Books, Bookshops and Bookshelves
Last Monday we needed to travel to Adelaide on business. This is usually an excuse to visit one or two bookshops. While my wife was doing some shopping in a large department store I spent an enjoyable hour browsing in the large Borders Bookshop in the heart of the CBD. Inevitably I found a few titles I would have liked to read but resisted buying any. I have a large enough heap – make that heaps – of books waiting to be read as it is. I won’t even start on about the numerous magazines waiting for my attention. I also felt rather virtuous for resisting the call to buy more books.
On our way back to the car park we needed to walk right past one of the Angus and Robertson* bookshops. “Let’s just have a quick look at the bargain tables out the front,” I said innocently. Three books and $20 lighter in my wallet and we were on our way. Resistance is futile. Actually, any three books for $20 is good value. My wife bought two interesting novels and I bought a book about writing novels written by Elizabeth George, author of the Inspector Lynley crime novels. We are currently enjoying the television series based on the novels.
Later in the day we visited a large international furniture store. I hesitate to use the name here. Let’s just say the store has Scandinavian origins. We ended up buying five new bookshelves to accommodate all those piles of books and magazines making a mess everywhere. So this week I have been busy putting these bookshelves together. Next comes the reorganisation of the office, including moving it from one room to another. I would have enjoyed making the shelves myself as I’ve done on several other occasions over the years as our library has grown. Still, I doubt if I’d been able to buy the timber any cheaper than what we paid for these.
I can’t wait to get really organised.
*A large Australian based chain of bookshops.
Related article:
The importance of books – more comments
2 Comments »16th May, 2007; Category: Books
A few months ago I wrote an article called The Importance of Books. This article has had several people commenting on what I was saying. One comment that was posted today really caught my attention and I’d like to quote from it here:
Nick said, “Well, I read very few [books] unfortunately. Many books bore me to death, especially fantasy and science-fiction (not all). I eventually found that they were excellent soporifics, so my money wasn’t wasted after all.
But, the thing is, when I read I want to be absorbed by the knowledge, I want to learn and think immediately. This is the reason why I tend to read essays, philosophical ones most of the time. I want to see the world with a different perspective. Ideas must pour out of the words, and amaze me. I enjoy very precise and intelligent expression, metaphors. The whole must enlighen me, and push me to learn more. Only a few books manage to keep my attention in such ways, nowadays.
I think that Nick has tapped into the real value of reading books.
For the vast majority of people, books in the genres of crime, fantasy and romance (just to pick three that immediately come to mind) are read purely for their entertainment value. These books also provide escapism from the real world. Using books (and movies) in this way is quite valid and can give your life a much needed balance. It is refreshing to the mind and body to “lose†oneself in a story.
The real life-changing value comes from books that challenge our thinking, books that help us to develop a better world view, books that “rattle our cages†and help us to see old familiar things in new ways.
My thanks to Nick for his thoughtful comments. They made me think.
Improve your writing: useful articles for writers
I’ve been searching through the enormous list of articles entered in Darren Rowse’s Group Writing Project held over this last week. I particularly looked for posts dealing with helping writers to improve their writing skills.
I’ve listed here a few of them:
- The Top 5 Free Software Programs every writer should have (go on, admit it – you can’t resist a freebie)
- Top 5 Free ways to promote your writing business (we all need to promote our writing, right? And all the suggestions are free too!)
- Top 5 reasons you should stop calling yourself a writer, right now (If you call yourself a writer but don’t actually do much writing then this article will be challenging).
- Top 5 reasons why writers should procrastinate (if you get actually get around to reading it).
- Top 5 Author Blogs (read how some popular and well read authors write on their blogs)
- When it’s time to stop writing (we’ve all been there – but do we recognise the signs?)