Photo credit: grafixar from morguefile.com
“To be a book-collector is to combine
the worst characteristics of a dope fiend
with those of a miser.”
- Robertson Davies
I was dusting my bookshelves yesterday, and noting that although I've become quite disciplined about getting rid of those which I neither love nor find useful, there are still a LOT of books living with us. Butler's Lives of the Saints (2 full editions!), Gene Logsdon and a plethora of other DIY and gardening books, quilting manuals, all the Gerald Morris knight-series, encyclopedias of Jewish folklore, the Portofino trilogy, miscellaneous novels, the Cadfael mysteries...
Who won't you part with?
10 comments:
For me, it's Bill Bryson and Patrick O'Brian. Well, and the usual suspects from the gardening / farming / sustainability realms. Oh and this one book called Godel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter that makes me feel both supremely smart and unspeakably stupid at the same time.
I'll have to look up the Hofstadter, it sounds intriguing - thanks for the heads-up. My son is currently enmeshed in Patrick O'Brian too, quite enjoying the Captain and Commander series.
I find it difficult to part with anything!! in the interests of having some breathing space in the house I am trying to instill a rule that I have to find three things a week to sell on ebay, then if there is money from them thats good, if not sold they go into the charity shop bag. half a shelf of books gone already, some other things too which made a wee bit of money but I spent it on Abbey....
I won't part with Abbey.
just caught up on your post about fires and droughts and am glad you have had some rain now, warn and dry is nice but rain is essential too. its been very warm here too and the ground is dry. not much good for starting seeds who need a little damp and a little warm.
I won't part with the cats either, or my camera. or my lap top.....
a hoarder? me?
Good morning Claire,
We had quite a lot of rain, thankfully, so there's some standing water in the ditches and the fire's contained fairly securely. For now. Hopefully they manage to get it out entirely.
I've never sold anything on e-bay, but getting a little income from the out-go sounds rather appealing!
WV? - solded. I solded all my olded stuff!
Your taste is amazing! All of these books sound wonderful. Honestly, I think I could give up all of my books if it came down to it, but I'd have a difficult time parting with Trumpet by Jackie Kay ... it's one of those novels that touches to the core. So beautiful and so sad ...
Are these your books in the photo? If so, they are beautiful! I have to say, I don't have many gorgeous books such as these ... it would be a lot harder to part with them if that were the case!
It's easier to carry a library card than a library.
Shakti- I'll have to look up Trumpet. You're the only person I've heard mention it, and I'm always on the lookout for a good read. Since you're embarking on a self-sufficient life, I can't recommend Gene Logsdon enough, especially "The Contrary Farmer" and "The Contrary Gardener". Try some of John Seymour's things too, like "The Self-Sufficient Life and How To Live It".
Dylan - Welcome! Too right!
Well...I must be the hopeless addict. :)
Butler's "Saints," huh? You simply must read Buechner's "The Storm."
Hi C
That was my dear Robertson again, in his Marchbanks persona, I think, but I can't guarantee it.
You know, I think I did read The Storm, but I'm going to have to look up a synopsis to remind myself of it. I think after the Archangel I put a hold on all the Buechner that the local library system had to offer! Your initial recommendation has been an ongoing delight.
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