“All the books we own, both read and unread, are the fullest expression of self we have at our disposal. …But with each passing year, and with each whimsical purchase, our libraries become more and more able to articulate who we are, whether we read the books or not.”
Nick Hornby
The Thursday Thoughts wheel has turned to books again and I continue to be surprised with how many different ways I can think about books!
I smiled at this one - how often have I run my eyes over book shelves when I visit people's houses and thought - oh I didn't know that about them? The same goes I am sure when folk stumble across our messy office with bookshelves crammed with all sorts of things - and they mightn't expect to see so many murder mysteries.
I love how Hornby refers to how books we purchase, whether we read them or not, tell part of our story. Every now again (more often than I'd like to think really) I purchase a book on a whim - it sounded like something I'd be interested in, or want to explore in more depth; it sounded good when I heard a snippet on the radio or I felt that maybe I 'should' read it because I would be enlightened by doing so.
Its these last ones that take up space on the shelves, often unread. Perhaps their presence simply indicates something that I wish for in my life; an element I'd like to pursue; or something I am interested in (but not quite enough to read cover to cover). They certainly don't reflect that I am erudite and learned about the subject!
It's a bit like reading tea-leaves isn't it, reading a person's bookshelf?
Nick Hornby
The Thursday Thoughts wheel has turned to books again and I continue to be surprised with how many different ways I can think about books!
I smiled at this one - how often have I run my eyes over book shelves when I visit people's houses and thought - oh I didn't know that about them? The same goes I am sure when folk stumble across our messy office with bookshelves crammed with all sorts of things - and they mightn't expect to see so many murder mysteries.
I love how Hornby refers to how books we purchase, whether we read them or not, tell part of our story. Every now again (more often than I'd like to think really) I purchase a book on a whim - it sounded like something I'd be interested in, or want to explore in more depth; it sounded good when I heard a snippet on the radio or I felt that maybe I 'should' read it because I would be enlightened by doing so.
Its these last ones that take up space on the shelves, often unread. Perhaps their presence simply indicates something that I wish for in my life; an element I'd like to pursue; or something I am interested in (but not quite enough to read cover to cover). They certainly don't reflect that I am erudite and learned about the subject!
It's a bit like reading tea-leaves isn't it, reading a person's bookshelf?
I have two books on the shelf that are almost impossible to read, "Agencies of the Frame: Tectonic Strategies in Cinema & Architecture" by Michael Tawa a learned discussion which "aims to explore the parallel approaches to the conceptualization and composition of place, space, time, materiality and narrative in cinematic and architectural practices." and "Eccentric Spaces" by Robert Harbison to quote the back of the back as well, "The subject is the human imagination - and the mysterious interplay between the imagination and the spaces it has made for itself to live in; gardens, rooms, buildings, streets, museums and maps, fictional topographies, and architectures." These books are waiting for me to put my thinking cap on and try to read... I have a go with each of them every 18 months or so in the hope that my mind will have matured enough to bridge the gap but I had to give up on "The Hermeneutics of the Subject: Lectures at the Collège de France 1981--1982" by Foucault which I bought after attending a fabulous lecture by Michael Tawa about glass and Chartres Cathedral back in the early 90's here's a link
ReplyDeletehttp://www.altx.com/au2/tawa.html
but I simply could not embrace Foucault... or Derrida... to tell the truth the philosophers are beyond me, as Shakespeare said so long ago-
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
Hamlet Act 1, scene 5
an understanding of philosophy will be for another life time!
Oh Mo - that is amazing. I think if I went through my bookshelf I'd have some similar, but not quite so scary, ones...Eccentric Spaces sounds plausible and possible; but probably isn't! At least the Hermeneutics is clearly and obviously beyond my feeble brain. Another lifetime indeed for me as well.
DeleteIt IS interesting to see people's libraries. These days my bookcase is chockers with an eclectic collection of art techniques and artists. The novels are relegated to the bottom shelf. Pity...but lately I'm a 'doer' more than a 'thinker'. Time enough for thinking when I'm less active. I will never understand why some people seem to have NO books.
ReplyDeleteMy art book library is over in the studio Jo - I wonder what people make of it when they visit there? To have NO book is beyond my understanding completely - I would be bereft!
DeleteI shudder to think what my books say about me xxxx
ReplyDeleteThey'd tell an interesting and complex tale I expect Ronnie!
Deletegosh, i love looking at people's bookshelves! i was visiting a new friend, and found to my amazement that we shared more books in common than not--and we'd never met in person.
ReplyDeleteHow cool to find similar books on the shelves a of a new friend - you KNOW it'll work out don't you!?!
DeleteI gravitate to bookshelves every time I enter into someone's home. It's great to discover common interests and yes :-) I have often thought , I didn't know that about so-and-so or oh dear, what the hell are we going to talk about.
ReplyDeleteIt cracks me up Robyn when I catch myself going Ohhh really??? when I see someone else's book shelf! I must admit I haven't found a lack of commonality in books definitely means it's hopeless; but I have found a gathering of similar books is a pretty good sign it'll be fine...enjoy your holiday reading time.
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