Book "Tafsir Keris/ Kris: An Interpretation"

A. G. Maisey · 13th November 2012, 11:39 AM

Jean, I have not seen this book, but I do correspond spasmodically with a gentleman who contributed to it. According to him it contains a substantial part that deals with the way keris were understood from a spiritual and magical point of view in Solo a couple of generations past.

Tony Junus himself I also know only by reputation, and that reputation is a good one. He is a serious man who is trying to do his best to support keris culture, under relatively difficult conditions.

The $100 price tag is a bit of a stumbling block, and I will be waiting until I get to Solo in January and have a look at it before I buy, however, on balance it might be a good gamble. A very respected senior member of the international keris community has spoken to me in positive terms of both the book, and its writer.

Jean · 13th November 2012, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

The $100 price tag is a bit of a stumbling block, and I will be waiting until I get to Solo in January and have a look at it before I buy, however, on balance it might be a good gamble. A very respected senior member of the international keris community has spoken to me in positive terms of both the book, and its writer.

Hello Alan,
Thank you for your advice and I will order the book then. The proposed price in Europe is in excess of $150 so I will try to find a cheaper alternative...
Best regards
Jean

A. G. Maisey · 13th November 2012, 08:32 PM

Book prices are funny things Jean. I've bought really magnificent books taken from remainders counters for only a few dollars, but I have also paid very high prices for books that I needed. Probably the most expensive book I ever paid for was Pigeaud's " Java in the 14th Century". I paid well over $150 , and that was only in late fees paid to the University of NSW. I didn't even get to own the book. $150, plus the borrowing fee and no book on the shelf to show for it definitely makes that my most expensive purchase.

When it comes right down to it, what you buy when you buy a book is knowledge. Whether one regards a book as expensive or not probably depends upon how one values the information it contains.

13th November 2012, 11:39 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,991	Jean, I have not seen this book, but I do correspond spasmodically with a gentleman who contributed to it. According to him it contains a substantial part that deals with the way keris were understood from a spiritual and magical point of view in Solo a couple of generations past. Tony Junus himself I also know only by reputation, and that reputation is a good one. He is a serious man who is trying to do his best to support keris culture, under relatively difficult conditions. The $100 price tag is a bit of a stumbling block, and I will be waiting until I get to Solo in January and have a look at it before I buy, however, on balance it might be a good gamble. A very respected senior member of the international keris community has spoken to me in positive terms of both the book, and its writer.

13th November 2012, 08:32 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,991	Book prices are funny things Jean. I've bought really magnificent books taken from remainders counters for only a few dollars, but I have also paid very high prices for books that I needed. Probably the most expensive book I ever paid for was Pigeaud's " Java in the 14th Century". I paid well over $150 , and that was only in late fees paid to the University of NSW. I didn't even get to own the book. $150, plus the borrowing fee and no book on the shelf to show for it definitely makes that my most expensive purchase. When it comes right down to it, what you buy when you buy a book is knowledge. Whether one regards a book as expensive or not probably depends upon how one values the information it contains.