

As you flip through the pages, you’ll encounter an assortment of delightful oddities that feel more like a collection of curiosities found in a dusty old attic than a polished literary work. “This and That” invites you to relish in the absurdity of life’s trivialities, the moments that slip between the cracks of your day-to-day existence. It’s as if Good herself has turned her whimsical gaze upon the overlooked corners of her own life, pen in hand, and a half-eaten biscuit in the other.

What can you expect to find in this quirky tome? Well, prepare yourself for a smorgasbord of reflections that include:

• The philosophical implications of mismatched socks
• A profound examination of the merits of wearing hats indoors
• Reflections on the unacknowledged heroes of the tea brewing process
• Contemplations on the fleeting nature of enthusiasm for gardening
• An impassioned soliloquy on why the word “moist” should really be banned from the English language

The book’s charm lies not in its narrative cohesion but rather in its delightful randomness. Each section feels like a different turn on a mad carousel, where every spin reveals a new eccentric thought that may or may not be influenced by the remnants of an over-caffeinated brain. Readers may find themselves laughing out loud in public spaces, much to the bemusement of those around them, or perhaps awkwardly nodding in agreement as they contemplate the deeper meanings of utterly inconsequential things.

Condition: This particular copy of “This and That” is a well-loved creature, showing signs of its many adventures. Expect dog-eared pages, the odd coffee ring, and at least one mysterious smudge that could be anything from a finger print to a ghost of a past meal. It’s been lovingly passed around, as all good second-hand books should be, and it carries the weight of both its former readers’ thoughts and their snacks. It’s like a literary version of a well-worn armchair: not necessarily beautiful, but incredibly comfortable and full of stories.

Having been published by Diana Good herself, “This and That” showcases the boldness of self-publishing in the early 2000s, a time when the world was still figuring out how to navigate the waters of the internet without capsizing. It’s both a relic of a bygone era and a curious exploration of the idiosyncrasies that make life worth living. If you’re in the mood for something that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still manages to provoke thought, “This and That” may just be your cup of tea – albeit one that’s gone a little cold.

So, why not add this delightfully peculiar entry to your collection? After all, at Crappy Old Books, we celebrate the wonderfully weird, the whimsically wrong, and the wonderfully quirky nature of literature. In a world dominated by bestsellers and polished prose, “This and That” stands proudly, a beacon of the beautifully bizarre.

Keep browsing: See more Poetry books Other books by Diana Good