This post on the Washington Post was amusing to me.

What are we to do with our flooded shelves?
— Read on www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/12/19/used-books-stores-donation-fran-lebowitz/

“They’re more like friends than objects,” one passionate bookseller says.

Now that’s something I understand.

As much as I try not to buy too many books (those I do buy are specifically for the purpose of holding onto them) because they have moved me in some way; they are from authors who I love (eg Orwell, Hemingway, Greene, Bryson and others) or they are books that I will want to read again or in the near future.  Any book that doesn’t meet this criteria, I will offload to a second hand book store (although invariably I end up buying more second hand books so it’s a double edged sword). 

I’ve always grown up with books in nearly every room of the house (yes, even the bathroom and toilet).  Now in our house, we have tons of books stacked in no particular order (me) although my husband’s books take on the largest bookshelf in the house, his books are stacked in alphabetical order, in author collections and all spines are uncracked. He’s pristine with his books which I’m not.

To me, books are meant to be enjoyed and used in such a way that they become a part of you. 

I love marginalia, and write and tag my books with comments and underlined sentences (this is horrifying to Andrew).  However, I say to him that if you don’t treat books like this, then you’ve never really experienced a book.  You’ve never put a part of yourself into its story and underlined, tagged and commented on those sections that moved you.  If you can’t take a book with you in your bag, to pick it up without worrying if you’re going to bend it out of shape, how can you truly experience it?

In some way, I’m glad we don’t have the same tastes in books because anytime I do want to read one of his books, I have to be mindful of how I handle it.  Through his watchful eyes, he raises an eyebrow if I’m seen as wanting to bend the book just a little bit more.  In the end, it was too much pressure.  I was worried more about wrecking the book than reading the story, so I stick to my own books!

Will I get rid of my books?

There’s a couple of bookshelves in my study devoted to business, marketing, writing, learning and development, self-help non-fiction and if anything, it’s likely they’ll be ditched in about ten or so years – not yet.  Many of my books are references that I use – and don’t date – but there are other books focussed on Social Media or Software Programs that date quickly.  I guess I don’t need them – and when I’m thinking about my future where work/career doesn’t feature in it, whoever gets my books will inherit some fantastic reference material for the field of learning and development.

One of My Own Bookshelves –  A Tour

Bookshelf Tours: Umberto Eco

Follow Umberto Eco through his personal library at home…..now THIS I would LOVE.

Bookshelf Tour

Much of what Kemper talks about books resonates with me. I love how he stacks his books all over the place – on shelves, floor and tables. (This would create a headache for my husband but for me, this is peace).

Bookshelf Tour: Leaf By Leaf

This is a YouTube channel I watch a lot. Leaf by Leaf has some fantastic books on his shelves.

Screensaver To Salivate Over

One to have on the big screen at home on rotation.

Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) on Pexels.com