Books a mile high - Janette Fisher's Blog

George Robert Gissing said:

"I know every book of mine by its smell.and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things."

Having a collection of over 500 books myself, I can understand the sentiment behind his quote. I only have to pick up certain books in my collection to be transported back to the point in time when it came into my possession. Where it was purchased, how I was feeling and how it made me feel having acquired it.

I know my collection takes up considerable room in my house and if I had one these new 'Kindle' creations that holds thousands of books I would probably have more room for shoes and handbags (we girls can never have enough of those), but for me the whole experience of being an avid reader is in the search for 'the one' - that one book you have been wanting since the world came into being.

Only this past week, I attended an antiques fair where I came upon a rare 1970 edition of 'The complete fairy tales of Oscar wilde' iluustrated by Philipped Julian, which has been on my 'wish list' of books since I can remember.  I love going to car boot sales, antique fairs, second hand book shops and charity shops in search of 'treasure'. There is nothing like perusing the shelves of old book shops (apart from coming out sneezing from the dust) and thumbing through pages, in the hope that you will find that rare classic.

While I am all for new technology, I'll be staying with my tactile 'old friends' and will not be 'kindling' a fire any time soon with them and will be sticking with what I consider to be 'proper' books.

I would be interested to know how my fellow soupers feel on the subject - do you possess a 'Kindle' or are you like me and sticking with the familiar.

My best wishes to you all

Janette

Jack Horne Date: 11/10/2011 11:45:00 AM My wife nags me about the amount of books I have, but I can't part with any of them - and can't resist getting more. Having said that, I downloaded a free Kindle reader for PC from Amazon and am enjoying that too. Many classics are free and I got the Complete Works of Shakespeare for around £1.50 and Complete Chaucer for about £1. Best of both worlds, I guess : ) Login to Reply

David Williams Date: 11/8/2011 6:13:00 AM Janette i don't think you can beat a "book", like you i just love antique fairs and car boots, and at the last count (2009) i had 9,578 books in my own library (not a boast just that i love books)i have collected them all of my life and have never thrown a single one out, plan on doing a recount some time next year when the new space is ready.. Login to Reply

Kabuteng P.Ink K. Date: 11/7/2011 10:40:00 PM I had to smile as I read the title of your blog, Janette :) shucks I can so relate-- I Love books, and I honestly prefer flipping through the pages, that's part of the reading experience-- that's why I almost had a heart attack when my books were raided by termites O_o Login to Reply

Andrea Dietrich Date: 11/7/2011 8:23:00 PM Gosh, I am not even sure what kindle means. Is it that stupid way people are reading online now? I need something solid in my hands, something I can lie back with as I rest in bed! I have maybe 2,000 books, (well I let hubbie have his way and finally threw out at least 500 that I'd read in my youth.) Since the age of VCR, I have read less and less with the years, and now with my DVR, I really can't find the time for reading anymore because I am consumed with the watching of movies! Maybe one day I will have time for my "old friends" but I hope to never have to throw away the remaining books I have purchased over the years: in grocery store checkout lines, at airports and from Book club deals. They have all piled up to quite a collection!! Login to Reply

Francine Roberts Date: 11/7/2011 6:20:00 PM I also have about 500 ( or more books) all over the house, bookcases everywhere, then more stacked on top of the bookcases. I am getting a kobo ( same as kindle, its an e-reader) because 1) I have no room for more books and 2) my kids are planning on getting me on an episode of "hoarders" if I "buy anymore flippin books" At the moment I have my latest 20 books downloaded onto my laptop so they'll never know I bought more Login to Reply

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 11/7/2011 11:49:00 AM Dear Janette, I love the quote about the smell of old books. I can't begin to count the number of books I have (most are nonfiction), but I do have a 76-book collection of the masters (Socrates, Plato, etc.) that was handed down in the family. It has a high price value, but the only value I think about is the way the words touch me. Yes, these old books have an aging smell to them. I have read Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" at least four times and the pages are starting to crumble. I like printed books -- not e-books. It's nice to take a book outside and read it on the beach or porch. Have a wonderful holiday season, my friend. Love, Carolyn Login to Reply

Carrie Richards Date: 11/7/2011 11:49:00 AM Give me the old, worn, weathered and yellowed pages. I find it comforting to know other readers have lived through those words before me. Somethings just seem to get better with age. Login to Reply