Mmmmm.... books.This may sound completely narcissistic and twee and self-absorbed but one of my very favorite qualities about myself is my love of reading and my voracious appetite for books.
Now, admittedly, I am more of a gourmand than a gourmet but - as I say to Eugene when he gripes because I snowboard instead of ski - at least I am doing it!
Because of my democratic taste, the apartment is quite packed with books that I own - and this is a bit of a problem given the relative preciousness of square footage in Manhattan. So for the past couple of years I have been frequenting the New York Public Library System and it has been awesome.
They have a wonderful variety of books, both recent best-sellers and the classics. Fiction, non-fiction, biographies, graphic novels, audio books, DVDs - whatever you want! And because I don't have to plonk down $30 and more of my precious square footage every time I want to take a chance on something new - I get to be more frivolous or adventurous in my selections. reading without the commitment!
I love it love it love it.
Recently, I started thinking about this love of reading and recognizing that some people just don''t have it... poor people - let's feel sorry for them, shall we?
And even for those people who have it, not everyone does the marathon, up-all-night, reading-til-your-eyes-hurt reading that I am frequently capable of doing.
Where does this come from I wonder? I mean - I know that you do the same thing.
It's Mom and Dad, I think.
In the best, most positive way... I blame our parents. Despite the fact that they were always taking my flashlight away.
Of course, there was their own reading providing an example, and the reading before bed, and the Sunday funnies, and the lesson that if you always have a book with you, you'll never be bored.
(Or was that 'only bored people are boring'? It can be hard to keep the truly valuable nuggets of advice straight - there are so very many)
But there were also all those trips to the downtown public library - with the little dancer sculpture and the giant children's reading room... or the Capitol Hill library - with it's funny ramp and big windows... or the University bookstore - with it's giant shelves of Tintin and Asterix.
They were like Willie Wonka factories... with books! A new universe waiting for you between the folds of every cover!
Mmmm... paradise.
Sometimes, at lunchtime, I will find myself at the library randomly walking the stacks just waiting for that right book to jump out at me, and it's like a stroll through a lovely garden.
Of course, besides my love of the library and reading, I have another bad habit left over from childhood.
I am incapable of returning a book on time.
Now I consider the fines my little way of supporting the system. But if I ever move back to Seattle and want a library card, I'll have to hope that they don't do a background check.
With interest accruing on my childhood fines I could probably have underwritten the new downtown library.
Now, admittedly, I am more of a gourmand than a gourmet but - as I say to Eugene when he gripes because I snowboard instead of ski - at least I am doing it!
Because of my democratic taste, the apartment is quite packed with books that I own - and this is a bit of a problem given the relative preciousness of square footage in Manhattan. So for the past couple of years I have been frequenting the New York Public Library System and it has been awesome.
They have a wonderful variety of books, both recent best-sellers and the classics. Fiction, non-fiction, biographies, graphic novels, audio books, DVDs - whatever you want! And because I don't have to plonk down $30 and more of my precious square footage every time I want to take a chance on something new - I get to be more frivolous or adventurous in my selections. reading without the commitment!
I love it love it love it.
Recently, I started thinking about this love of reading and recognizing that some people just don''t have it... poor people - let's feel sorry for them, shall we?
And even for those people who have it, not everyone does the marathon, up-all-night, reading-til-your-eyes-hurt reading that I am frequently capable of doing.
Where does this come from I wonder? I mean - I know that you do the same thing.
It's Mom and Dad, I think.
In the best, most positive way... I blame our parents. Despite the fact that they were always taking my flashlight away.
Of course, there was their own reading providing an example, and the reading before bed, and the Sunday funnies, and the lesson that if you always have a book with you, you'll never be bored.
(Or was that 'only bored people are boring'? It can be hard to keep the truly valuable nuggets of advice straight - there are so very many)
But there were also all those trips to the downtown public library - with the little dancer sculpture and the giant children's reading room... or the Capitol Hill library - with it's funny ramp and big windows... or the University bookstore - with it's giant shelves of Tintin and Asterix.
They were like Willie Wonka factories... with books! A new universe waiting for you between the folds of every cover!
Mmmm... paradise.
Sometimes, at lunchtime, I will find myself at the library randomly walking the stacks just waiting for that right book to jump out at me, and it's like a stroll through a lovely garden.
Of course, besides my love of the library and reading, I have another bad habit left over from childhood.
I am incapable of returning a book on time.
Now I consider the fines my little way of supporting the system. But if I ever move back to Seattle and want a library card, I'll have to hope that they don't do a background check.
With interest accruing on my childhood fines I could probably have underwritten the new downtown library.
8 comments:
My mother once said to a friend of hers, "Breta will never be nasty neat. She'd rather take the girls to the library than clean the house". Understatement! I'm living in squalor most of the time because I'm busy with my books and magazines and stuff. Well, that and the scattered energy caused by my FMS affliction (Fear of Missing Something). Symptoms include but are not limited to: not focusings on routine housework; having lots of distractions; and saying "yes" to all fun sounding invitations. Sound familiar, girls?
XOXO,
Mom
Hello, Heather-
I stumbled upon your web journal a couple of days ago, when I was in search of a dear, old friend. Well, quite actually, she is not old, but as I have known her since she was 16, there are a few years involved.
I have been trying to compose a brief note to you regarding this person, and finally had it down. But then I read your homage to reading. I was stopped in my tracks. I've known only half dozen or so people in my life that share my need to devour books. And your journal entry was an oasis in an otherwise insane world of Anna Nicole Smith and police chases in Los Angeles shown breathlessly on CNN.
However, as usual, I digress. My name is David Brachtenbach. Many years ago I met a waif named Susan Dorfmann. After a few years, she reclaimed the name Roys.
I lost contact with her several years ago, just after she was diagnosed, but while she was (perhaps still is?) working at the hospital.
Here, my dear Heather, is my request. Would you be ever so kind as to give Susan my email address? I would be very grateful indeed.
As a thankyou, I will promise to continue to read your journal, and say wonderful things about it...oh, and when I find them, send you pictures of a 16 year old Susan.
Thank you for reading this far. I remain, yours,
-David
redterriers@yahoo.com
Hello, Heather-
I stumbled upon your web journal a couple of days ago, when I was in search of a dear, old friend. Well, quite actually, she is not old, but as I have known her since she was 16, there are a few years involved.
I have been trying to compose a brief note to you regarding this person, and finally had it down. But then I read your homage to reading. I was stopped in my tracks. I've known only half dozen or so people in my life that share my need to devour books. And your journal entry was an oasis in an otherwise insane world of Anna Nicole Smith and police chases in Los Angeles shown breathlessly on CNN.
However, as usual, I digress. My name is David Brachtenbach. Many years ago I met a waif named Susan Dorfmann. After a few years, she reclaimed the name Roys.
I lost contact with her several years ago, just after she was diagnosed, but while she was (perhaps still is?) working at the hospital.
Here, my dear Heather, is my request. Would you be ever so kind as to give Susan my email address? I would be very grateful indeed.
As a thankyou, I will promise to continue to read your journal, and say wonderful things about it...oh, and when I find them, send you pictures of a 16 year old Susan.
Thank you for reading this far. I remain, yours,
-David
redterriers@yahoo.com
Oh, I am looking forward to those photos of 16 year old Susan, as I'm sure other readers of this blog are. A few months ago, Susan was in a park when a woman she didn't know ran over to her and said "Oh my god!! You're Susan, from the BLOG!!!", so she has her own fans here too. If there were a prize for best supporting actress here, she would get it.
And while I echo many of the sentiments in this post, it was actually written by my lovely sister, who I'm sure will appreciate the nice words, even if she does have a little Anna Nicole in her too.
Oh, and Ali, it's "only boring people are ever bored". And I just paid more than $20 in library fines the other day. What do you expect when both the Weeds season one AND the Extras Season one DVDs show up at the same time and the hold line for the new Michael Chabon novel is 621 people long?
Ohhh yes...the fines we pay. I recently rediscovered the library since staying home with Joseph and having more time on my hands...sort of...I can read one handed while holding sleeping baby, usually...unless I'm napping too of course. My problem is that I get a sudden urge for books about knitting and canning AND novels, particularly novels on CD because then I can play with blocks and read, sort of once again...ANYWAY, I always choose books that I have to wait for, and they suddenly all come in at the same time, then I have to race through them...I don't of course and end up having to keep a list of books that I need to RE-hold after having paid lots of fines for them anyway. WHEW...and I SO remember the bronze dancer sculpture at the Seattle Downtown Library...but my neighborhood library was Queen Anne (now Heather's when it reopens from the remodel)...I remember the SMELL of that place...I hope they don't remodel the smell out.
p.s. because of my many library fines...and because I'm trying to cut down on errands so Joseph and I can go swimming more often, I've decided to go through my own books and read THEM! Of course I hope that I have read most of them...but there are many that I never have! Right now I'm reading 'The Egg and I' by Betty MacDonald and I'm loving it!
I've always wanted to read the Egg and I, Dakota. And all you need to do is figure out how to change your holds to "Inactive" on the SPL web site! Then they won't all come in at once.
We can talk knit books at the Hen on Sunday! That might put off any cowboys who overstay their welcome at the bar.
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