My readers know how I collect, read and re-read books of all sorts. I have blogged about it some time ago under the title “Books”.
Part of the problem of such a pastime is the storage of books. In the blog post that I have referred to above, the library is groaning, and now it simply has no more space to store any more books. I have started two more shelves in my bedroom for them.
Knowing my problem, two people have come up with two different ideas for me to solve my problem. The first one comes from a very dear friend with a great sense of humour and that is this:
The second solution is a gift from my nephew Jai, who is IT savvy and very practical when it comes to handling his uncle and his quirks. He gave this:
I am in already in love with the latter. As soon as I am able to locate a carpenter who will not charge me the moon, I will arrange to get a sofa like the one pictured above to replace one of the arm chairs in my drawing room. And that will be heart breaking.
I’m happy for you with your Kindle. I love mine!
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Kindle is great thing, i wasn’t convinced if it will be good for me when my husband gave me it as a gift but right now i take it whenever i go!
If you sat in a chair like that we would never hear from you again!
Rummuser Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 19:41
Want to bet?
Books Books and Books, <3 i love to read and write both.. and your blog also… nice
Sit there and read a Kindle – you could smell real books whilst reading electronic ones!! Now if we could figure how to capture the feel of turning the page…….
Rummuser Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 19:40
You can not. When the mood takes you, just pick up a regular book!
I agree with Shackman, there is something about actually turning the pages that I would miss. But I actually do plan to buy a kindle some day. From what I’ve heard, there are many free books you can download.
I have the same problem as you of having too many books. One time I went through them and picked out some that I thought we could give away. My husband couldn’t part with them! lol
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Rummuser Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 19:40
Just compromise. Use both.
We, too, have problems figuring out where to store all of our books. However, that problem is NOT getting worse, since, now that we have kindles, we don’t go in book stores and we only buy books in electronic versions (so far).
Page turning – I’ve heard others say that the lack of page turning would be an issue with the kindle. We don’t find it so. What is a little more difficult is going back to reread something and then returning to where you were.
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E-readers seem to be more and more common but I haven’t succumbed yet. Maybe I will when like you we’ve accumulated so many books there’s no more space for them. They’d certainly solve Jenny’s habit of bending the spine back whenever she reads a book.
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I love books, but a ‘kindle’ ? … How would I colour in the pictures ?
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Rummuser Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 19:39
Yes, that is indeed a problem. I use a highlighter pen for books whereas the Kindle has an inbuilt highlighting facility.
I’m with Shackman and Delirious on this one!
I also think about how I love to loan and borrow a book to and from a friend. With each gift in passing the book gets a little more care and love-worn, the pages a little more wrinkled as time passes – just like our “pages” get a little more wrinkled.
Have you done a tally of the books you own, Ramana?
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Rummuser Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 19:38
You can loan the downloaded books on the kindle and also borrow from someone who has downloaded. Yes, periodically I tally and discard what I won’t need ever again for reference.
Hey Rummy,
LOL I loved the humour behind that chair. I need one too!
Oh, you have adhered to the trend of e-books and kindles: I have been resisting to that appalling trend (you see, I need to smell the books, to feel their pages, to write notes on some pages, to explore them etc).
But if space begins to lack then I might have to surrender.
Cheers
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Rummuser Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 19:37
I have decided to combine both. I will only download those books that are cheaper to on the kindle and buy the paper ones when they are not.
My dear Ramana, it’s tragic: Something has got to give in the wake of rumours of our in future distant betrothal. Obviously ours could be one of those modern marriages (two of my friends have managed to pull that one off to the benefit of their ever lasting love): Living in different houses just down the road from each other, our respective book shelves groaning a few hundred meters apart.
If I moved in with you we’d have to add another layer to yours already three deep on the shelves. Or maybe we could build an outhouse, or dig a cellar. Ramana, seriously, you need an interior designer. One of those dashing people who will discover nooks and crannies you never realised you had, and put shelving in.
As a matter of interest, since you say you remember where to find most in your vast sea of print, what’s your system? Do you keep subjects together, colour coordinate (people, do, believe me; usually the same who like coffee table tomes, a couple of kilos a piece; for fun, show and little substance), alphabetical order?
I am a bit more ruthless than you and will weed. Naturally, no sooner given away it’ll prove the very title I need two days later to look up a reference.
Lastly, and then I shut up: I have gone completely anal by listing every single book I own and buy (on Excel worksheets). It was a measure of self defence when I realised some years ago that I’d merrily go into a bookshop and buy a title I already owned. Even I draw the line somewhere.
Anyway, may your shelves not collapse under the weight. As to the chair … sweet; if ever so claustrophobic.
U
Rummuser Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 19:36
System Ursula, is I keep therefore I find. No one else is allowed to go anywhere near the stacks. There is however a method in the madness – subject-wise positioning.
Interior decorators? They cost the moon here. I would rather download more books instead of spending on that luxury.
If you get a chance, read the book… shoot, I forget it’s name. It’s about a guy who won’t try new things, like a breakfast made of eggs that are green for some reason, with a side of ham. *SPOILER ALERT* He later decides to try them and finds them to be delicious.
It’s written by a doctor. Doctor Zeus? Something like that. Great book. You learn about sadness, about joy, about love. It’s very moving.
UPDATE: Bonus – It also rhymes!
(heh)
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Rummuser Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 17:12
Kevin, whenever you surface, you throw a curve ball. You do mean Green Eggs and Ham don’t you? By Dr. Seuss. Heh indeed.
I am happy to report that when Mission control went off to the US I cleared out some 50 books and took them to the Oxfam shop, they have now made me an honorary member and I even have a membership card!! I am about to revisit Oxfam with 50 more, the living room looks much better for it!!
Rummuser Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 19:32
You sneaky rascal you.
Great ideas all. I also want a Kindle. Maybe some day…
Rummuser Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 19:30
Thathaasthu.
I come up with the stupidest of jokes, huh?
Kevin recently posted..Notable Quotations About the Internet
Rummuser Reply:
April 19th, 2011 at 07:24
I have not seen any lately Kevin. Let us have some and I shall offer my considered opinion.
unrelated – If I try to click on any of the ‘reply’ links, it says:
“Error – can’t find the ‘commentformid’ div.”
Is that how it is for everyone except Mr. Muser? Or is my browser broken?
Kevin recently posted..Notable Quotations About the Internet
Kevin – Click on the tiny feint reply link and it should work. It does for me.
I am a Kindle user and love it for books – but the newspaper, I love the newspaper in print much better than electronically! Some electronic deliveries are just as clear, even more crisp, very readable. But less enjoyable. It is the texture of life, the texture of learning, that we miss at some points.
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Rummuser Reply:
April 19th, 2011 at 07:23
I like that word Texture. Yes, that is exactly what it is.
Conrad, you always know what to say – “The texture” – that’s it exactly!
Marianna recently posted..Welcome Home
I’ve tried reading with the Kindle, but I like the feeling of a hardback book in my hands. Seems natural and almost therapeutic when I turn each page. I would LOVE to make or buy that sofa chair shown above. Whoever created that is a genius. Do you think those are really available?
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