Sep 21 2008
Is a Home Without Books…Not a Home?
I’ve slowly been making my home more homey. It took me 3 years but I finally hung something on the wall!
More specifically, a painting I’ve had for even longer. It’s not like I had to buy it special for my home or anything.
I put hammer to nail 2 more times since then: a Japanese woodblock from the 1940s and a straw applique scene from South Africa.
I have a real dresser instead of a stack of plastic storage bins. A new lamp (purchased). A new-old lamp (given to me).
A friend visited me about a month ago. We get together throughout the year but the last time she’d actually visited was maybe 3 years ago soon after I had moved in.
I showed her the few changes I had made and we shared a laugh at how I had finally hung that painting. The painting was something she had encouraged me to buy a loooog time ago.
It was part of a wonderfully unplanned day we had spent together; the kind of day where if you wrote it all down as an agenda, you’d have thought it was just too much.
Instead it was a day where we drove and said, “Hey…you wanna go there…?” and on and on.
The painting gives me pleasure on so many levels one of them being the memory of our day so many years ago.
It wasn’t until a few days after her visit that I thought to ask her what type of “vibe” my place had.
I’ve been wondering how my home felt - did it feel welcoming? Energizing? What was her impression?
She couldn’t quite recall exactly, just that my place was interesting; a good blend of different things, no particular studied “look.”
I thought this was good. She admitted her opinion was biased what with being my friend. But what struck me was her comment that there is nothing like a big pile of books that makes her feel right a home.
She went on to say that some people hide their books thinking that they look messy but a home without books was a bit creepy.
This was interesting. I think all of my friends read books, talk about books and if I’ve ever visited them, have books.
I imagined a home without books. It WAS a bit creepy.
I know there are audio books and electronic books and that maybe printed books are going the way of the quagga (half zebra, half horse, all gone) but I still enjoy books.
I like putting in a postcard or a train ticket to hold my place. I check out books from the library so it’s fun to come across other’s bookmarks. I once found a airline ticket stub from Virgin in a book.
I thought again of my friends. Yep. Lots of books.
I don’t own a lot of books but I do have a well-used library card.
In case you’re wondering at the types of books I read, I enjoy thrillers, forensic thrillers, mysteries, contemporary novels, personal development, spiritual, investing, and business just to name a few genres.
I don’t read much history or biographies and generally head towards the library’s New Book section to see what’s up.
Just finished “Paula Spencer” by Roddy Doyle. Someone at work recommended Doyle and I came across this one. In the above pile I have “Running With Scissors” by Augusten Burroughs. I never would have picked up the book if I hadn’t heard about the movie. I have something that looks to be a whacky read, “The Heart Break Pill” by Anjanette Delgado.
So…What’s in YOUR home??
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We have lots of stuff on the walls, two bookshelves overflowing in the living room, and DVDs and VHS galore. Our living room looks tidy but lived in. I keep telling myself that when we buy a house I’ll redesign the look of the living room to be less cluttered, but with a packrat hubby I’m not sure I will succeed.
I am laughing because we had to go and actually buy a new bookcase today because we ran out of room for our books (we all ready have four large bookcases.) Rod and I are very different in the book reading - Rod will carefully read all of his books - lots of tagging, dog-earring, etc. and I read very quickly and try to get the jist of the book. Genres are completely different as well - alot of mine are self-improvement, a little fiction, and a lot of business books. Rod’s include biographies, historical and biographies. So, needless to day, alot of books and yes - they really make our home….
Earlier today I finished a Jame Grippando book … I forget the title (the hazard of reading e-books is you don’t see the cover each time you pick the book up) but it was the 6th book in the Jack Swyteck series. Anyway, in the last bit of the book one of the characters thinks back to a famous Argentine author who once said he couldn’t sleep unless he was surrounded by books.
It looks like we have similar tastes — I’ve read some Iris J (and just found some more in the loft of my garage — left by the previous owner) and Lisa Gardner.
Ive always gone out of my way to make all of my condos, apartments, homes (whatever) a personalized space. and that happens to include MANY MANY books!
I do have books … WAY to many. I will definately purge next time I move (if I ever do).
I love topical books, and informative books. You can probably guess what kinds
Almost anyone that walks into my place imediately says, “SO, you like golf??” Lots of golf stuff. BOXES of golf stuff in storage, and scattered all over the place. “Crowded” ?? I guess that would describe my place best.
Noticing “one” thing would be hard to do.
I suggest reading “Cruel Shoes”
…. and your lamp is crooked!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
I can stand messes, but must adjust anything askew. That makes me just a bit crazy … no??
LOL@ Sue’s “packrat hubby”
I give away the books that I buy unless I really & truly think I’ll reread them often, or if it’s professional reading that I think I’ll reference somehow. And I use the library for almost everything else.
But right now I’m reading The Stuff of Thought (Pinker), which I bought on impulse so I’d have something to do without power during the hurricane. It turned out though, that the business of just figuring out how to eat without electricity and clean up afterward without water took up most of my true hurricane time. Still, it’s useful NOW while my internet continues to abandon me. I really don’t know why I have internet at all, since I don’t even have a phone & my friend across the street has no power…hey wait! Was this a post about ME!?!?! Sorry…
On decorating - when I move I’m always convinced that I’m going to hand pictures right away & sometimes I even DO hang them right away. Because once you do it, it’s ALWAYS that feeling of “Oh that looks so NICE! Why didn’t I do that AGES ago? I could have been enjoying it all this time!”
It’s one of the only things I’m a little nervous about moving in with Razor - he hangs everything really high. Admittedly, he’s taller than I am and doesn’t have to crane his neck. I really want to make an effort for him to have his way on things because I feel like I was way too nit-picky during my marriage on a lot of that kind of stuff that really makes no difference in the long run. But I can’t help being a little nervous about picture height. :-0
Oh and while I was all “ME ME MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!” I forgot to say, I LOVED Running with Scissors. I haven’t seen the movie but I loved the book. Whatever his second book was, I even read the semi-child-friendly parts to my kids. He reminds me a little of David Sedaris, who I also love, love, love (and am supposed to be going to hear in December). So you might like Sedaris too if you’ve never read him.
Sue: Well..there is being a packrat and being a hoarder! I have a little bit of packrat in me but I keep it a bay as much as I can. Your home sounds inviting what with “tidy but lived in.”
Hoarding and clutter run on my mom’s side - it’s freaky. That’s why I am on the lookout for such behaviour in myself and try now to collect things. I’m talking clinical-level clutter and hoarding.
skipper: Bookcases are great! When I first moved out of my mom’s I had no bookcase. I had stacks of boxes. When I finally got shelves - wow! It was great to go vertical.
I am a very fast reader unless it’s highly technical in some way (like investing can be).
delmer: I think we have similar tastes as well. I recall when you posted the books you were currently reading and I’d read if not the book, one of the author’s other books. I think you were reading a Bill Bryson who I read as well.
meleah: I know you’re a writer and so far, writers tend to have lots of books! I think some of the photos I’ve seen of your home shows books..and perhaps you reading them in your Comfy Target PJs!
Speedy (uno)!! Lotta golf books, huh? Figures. How about recipes for chicken??!!
Speedy (dos)!! You must have OCD. If you were visiting you may not notice the crooked lampshade - it’s placed about your shinlevel. Does the fact that the stack of books is crooked bother you? I can understand the lamp but when it comes to the stack, I like the unevenness of it.
Speedy (tres)!! hehehe!!
Jill (une): YOU were very much in mind when I wrote this post. And we both know why!! Glad you survived the hurricane and I’ve been meaning to comment at your having to Hunker Down in Houston.
I am very short but I tried to hang my painting and artwork at what I thought was the sightline of most people. Plus, if I didn’t, the perspectives on my walls would look very odd.
When I’ve taught and have to write on a whiteboard, I can only use half of the board. I once had to talk to my upstairs neighbors and they are 2 sisters. They are taller than I but still short. Everything felt a bit off yet kinda comfy and that’s how I noticed that they had hung everything to their scale! The large dining room mirror was low, the sconces were low, everything was hung something like mid-wall. It actually felt a bit crowded to me.
When I’ve gone to South Africa, everything is HIGH. I can barely see the top of my head in the bathroom mirrow (and it’s not like everyone is over 6 feet) and the soap dish is above my head, too. Not sure why.
So I don’t blame you on wondering about where Razor is going to hang stuff!
Jill (deux): When I read the book jacket, it did remind me of David Sedaris. I like him as well - I’ve read his “Me Talk Pretty One Day” as well as his column in what, The NeW Yorker I think it is? Hilarious! I heard that he has a very high voice.
Hanging up the picture is the best thing you could have done. It’s allout of control ffrom here on out. You have to make your home feel like one. As someone who had none for a bit I can’t tell you how much a comforting energy having a home that feels like home is. The thing is, it’s a passive energy that does not hit you until you’ve been away from it too long. It’s a place of sanctuary.
I have my books, my computer, my weights and weight bench and of course my “entertainment center” which needs a new TV but I have my DVD player and surround sound and my beloved Play Station 2 and a busted VCR that needs to be trashed. but really I have never been much of a book worm. Strange since my mother and father seemed to have read quite a bit. We know it’s not genetic. I don’t mind reading film subtitles however. I think maybe I’m a very visual person and need to see things or something.
ha ha ha ha ha yep. I am always reading books in my pajamas that rule!
I have one of this audio books and I guess his voice is kind of high. His voice matches Razor’s pictures.
Oh I LOVE most of Bill Bryson, especially A Walk in the Woods and I’m a Stranger Here Myself. I couldn’t quite get into the Australia one or the one on language, though the book I’m reading now is about language, so I’m not sure why.
Funny you should mention books. Where I come from it seems to be a topic of conversation often brought up. Lots of folk just don’t read books. I’ll go into some peoples homes and the most they have is magazines. I say to myself, “at least they read something.”
Audio books seem like a novel idea. However, I don’t think I would remember much of it when I’m done with it. There is something about having a book and reading the words across the pages.
I loved this post because it really opened my eyes a bit more. I’ve been in my apartment for a year now and in my opinion, it doesn’t have a set look or feel to it. I would like to think that it’s cozy and all but I have so far to go to get there. When it comes down to books, I have plenty to choose from. Just to shed some light on what u mentioned in your post, I have many of my books in a closet because I consider them to be an eyesore. I do have some references around the living area, a couple of dictionaries and a thesaurus but I thought that anything else would be a bit much. I also felt that a house was not a home without books so that is why I even put those out. I’m thinking of letting the others come out of the dark. lol… Thanks for sharing Ms. Q!
Ricardo: you’re so right about how hanging up the painting helped and hahaha about “allout of control from here on out.
Very expressive and sensitive about the energy a home can give out - A home is a place of comfort and sanctuary. As I’ve added more of expressions of myself into my home (like paintings, plants, stones all over the place) it does feel more welcoming.
I didn’t think you were a book person and it’s probably due to my overall impression of the words and language you use - yes, more visual in your case. As I think about your writing I believe you express emotions visually - so instead of writing, “he was angry” you might write “he was red in the face”
I can usually see what you are writing about very clearly.
I know you have SOME books, what with UT sending you a box. Did you throw out that Unmentionable One?
meleah: I’m too cheap for PJs! I have too many free tee shirts to use in the summer and then I wear grey sweats in the winter.
Jill: hahaha about Sedaris’ voice matching Razor’s pictures! Took me a beat to figure it out.
Bill Bryson makes writing look easy! The first book I read was “A Walk in the Woods” and I’m reading “Down Under” about Australia - so funny! I started his Shakespeare one and he tackled a difficult subject pretty well. I ran out of steam reading it though. It wasn’t his writing, I just never do biographies well.
UT: I wondered if magazines “counted” and I guess so. Depends on the magazine. I don’t consider celebrity-focused magazines particularly intelligent. But like you said, at least they read something.
“Audio books seem like a novel idea” hahahaha!
I like reading. I know a couple of people who have long commutes and they pop in audio books. I see them offered at my library - I should probably check one out to see what its like.
dan-sean mankind: I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! I know what you mean about thinking your home is cozy but knowing it has far to go - I go into some homes and they just feels so good - some clutter, usually a LOT more stuff on the walls than I have and little things like pillows on the couch, a bowl with keys or pocket change, framed photos scattered around, floor rugs.
Like Ricardo wrote - hanging a painting really helped! I am on the lookout for more things to hang in places but I like “real” art - that is, either a textile or a one-of-a-kind painting. I like to look at the “amateur galleries” but so far…haven’t bought anything. Cheaper than professional artists but still pricey.
Yes, you should let those books outta the closet!