Healthy people probably react to the gorgeous weather that has finally hit the South of France by aiming out to the mountains. My husband did that on Sunday as of 5 a.m.
I instead went to the library for the first time in over a year and renewed my membership on Saturday evening, once the sun sank too low to continue chopping up dead bamboo. Look what I got for 15 euros!
I started with the Stephen King between 9PM and 4AM, and moved on to the Anita Desai yesterday afternoon amidst touring a violet greenhouse in Villaudric, and am now dithering as to the novel’s successor tonight. Probably one of the Don DeLillos.
Frank who has a vested interest in this subject, had asked to see more bookshelves – probably meaning only professional. But here’s my English-language section at home until I get up to Paris tomorrow afternoon and might be able to snap the lab shelves.
There is something delightfully voyeuristic (or, in my case, exhibitionist) about seeing other people’s bookshelves. I looooove libraries – just all the possibilities! The Toulouse main library is an attractive showcase, as well, though I can’t find good photos to put up directly here. Try toulouse bibliotheque arche marengo in Google Images to get an idea.
I’m staying deliberately non-controversial, first because I have no ideas today, and second, because you are invited to give your opinion on moderation, respect/fairness and what constitutes Internet censorship on this thread over here.
I love Don Delillo. Americana was rather dense but worth it in the end.
I love looking at other people’s bookshelves. I’m currently writing a blog post about what I did when I left the house at 6 am on Sunday morning.
I bought myself one of these (almost), by the way, as a potted souvenir of Toulouse, although it is a highly fragrant Parma violet . Turns out my new baby is called Ferndale (not Ash Vale), it was cultivated recently in Australia, and the ones growing here in Toulouse are the first back in Europe. A true product of world influence.
Ooh Heather – very nice! I’ve refrained as yet from putting up any photos of bookshelves as I have an unfair advantage, though my own office shelves are not very interesting.
I guess that the idea of finding printed books in libraries is not controversial yet, though finding printed journals there is no longer guaranteed.
I would love to see an entire greenhouse full of violets! I’m feeling rather flower-deprived at the moment, after returning from England to a very bad year (so far) for wildflowers in the Hill Country. At least my passionflower vine is still blooming.
It will be a grim day AFAIC, when people have no need for bookshelves, and photos only of their Kindles to post.
There are beautiful wild violets flowering right now in Russia Dock Woodlands near my house — along with daffodils, forsythia, hyacinth, irises (in the ponds) and snowdrops. London is always at least 6 weeks ahead of the countryside, though.
I like dense books, and I like plants. The first because they take me more than a few hours to read (and contemplate), the second because they don’t all make me sneeze, unlike anything that has fur and is non-primate. (Haven’t actually tried chimps yet but the principle is true for all else.) Otherwise I would post puppy or kitty photos instead.
The cherries are now in blossom, but the forsythia is losing its petals. The iris are only just up, no buds even, yet, while the crocus are finished and the hyacinths are coming in. When I used to compare notes with my mom in Boston, I was all disconcerted – the timing and sequence here of flora is quite different from my personal landmarks in time. I am still not adjusted to having the first local grown strawberries by the end of March (but the better ones are a little later of course… right now they’re being driven over the border from Spain).
Heather – you must be a fast and voracious reader. I have a similar number of books piled in a basket near my bedside table, but unfortunately the number of them doesn’t seem to decrease at an appreciable rate.
Next on the list is a recent Giller-prize-winner, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, by local boy Vincent Lam. Should be interesting I think. If and when I ever get to it ;)
I really liked Americana. I don’t read even remotely as fast as you seem to, Heather! I usually find myself reading quite slowly (whatever that means), making sure I can ‘see’ everything properly before carrying on.
I’m glad you said that, Richard! I’m feeling like a very slow reader in this company. I have a similar pile, plus some on a shelf that I will probably never get round to reading.
I used to be a strict serial reader – not starting one book until the previous one was finished. Now I sometimes read in parallel – two or more books on the go at the same time. I’m not sure whether it speeds up or slows down my reading rate.
I have so many unread books. I used to keep them on a separate pile, and not put them on the shelf until after I had read it, but then the number started reaching well into the double digits (I’d guess 15, but it might even be 20) and the pile became a stack of unsorted books taking up couch-space and confusing visitors (“Can I…sit here?”) so I had to shelf books that have not been read! I feel awful about it. I know that other people sometimes do this too, but I was rather proud of everything on my shelves being read.
“Bloodletting…” is a good book. I finished it in 5 hours on a bus ride to Ottawa and then left it there for friends to read. Later they asked me “Do you ever read fiction anymore?” so I assume they haven’t started it yet. They probably think it’s a non-fiction book about ancient medical practices.
I use a dresser/sideboard thingy as a book case, so my books and thesis are wedged in any old way next to the whisky. I have a ton of unread books too – my purchasing habits haven’t quite adjusted to the reduced amount of reading I do since being banned from reading in bed in the evenings, which was always my favourite time and place.
Sigh – stupid husband’s stupid job’s stupid 6.30am start time.