Ever since I was a child one of the things I wanted when I grew up was a library of my own (and doesn't every young girl) but I've never been quite sure what counts as a library - where's the tipping point when a collection of books take on that particular mantle? It was something on my mind back when I started blogging - I thought perhaps I was becoming more interested in books as objects instead of for what they contained and that the collector was overtaking the reader. I wouldn't be at all happy with the idea of everything being contained on an e-reader - the books own me just as much as I own them and I'm happy with it this way - although at the moment they've become rather unruly and in need of an organise.
Last night though I made the definite discovery that I know own a library, albeit a small one. I will confess at this point that I have no idea how many books I have. I stopped counting sometime about 2000, I think there are probably about 3000 now and I should, along with imposing some sort of a system, catalogue them but it's a big enough job to seriously cut into my reading time which is unappealing at the moment.
This momentous revelation came to me some time around midnight and partly courtesy of amazon. I've been reading Sara Maitland's 'Gossip From The Forest' (excellent, but I've had to have a dictionary to hand - my newly expanded vocabulary includes words like chthonic and deracinated, I particularly like deracinated). I'll enthuse wildly about this book soon but meanwhile the edition of Grimm's fairy tales she references is the Vintage 'Complete Fairy Tales' edited by Jack Zipes - happily the very copy I have which has been useful. I'd quite like to re-read Angela Carter's take on fairy tales when I'm finished, which will be easy because obviously I have her collected short stories as well as her version of Perrault's fairy stories, which I could compare with the Oxford World's Classics edition (if only I could find it, I know I have it somewhere, I was reading it not so long ago - maybe I shouldn't put off that re-shuffle).
After that I might actually tackle Marina Warner's 'From The Beast To The Blonde' for another slant on fairy tales - though I might also read Barbara Comyns 'The Juniper Tree' a retelling of another of the Grimm's tales - browsing amazon I realised I already had a copy, and was just sighing over the price of 'A Touch of Mistletoe' (also by Comyns and at £18.99 for a paperback and never mind the postage, now far to expensive for the likes of me) when I thought to check my own shelves - I had a copy. Also, and slightly to my disappointment because the new cover looks lovely I also have 'The Vet's Daughter'.
Equally I could decide to read in another direction altogether, I've been saving Robert Macfarlane 'The Old Ways' but this may be it's moment, or a re read of 'The Wild Places' or maybe something else altogether. This is why I think I have a library now; I can follow a reading path without having to buy or borrow books (not having to isn't the same as not wanting to) - there are obviously gaps but nonetheless the books follow one another in an orderly way; I feel like I've got a treasure house of possibilities piled up around me and it's just as good as I ever could have imagined it would be.
I agree. It's lovely to read a review on a blog or a reference in the book I'm currently reading & be able to think oh, I've got that on the tbr shelves. Justifies all the hundreds of unread books in the house, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI love the unread books, they need no justification, just space! (Other mad old ladies in waiting get cats ;)) Seriously though it's very satisfying to find the book you've been reading about already waiting for you.
DeleteI love your realisation that you have a library! Long may it continue. My book group would tell you that I always speak up in favour of a choice when I have a copy already lurking - I had to buy a copy of March's book this week - shocking!!!
ReplyDeleteTerrible, there should have been lots you already have to choose from! I do feel like my books have grown up now though - I'm very proud of them.
DeleteThat's such a lovely thought!
DeleteMy copy of 'Gossip from the Forest' has arrived and I can't wait to get to it, but feel that it must wait because (a) first I must read 'Twice Upon a Time', a book about fairy tales' female literary history, and (b) I bought Gossip (thanks to you!) to reward myself for some exams which I think actually I have failed, so I feel EVER so slightly guilty.
I'm with you on not cataloguing...
Don't feel guilty and I have my fingers crossed that the results are better than you fear. I found it a really interesting book, I've just written about it and now I've pressed 'publish' realise I hardly scratched the surface of my thoughts or the book. I've always liked Maitland's writing and think she's on form here. Hope you enjoy it too.
DeleteIt's great when it works out that way! I find I'm frequently wanting to revisit books from my shelves when some one posts an enthusiastic review, the problem of course is finding the time to read. I'm just hoping that we'll reach critical mass for L-space here soon!
ReplyDeleteSpace is another matter altogether, I need another room...
DeleteOh, I am slightly envious. I own just over 1000 books but it's about 1/3 books I've read and am keeping and 2/3 to be read pile. I am about five years away from having a better reflection of my reading tastes rather than reading curiosity. How wonderful to be able to window shop your own collection though. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's the number of books that matters, more the way they work together. I've probably read about a 1/3 of the books I have too and think they reflect both taste and curiosity. It might sound a bit silly but I feel that they've gone from being a big pile of books to having an identity. Looking through them the other night I found all sorts of things I'd forgotten about and they all looked interesting which was a nice treat in itself.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post & realisation! I prefer to have a smaller home collection & rely on my excellent public library for most of my reading, but my new book cases are deep enough to allow me to put books on both sides (& I have it in middle of room instead of against wall, so both sides are accessible), which is certainly tempting me to expand my personal library! ;)
ReplyDeleteIs that Maitland's new book about fairy tales? I think it has a different title in the US, but I'm on the hold list at library & can't wait to get it! I enjoyed From the Beast to the Blonde although I didn't love it: definitely worth a read. Have you read any of Maria Tatar? She also writes interesting books about fairy tales. I had The Juniper Tree out from library last year but attempted it during a reading slump & ended up giving up. I'll have to give it another go: I didn't realise it was a fairy tale retelling!
Your bookshelves sound lovely. My local library is not that great from my point of view and I really enjoy books as objects. I don't know if it makes me sound more or less odd but I don't own any music at all - not a cd or player, and not an mp3 player either. My old tape machine broke down 20 odd years ago and I never replaced it. I don't have more than a handful of DVD's either - it's all books!
ReplyDeleteIt is Maitland's new book and it's excellent, very readable and interesting. I haven't heard of Maria Tatar so will go and look her up now.