Book piles form organically around my house. Usually I try to shelve books that have been read and just let the to read or re-read piles form. They never get smaller though. It makes me think of food hoarders, who, even though the cupboards are full, keep a stash under the bed. And in the closet. And beneath the sink.
Even though there are a thousand books on my shelves, it's as though I will die if I don't have a pile of books close at hand. And never in my life have I been starved of or denied books. The first four pictures were taken in my bedroom, where I don't have a book shelf, so there are extra piles. (At least two in the fourth were recommended by you guys. Petra? Shelley?) The last one is in the kitchen--the contrast of Healthy in a Hurry with Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen (mixed in with vegetarian and baking books) sums me up pretty well.
I am looking forward to a weekend of reading and football. Hope yours is filled with things you love!
Jen
I do spy Perfume! books are so pretty, so cozy and welcoming.
ReplyDeleteYou remember! I look forward to reading it.
Deletejen,
ReplyDeleteI too love books and have them everywhere! I can only get rid of a book if I've read it and I really don't like it, otherwise, I keep them all. They are on shelves and used in my decor, I think they really add to a room, giving it a more cozy feel and are easily reached for a quick read!
Rebecca
They make a house a home.
DeleteI can totally relate. I try to keep the hoarding under control but it is hard. I must always have a "too read" pile nearby also. I like people who like books!
ReplyDeleteMe too! (all of it)
Deleteoh, some good german books in there. the perfume is amazing. so is summerhouse, later. let me know what you think about them. even though I read almost exclusively on my kindle these days, I still have book piles everywhere. I know what you mean. a home without books and plants is no home...
ReplyDeleteYou recommended Summerhouse to me. Kindling is a great way to hoard/collect books especially if one lives in a small apt, though you need some real world books for good karma (and in case your battery runs out and you can't find the charger).
DeleteI love your photos of the books Jen
ReplyDeleteI think they look so pretty and romantic
and placed in your bedroom is a good decorating idea!
I love books too and since buying my kindle miss the feel of a "real" book but for storage purposes I suppose it was better as mine were taking up far too much room!
Have a good weekend my friend
enjoy your reading and your football
Fiona x
Thanks, Fiona! Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
DeleteHello Jen:
ReplyDeleteWe are absolutely with you on the piles of books and reading but, sadly, we part company on the football!!!
For us too, the books just seem to keep on amassing even though we give many away for charity sales. But, we cannot bear to part with so many, many more and continue to acquire them at a far faster pace than they are recycled to other good homes.
Books are so comforting and really do give a home a furnished look we think. A 'Kindle' could never do it for us!!!
"If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need." CIcero
DeleteHi Jen, The term Hoarding cannot apply to books when they are individually selected according to their qualities and interest to you, even when your books number in the thousands--the correct term is a Personal Library.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have the same problem with stacks of books in the bedroom. I got a bookshelf of alleviate the problem, but the piles of current reading still form.
--Road to Parnassus
I love my book stacks!
Delete"A room without books is like a body without a soul." Cicero
I think books make the very best decor. Homey and full of delights and tactile. Always love your posts about reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anne! Happy weekend.
DeleteI hoard NY Times Review of Books, which come weekly. I read them in the bath - a taste of books I'll never get around to reading. But they somehow pile up, even though I bath nightly. I did just finish The Old Ways,by Robert MacFarlane, which I ordered after reading its review. Will do a blog on it one of these days. Do you read during the games? Or before and after?
ReplyDeleteI'll look into The Old Ways. Would love to know what you thought of it.
DeleteNo, I never read during a game. If I don't care enough to watch, I turn it off. In fact I can barely tolerate people talking when a game is on--I make minimal allowances for my family.
This all looks familiair Jen. It's the same in my house; double rows in bookcases and piles even in the bedroom. During the Christmas holiday I brought some to the thrift store. The thing I, I can't see the difference. There are still books everywhere :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
Madelief x
Sounds exactly like my house! It's a happy problem to have.
DeleteI know what you mean. I have the read books shelves and the not yet read books shelf and then there's the bedside not read yet pile on either side of the bed and the not yet read pile on the bench in the book room. I delude myself into thinking that there is some kind of order here...ha, right. Who cares, as long as we're surrounded by books. (I spy the latest Dennis Lehane, on my "not read yet pile" on the bench. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteDid you hear about Lehane's dog? It's missing, and he offered to name a character in his next book after the person who returns it.
DeleteWait, did you say, "book room"? You have a book room?
Yes, I did hear about his dog. I hope he finds it. Yes, book room which is a bedroom that we turned into a library but I don't call it that because I don't want ot sound pretentious. We painted it chocolate brown lined it with shelves and filled it with books. That doesn't mean however that there aren't piles everywhere. I'm like you need to be knee deep in them. No kindle for me.
DeleteChocolate brown walls and books--sounds wonderful!
DeleteYou seem to be a speedy reader, jen. It's amazing! I sometimes try to read some books simultaneously and it is effective when the genre are different.
ReplyDeleteHello Jen
ReplyDeleteThe sight of your pile of books warms my heart and I am searching through and reading the titles. I share your love for books
Have a great week
Helenx
Books are akin to concentrated reality, and thus a very good use of your space, Jen. And, of course, they are your friends. I suspect I'd find your house very welcoming.
ReplyDelete