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During my Blog Hopping rounds I noticed a few people posting about their personal libraries. It was so interesting to see how people organised/ displayed their books. Some (like me) shut them away in a cupboard (not from shame, but from a lack of space), while others spread them out and separate them into order of height, genre or author.
To the book lover, their library is a physical display of their passion for reading. For me at least, it shows an important part of my character; and a trait that sets me apart from others. It’s an outward manifestation of my uniqueness. For the books I choose to read are conscious decisions that reflect a tangible version of my emotions. Reading is something that I identify with intensely. It’s gotten me through some rough times too. Every book I read and own has become a part of me and shaped me in some ways.
Bookshelves are also the first thing I look for when I go to someone’s house for the first time. It tells me a lot about that person and just by looking at the titles, you can figure out if they are a kindred spirit or not.
“A room without books is like a body without a soul” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
Famous for his quotes on books, Cicero gives voice to my sentiments perfectly. Looking at the ‘souls’ of other people got me thinking about my own little cramped wardrobe I call library.
So, there it is: a picture of my bookshelves. Count them, 1 and 2. That’s it. These shelves (and the floor next to my bed) contain all my wordly possessions from which I draw inspiration to write this blog. Well, between that and the library of course.
Believe it or not, there’s about 200 books in that cupboard (last time I counted). God only knows how many there are now! The top shelf is giving me a bit of worry as it’s become a little bowed from the weight of my tomes. I reckon I have room for another 50 till it all comes crashing down. Hopefully by that time I’ll have a bigger place for them where they can be proudly displayed.
Who needs a ‘Kindle’ when you have these cute things? I wish they’d make more of them!
My favourite books are the two dinky ones on the top shelf. They are palm-sized editions of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’. They sometimes go with me in my handbag if I feel like I’m going to be desperate for a read. I picked them up from a magazine that was giving away miniatures of classics a few years ago. I managed to get the first two editions then my newsagent stopped doing the subscription. Bummer.
So that’s my grand tour of my library over. What’s your bookshelves like? Do you have to make do with small, unusual spaces like me, or are you lucky enough to have wall-to-wall shelves? Which books do you proudly display? Do you have unusual editions of books? I’d love to hear about it!
Wordly Obsessions 
The palmsized books are so cute and great and.. I want one!
I love those little books! I managed to get about 10 before my newsagent stopped getting them in 🙂
Hi Iris! They’re adorable. I love ’em to bits. I think they were a one off thing, but I could see how it would appeal to book lovers everywhere.
Chrissie – Nice to meet someone who collected them! You were luckier than me 🙂
Aw…cute widdle pint-sized books! I think it puts the Kindle to shame–you get the palm-sized book complete with the touch & smell of the printed page. Mmm…Okay, I need a book & a cup of coffee *stat* :oD
Me too! Need some coffee, like, now. I don’t agree with the electronic books. It’s good that you can d/l all those titles, but I like the feel of REAL pages. It’s part of the experience.
I have book shelves all around my room. Well, two walls. Sometimes it feels like I’m in a semi-library. And of course, it’s not enough. Let me tell you, when we came from Fiji to Canada, I left clothes, toys, other sentimental goods behind but I hauled a suitcase full of books I couldn’t bear to be parted with – that must say something about my craziness. Hehe. I personally hate kindle and the like. I understand the pros but the book lover in me is horrified at the idea of books being phased out. =\
I hope you get a bigger place to put your books soon too. 🙂
Wow DBS. You’re very lucky. Two walls of books would be heavenly. Just my type of room. You come from Fiji? Beautiful place! It was a very long move wasn’t it? Books would be the first thing I would think of taking too. I went on holiday once and forgot to take a book with me. Two weeks was the longest I coud take – I went out and bought some and spent the next 2 days with my head stuck in them.
Great post, Zee. I have books all over my house, some organized, some not. I’ve always wanted to model reading to my kids, so they love reading, too, and with my daughter an adult and living on her own, I know I’ve done it. In her first home, right out of college, she has three book shelves crammed with books and a pile of reading awaiting the time. Ah, it feels good.
I bet it does! I hope I can do the same with mine when the time comes. I’d love them to be avid readers. My mum is a bibliophile too. She got me to read at a young age. I remember one easter I got a giant choc egg and four children’s classics. Those were the best presents I ever had!
I love this post! I thought I was hallucinating when I saw the shelves bearing down under those weights, but lucky you confirm it!!
I’m the same as you are. When I go to someone’s house, I look at their bookshelves, I just walked towards it uninvited. Like a magnetic pole I look into their bookshelves to know more about the owner of the books. I can pretty much judge a person’s characters by looking at their bookshelves! 😉