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| VIKLIT |
LG KELTNER @writing off the edge
KATIE @TheCyborg Mom
CAFFEEMAGGIEATO @mscoffeehouse
Thanks for being good helpers!
I’m celebrating my library. I mean my own, small personal place where I’ve tucked books away for many years. These are all books I’ve read and wanted to keep, so they’ve been vetted and passed whatever test I had in mind.
This month I’m rereading some books to see how they affect me or interest me after many years between the first time I read them and now.
First, I pulled out God’s Grace and finished it in two nights. I’m not sure why I chose that book because I’m not a big dystrophia fan, but I did. Malmud’s book depressed and fascinated me. Brilliantly written, it doesn’t speak well of the human race, its self-centeredness and it’s natural talent for bringing humanity down even when it intends the best.
Here are a couple of short, but beautiful passages. Malmud pokes fun at us on every page.
Man was subtly conceived but less well executed. Body and soul hung badly together. Maybe next time.
Given the nature of death–how long it lasts once it sets in–who can blame us for inventing resurrection?
And on that cheery note I’ll bid you goodbye. But wait. Here’s a small bit of philosophy to take the Malmud edge off.
“The greatest prayer is patience.”
Love your collection. I have yet to set up my library in the new house.
How exciting to dive back into some favourite reads, love your own little library.
Personal libraries are the best, yours is lovely! Enjoy rereading some of your books 🙂
The greatest answer to prayer is patience as well, though we oftimes scorn the tests that drive us to gain more of the elusive unicorn.
HI Lee – that's great .. I really need to read, digest and donate some and then sort the others .. so I can find references when I need them – ie cookery, history, language … that's one of my jobs this summer …
Malmud's quotes are a little off-putting .. though I suspect he has a point! Cheers Hilary
I love your library — and libraries in general! My dream would be to have a library in my house like the one in Disney's animated Beauty and the Beast movie, if you've ever seen it. It's floor upon floor of wall-to-wall books in one grand, wondrous room.
Those are some powerful quotes. Writing like that makes me feel so insecure!
I don't have a bookshelf. Isn't that awful? All writers MUST have bookshelves. We have a bookcase door that my husband made but it isn't deep enough to hold a decent book. My next house will have room for bookshelves, for sure.
Great quotes. Love the peek at your library! Have a good weekend. 🙂
Yay for personal libraries! Great quotes, too. Quite amusing. As long as it lasts.
Your library makes me want to dive right in. There's something cozy about it. I haven't read God's Grace yet, but those excerpts are lovely.
That's an impressive library. Our books are stacked in front of each other to fit in their confined space. But I did stare lovingly at the wooden book cases at the furniture store yesterday–the ones complete with little rolling ladder.
Now that's my dream. A really really big room with high ceilings. Books on all four walls and a rolling ladder.
Your library looks lovely. It's always great to re-read books we've read in the past and re-discover what made us love them. Thanks for sharing. Love those passages! Have a great weekend!
Thanks. I wish I'd made more notes my first time through. It would be great to compare then and now.
I only have the one bookshelf, and it's overflowing. I need to invest in another!
I hate to say it, but this is only one wall of books. There's another longer one in another room. Can't imagine having only one shelf for books. Maybe if they're eBooks.
I love your library! Those are awesome bookshelves! I like to occasionally reread a book that's really struck me for one reason or another.
Thanks, LG. I think the second time through is interesting. Very different than reading it the first time.
The book sounds thought-provoking. I should put that one on my list. I'd like to read it.
It's a thought-stirrer. Not easy summer reading. I should have pulled out something less dark, but it seemed to leap into my hand.
That's a good looking library! I wish I had that much space for my books. My fiance has taken over most of bookcase so I'm down to two shelves 🙁
Oh dear. That's worse than sharing closet space.
When I moved to Egypt, I only sent a box of books, since I was mostly staying in hotels. I took favorite paperbacks, but I miss my coffee-table books, big art books, film reference books, even one about world ornamental gardens. But lucky for me there are plenty of great pics on the net, so I"m not too lonely! Thanks for sharing your library with us! 🙂
Traveling with books isn't easy. I left all of mine in boxes with my mom when I took off. Fortunately, she kept them for me. I feel kind of lost without a bunch of books around me.
Hey there, celebrity author, Lee,
Can I be one of your helpers? Santa has given up on me. Look at your library. Well cool. I was reading my 1923 Dominion Educator Enclyopedia. It's now back up to date. Only mentions 8 planets and no mention of poor Pluto.
Thank you for your patience in waiting for yet another one of my highly collectable comments.
A peaceful weekend to you and your loved ones.
Your forever starstruckest fan,
Gary
Santa's loss. My gain. Of course, you can help me. I need all of that I can get. I'll bet that encyclopedia's periodic table is simpler, too! My patience has paid off.
I reread books often, especially my non-fiction ones. Although I confess I've read Watership Down at least 25 times.
25 times? You can recite that book.
I love rediscovering and rereading books. It's eye-opening to see what jumps out at me each time. 🙂
I wish I had written down my first impressions when I read the books, then I could contrast that with my most recent experience.
I find that I can forget what's in my library. It's fun to rediscover it at times.
I've decided to comb through mine and see what else is stored there.
That really is a library! We just bought a house (we can't live in it yet – long story) but I plan to shelve a whole wall and display the books all stores away in boxes. And all there will be in that room will be a comfy chair and a side table for me cup. 🙂
Great quotes too btw.
shahwharton.com
A perfect room in my mind.
Then I shall pray for patience!
And that's bigger than a small space, Lee.
Patience it is. We do need it.