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31 Jan 04 - 08:30 PM (#1106268) Subject: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Rapparee Last Thursday, January 29, 2004, at 4:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, I moved the last stuff from the place we'd been renting into our house. The place is full of boxes and things, all waiting to be unpacked, put away, and/or set right. But I have unpacked six or seven boxes of books, some of which I haven't seen for for nearly four YEARS!!! Chaucer! Mark Twain! Milton! Boccaccio! Yeats! and others. WOOHOO!! CALOO, Yeah, there's about 3,000 pounds left, but so what? I hope that everyone sometime feels the joy I feel right now. |
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31 Jan 04 - 08:49 PM (#1106282) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Stilly River Sage I have been plotting to put up some really nice brackets and boards bookshelves in my office. It will be at least six shelves high, 13.5 feet across the longest wall, and I will revel in the books I can take out of boxes. The book cases standing there now will be moved elsewhere and will be more efficient displaying other things. I can full-well understand your glee. (And I opened the View Source to see how you made the fonts work--I didn't realize that [span] worked here--but it keeps your fonts looking the way you want. Interesting! Congratulations. Now PUT DOWN THE TWAIN and get the rest of the books out of the boxes. The Literary Offenses of James Fenimore Cooper can wait until you've broken down those boxes and put them in the garage for recyling. I suggest a nice shower after you finish, to get all of that book dust out of your sinuses and nose hair, and settle down next to the bookshelves with a good reading lamp, a comfortable chair, and a glass of red wine beside you on the table. Ready, Set, Read! SRS |
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31 Jan 04 - 08:52 PM (#1106286) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Blackcatter Rapaire, I feel your joy. After a year and a half of being a gypsy, I finally have my own place and all my books (and CDs) are now out of boxes and on shelves (and I'm looking at them right now). Woo-Hoo! |
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31 Jan 04 - 09:11 PM (#1106297) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Lin in Kansas YES! After nearly four years in our "new" house, my grandson and I finally got all my books in the basement alphabetized and separated into mysteries and fantasy/sci fi. What a feeling of accomplishment! And now, when I think, I know I had that book somewhere...I can actually find it! Living in other worlds vicariously...ain't it wonderful? Lin |
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31 Jan 04 - 10:00 PM (#1106309) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: jaze My wife can't understand why I want to keep so many books I've already read. Getting rid of them would be like cutting off a part of myself. I'm glad there are others who feel this way. Enjoy, Rapaire!! |
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31 Jan 04 - 10:03 PM (#1106311) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: harpgirl Nice house, Mr. Bookworm! (I am planting a pear tree in my front yard tomorrow!) |
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31 Jan 04 - 10:18 PM (#1106318) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Rapparee I think...tomorrow...I'll take a couple of pictures and let y'all SEE how many books there are...yeah! Then we can all have a contest about who owns the most. You gotta OWN them, and you can't include those of your wife, lover, family, or like that. And don't give me any crap about "since I pay taxes I own the Library of Congress" 'cause that won't wash. A book is hereby defined as a collection of twenty or more pages, fastened together and dealing with a common topic. The winner gets a just-purchased paperback book of MY choice. |
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31 Jan 04 - 11:31 PM (#1106337) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Teresa Well, on a slightly different note: I grew up reading whatever Braille and cassette books came from the regional library. Then along came the Internet!!!!!!! O ye Gutenbergs , ye Fictionwise , ye Baen Free Library ... yesyesyesyesyesyesyes! I do have some paper Braille titles, but I have to say I've read more books on the Internet than I had in my previous 38 years! Enjoy your books! :D Teresa |
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31 Jan 04 - 11:57 PM (#1106346) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: katlaughing Well, what else would we expect from a librarian?**bg** Rapaire, you're gonna love this thread! It's a fun one to read before you set things up in a new house. Great links, Teresa, thanks! Now that I have all of my books unpacked, ones that were packed for several years, I look at them with love, but also think I should let go of many of them as they don't get used much any more. Then I look at my new grandson and think "maybe he'll want to read this one or that one, someday." kat |
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31 Jan 04 - 11:59 PM (#1106347) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Stilly River Sage Do we have to count them, or can we estimate? How about just figuring linear feet? |
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01 Feb 04 - 06:10 AM (#1106427) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: diesel HI there ! Only the other day my wife was asking me 'do you actually need any of these books - and could you not get rid of the ones you don't' We're still married ....happily, I just haven't gotten around to responding to the question, too busy reading ! How can you sell a book you enjoyed ! I'ld pass them on quick as flash but in the knowledge that somebody alse will read it and it will be returned, but sell it.....ouch ! Diesel |
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01 Feb 04 - 09:33 AM (#1106502) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Morticia I couldn't even begin to count.....they cover two walls ( piled up double) in here where the computer is, two bookcases in one bedroom, one in the hall, one on the third floor plus piles on the floor in every room......they are my comfort and my joy and Rapaire, I know just how you are feeling,having been separated from mine more often than I like to think about.Congratulations on being reunited with your friends. Did you know in the UK, the average number of books per household is 4? Pixie and I think we must have the books for the entire Southern Counties. |
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01 Feb 04 - 10:33 AM (#1106522) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Peter T. I have three rooms full of books in three different offices. What the hell happens when I have to consolidate I do not know. All the closets are full of boxes of books. I visited a friend's house the other day and they did not have a single book in the house. It is sort of the reverse of finding that they had a basement full of hacked up bodies. One does not know what to think, but dark thoughts do arise. yours, Peter T. |
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01 Feb 04 - 10:46 AM (#1106526) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Jeanie Yes - I have the same thing about books, too. When I got married, my husband had all my books put up in the loft, and there they stayed hidden away for 15 years. He regarded books as just so much clutter. It was the start of the disappearance of "me". We divorced and I moved to my own place four years ago, and the books and I, and my real self, the real "me" have been gradually reunited with each other. It's a wonderful feeling after having been so lost, so long. - jeanie |
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01 Feb 04 - 10:54 AM (#1106531) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Rapparee I'm always appalled and intrigued by houses where there are three books, chosen for their bindings, sharing the bookcases with various vases, busts, photographs, and knicknacks. Often the books are "Readers Digest Condensed Books" and contain condensations of books nobody would ever read more than once. While looking for the house we often saw this, but we also saw some homes that had filled, floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall bookcases. The latter, unfortunately, were in the minority. Hey, Teresa! If you're in the US and have vision or other physical problems, you can request titles, you know. Your regional library can get you 'most anything you want, and if they won't you let me know and I'll see about setting them straight. The Library of Congress runs the program and it's free, free, free. Even textbooks! The contest: linear feet will do, and I'll take your word on it. I'm not in it. And I'll up the ante: a USD 25.00 online gift certificate to Barnes and Noble (www.bn.com). And you have to be registered 'Catter to win. Less trouble to let them pick out their OWN damn book grumble grumble.... |
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01 Feb 04 - 11:28 AM (#1106554) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Sooz Well, Morticia, if you have all the books for the Southern Counties, Mike and I must have enough for the Midlands! SRS - cut out the shower, you can read in the bath! |
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01 Feb 04 - 12:33 PM (#1106590) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: *daylia* Rapaire, I'm so happy for you -- for your lovely new house and the opportunity to reconnect with those thousands of pounds of old "friends". Way to go! I hope you don't mind me asking for your professional opinion on this thread, but as a librarian I'm thinking you may be the perfect person to ask. Do you know any other way of finding/contacting the owner of a copyright on an out-of-print book, other than paying the Library of Congress $75/hr to do a search? The small private publishing company who printed the book in the 60's no longer exists. I do know who owns the copyright -- I checked at the Library of Congress -- but I need her address so I can ask permission to make an electronic copy of this (very rare and expensive!) book available to students. For educational purposes ONLY. I'd really appreciate any tips you might offer! Thanks so much, daylia |
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01 Feb 04 - 01:42 PM (#1106610) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: GUEST,pdc WARNING TO ALL BOOKLOVERS! I also love books and have tons of them -- the word "tons" is deliberate here. For those of you putting up new bookcases for a lot of books, please learn from my bad experience: put bookcases as much as possible on outer walls, which are stronger than inside walls. Several years ago, the weight of a couple of my bookcases caused structural damage to both part of the floor and some of the walls in my house, and I had to spend a lot of money for extensive repairs. My house, btw, was built in 1912, so it's not a new bit of flimsy construction. Just be aware that inside walls, where they meet floors, do not have the same support and structure that outside walls do. |
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01 Feb 04 - 01:45 PM (#1106611) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Teresa Ah, Rapaire, it is mostly a case of instant gratification nowadays. I am in the States. So instead of waiting for the book to come out in a year or so in Braille hardcopy, I go to the web and read with my Braille display. Actually, I get 'em anywhere I find 'em, including the National Library Service. But now I have multiple options! Thanks, Teresa |
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01 Feb 04 - 02:44 PM (#1106647) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Stilly River Sage PDQ, good thing the wall I have in mind is one of those exterior walls! I'm planning to spread the weight out over all of the studs with brackets and supports, not skipping to every other one. Boards need supports to be 30" apart or less to hold books without sagging. SRS |
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01 Feb 04 - 03:06 PM (#1106656) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Sleepless Dad I have good things to say about Scandia shelving. We bought ours at the Container Store. It's the only thing I've found that will stand up to the weight of my 2,000 plus LP's without sagging. |
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01 Feb 04 - 04:19 PM (#1106716) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Peter T. Teresa, can you explain? I used to read for the blind, and am interested in what the Internet does for you. It sounds as if it translates things into Braille or sound (?) immediately. Is this true? Is it some programme you use? Or are you partly sighted and get big print? yours, Peter T. |
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01 Feb 04 - 04:30 PM (#1106718) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Rapparee Libraries and archives require specially reinforced floors, capable of bearing (I think!) 300 lbs/sq.ft. This makes them more expensive to build than many other things. The old story about _______________ University's library slowly sinking because the weight of the books wasn't put into the calculations is just an old story. No university library has done that. I am, however, trying to get the staff to believe that of my public library -- so far unsuccessfully. The greatest weight of books here will be in the basement. If THAT floor crashes I've got bigger problems that I care to think about. |
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01 Feb 04 - 05:09 PM (#1106737) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: harvey andrews We moved recently and I have a room that is solely for my books.Some work needed doing to a window in the room and a handyman was going round the house with me as we sorted out various little jobs worth doing. When we got to the book-lined room he looked round and asked; "What do you call this room then?" "The library" I said. He arched his eyebrows, sucked in some air, blew it out and said; "Oooohh! Don't tell 'em round 'ere as you've got a liiibrary!" What a pleasure it is to be able to tell you on Mudcat; "I'VE GOT A LIBRARY" Now we know....we're not alone! |
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01 Feb 04 - 05:35 PM (#1106752) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Rapparee I've got a whole damned BUILDING! And twenty-five people work there! Well, it's not really *mine*, but.... I suspect that those who come a-visiting will be surprised, and possibly shocked, by the books my wife and I own. My mother-in-law doesn't understand why, when I work in a library, I want to OWN books. My father-in-law, who does understand, just smiles. My nephews and nieces, when they come to visit, love it. But then, even the eight-year-old has his own bookcase and he told me he needs more shelves because those he has are all filled up. Of course, it's easy to get them presents -- the gift cards from Barnes and Noble are quite acceptable! |
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01 Feb 04 - 05:51 PM (#1106764) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Folkiedave All my "folk" books for sale are against a wall on an IKEA book shelf, which comes with a wall tie to stop it falling over. Theoretically these are in alphabetical........... My own books are on shelves. Err.........except for those on the floor.........and are in the study........except for those in the bedroom..........living room floor..............kitchen (cookbooks mainly)........etc............and attic........... Dave www.collectorsfolk.co.uk |
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01 Feb 04 - 06:49 PM (#1106823) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Jeanie I feel a Mudcat Song Challenge coming on.... "Now come all ye bold bookworms, take a warning by me...." Have a look at this news story: MAN TRAPPED NAKED UNDER MOUNTAIN OF BOOKS" - jeanie |
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01 Feb 04 - 06:59 PM (#1106831) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Rapparee ...and don't ye get naked when stacking the 'zines For they'll fall and they'll pin you quite hard 'gainst the floor And no one will hear when you bellow and roar. |
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01 Feb 04 - 07:47 PM (#1106859) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Stilly River Sage Scandia are very good shelves. We bought some from the Container Store (which now has an outlet in Manhattan, for those east-coasters who might ever want something in which to put something else. Doesn't matter what, they have a container for it). My ex has the shelves and I'm starting from scratch; for all of their sturdiness, they aren't the most beautiful shelves around. They are e-x-p-e-n-s-i-v-e! SRS |
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01 Feb 04 - 10:35 PM (#1106950) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: GUEST,pdc Funny how things skip a generation. My grandson loves books beyond anything else -- I gave him a bookcase and 6 books for Christmas. He helped me assemble the bookcase and put it up, then he filled it with all the books he owns, and was happy that there was space left for more. He was then so pleased with the way it looked that he tidied his room so it would look good with the new bookcase and books! He is 6. His parents have no interest in books whatsoever -- so I think he gets his love of books from me. |
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02 Feb 04 - 01:40 AM (#1107022) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: open mike my "ex" is a book dealer, and has 2 two story buildings full of books. He has long ago lost count but approximates his collection at around 200,000 volumes. About 1/10th of them are in his on-line catalog now. I used to acquire about a bushel of books every month, when going to book sales with him. Some sales were by the pound or inch. Many were Friends of the Library sales the proceeds of which helped to acquire new books for the library. In our first house, the walls were insulated with books (reader's digest condensed...they give best insulation due to being condensed) and the bed was actually boses of books with a mattress on top. I wonder if yo can absorb information by sleeping on books? |
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02 Feb 04 - 02:50 AM (#1107042) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Mudlark What a wonderful thread, and your joy is infectious, Rapaire. I've been reading since i was 3 and share your love books. I haunt library book sales as I'm on a tight budget, but oh, the treasures that can be found there. I gave up long ago trying to out some of the old with each new influx. I even have trouble getting rid of (good) books I don't even want to read. Maybe someday... And many of the books I own I know I may never read again, knowing them by heart as I do. But, like a favorite aged riding horse, I consider them comfortably out to pasture on my bookshelves, and just enjoy seeing them there. It's easy to tell if a reader is in residence. Just look at the lighting. My sister is not a reader and there is not a single lamp positioned and bright enough to read by in the entire house. |
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02 Feb 04 - 06:32 AM (#1107114) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: harvey andrews I'd rather read a book You know I never tire Of the feel and the look Of a loved and treasured book It's all that I desire And if I have a dream To which I could aspire It's just for a little nook Where I can read a book Alone, and by the fire. |
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02 Feb 04 - 07:27 AM (#1107141) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Sandra in Sydney congratulations to Rapaire & the others whose books have been hidden, forbidden, boxed, stored & now are free. I have too many other things on shelves to have as many books as I would like, but I do have 2 x 6' by 5' shelves, a 3' by 2' & a 2' by 2'. But I also am a member of 2 local librares & each allows me to borrow 10 books, so as I can obviously read 20 books at once, I do! 20 years ago I had a friend with a pretty display shelving unit which contained about 12" of books, half were her cookbooks, the rest were books I had bought her children. None of their numerous relatives bought books, just toys, and their parents weren't readers either. Poor little buggers, I wonder if they read now? Before I logged on tonight I read a book - it only had 226 pages so I was able to finish it between lunch when I got it from the library & 10.50pm. It's the 4th in a series & I read the other 3 on Saturday & have 2 more to read. And naturally I want to own 'em all. I really must buy a lottery ticket so I can buy a house & have a LIBRARY! & I would proudly tell all the neighbours I have one. sandra |
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02 Feb 04 - 09:03 AM (#1107217) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Rapparee Well, if you REALLY want to read --- Here in Idaho we just signed on to a reciprocal borrowing arrangement. Folks with cards from our library (Pocatello) can borrow from other libraries around the state. The list in the link isn't a list of all the libraries in the state, just the "early adopters." It's a voluntary program but benefits our users, and folks here do travel around! You'll notice that the Univeristy of Idaho is on the list. Locally, residents of Pocatello can also get "community cards" at the Oboler Library at Idaho State University and, if you join their Friends group (Friends of the Oboler Library, or FOOL) you get even more privileges there. Many states in the US have such reciprocal borrowing arrangements. (Of course, you have to get the books back to where you borroweds them AND pay any late charges, etc.!) Some agreements, such as that of the Greater Cincinnati Library Consortium, cross state boundaries. |
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02 Feb 04 - 09:16 AM (#1107232) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Peter T. There is of course the opposite dream: having only the 3 or 4 best books that you re-read, carry around, etc. Nothing is quite like the moment when some smart editor/publisher gives you your dream. The Library of America books, if they had some better notes, would be sort of like that. But some huge books over the years in the "3 or 4 books" category: The complete Aristotle, 2 vols. (Way to go, Jonathan Barnes). The complete Plato (thank you Bollingen) The beautiful hard cover edition of Montaigne's essays (Donald Frame trans.) Singleton's Dante. The Norton Shakespeare (finally, after 20 years of waiting) The Norton Anthology (Third Edition, 2 vols, is probably the best) The New Oxford Book of English Verse (Helen Gardner's, the new one is a pop mess) The Longman's Milton (A truly wonderful piece of scholarly work) What do we lack? We lack a good edition of the King James Bible with notes, updated editorial references, etc. Will somebody out there do it, please!!! With these in hand, you could do very well for yourself for many years, and be more educated than 99% of those who graduate university these days. yours, Peter T. |
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02 Feb 04 - 09:37 AM (#1107251) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Rapparee True, but you'd miss so very, very much more: science, mathematics, aesthetics, history, humor, music, and other religions, to name but a few. And those mentioned are Eurocentric; there are other points of view as well. No, I'll take what I have, my old friends, and add new ones as it strikes my fancy and I can afford it. It's hard to top Ol' Geoff's A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also, That unto logyk hadde longe ygo. As leene was his hors as is a rake, And he nas nat right fat, I undertake, But looked holwe and therto sobrely. Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy; For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice, Ne was so worldly for to have office. For hym was levere have at his beddes heed Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed, Of Aristotle and his philosophie, Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie. But al be that he was a philosophre, Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre; But al that he myghte of his freendes hente, On bookes and on lernynge he it spente, And bisily gan for the soules preye Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye. Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede. Noght o word spak he moore than was neede, And that was seyd in forme and reverence, And short and quyk, and ful of hy sentence; Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche, And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche. Twenty bokes...at a time when they were copied by hand...what a library! |
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02 Feb 04 - 12:20 PM (#1107385) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Peter T. Yes, of course. One remembers the anecdotes about Aldous Huxley, who carried around one of the India paper volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th edition) with him, so as to cover all the rest of knowledge. It was said that you could figure out which volume he had because he would always steer the dinner table conversation to St. Teresa, Terminal diseases, Terror, Terrapins, etc. or Oats, Annie Oakley, Oak trees, Oakum, etc. yours, Peter T. |
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02 Feb 04 - 12:57 PM (#1107411) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: EBarnacle If I had as much space as I have good books, I would be living in a mansion. |
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02 Feb 04 - 05:53 PM (#1107647) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: JenEllen Congratulations, Rapaire. Such good news! It must be wonderful to be nearly unboxed (I know where everything is, but it's mostly boxed yet, so I'm envious). I dunno about you, having the books around is a joy, but also having them missing is a treat. My sister coined the mess "Jen's Lending Lye-Burry"---Everyone that comes over goes away with something (also quite a few get mailed off for interstate visits!) and the spaces in the bookshelves remind me not only of the good stories but of the good folks who are currently enjoying them. It also gives me a viable excuse for buying all sorts of books, in the off chance that 'someone' might need it someday. Have fun unpacking, and here's to hoping you come across more old friends. |
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02 Feb 04 - 06:22 PM (#1107677) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Rapparee I would be thrilled to be nearly unboxed! There are approx. 50 more books of books alone awaiting me. And there are all those boxes of stuff other than books I have to find a place and space for. Sure is good to see old friends again, though. |
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03 Feb 04 - 11:50 AM (#1108266) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Fossil We have four large bookcases filled with thumbed and dogeared books - an attic full of boxes of books I brought here from London and haven't yet found room for. Piles of the things sit on every horizontal surface in the house. Get the picture (I read a *lot*). How sad is this? Despite owning more books than you can shake a stick at - couldn't even estimate how many - I still like to browse the bookcase we keep at the church so that expatriates leaving Brussels can donate unwanted books to the library. Last week, I was travelling to Antwerp on Sunday afternoon, so I picked up a book from there to while away the time on the journey. Imagine my chagrin when I found out that it was a book *I had donated*! Good thread.... |
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03 Feb 04 - 03:25 PM (#1108463) Subject: RE: BS: Books, books, wonderful books From: Micca Theresa, You Have Piqued my curiosity!!! I HAVE to ask how do they make the screen of your monitor come up in the Raised dots for braille??? and then go back**grin** I await your answer with Bated breath!!! I have avidly collected books since I was little, I could not live in a house without books, our local Scout troop called many years ago and asked for books for a Jumble sale, to raise money for repairs to their scout hall, and a nice pile of books I disliked and ones I had duplicates of too, grew in the hall awaiting collection I got curious and counted them their were 250+ books, so i thought ,if that little lot =250 then how many are there in the house, and counted those on the shelves only, not the boxes in the attic etc. and it came to 5400+ and that was about 15 years ago, i have added to the collection. I am always aware that at 14 they left the town I grew up in with a small battered suitcase and lost all the hard earned books I had managed to gather together. It may be significant but the Last thing I remeber doing before I left was giving up my library tickets! |