I love looking at other people's bookshelves. I'm not entirely sure what the draw is--finding new books, discovering what someone else reads, seeing what books we have in common. I love spying on bookshelves for all those reasons.
As a pet sitter, I've visited a lot of different houses. It is amazing to me how uniquely we all live--how each person's home is a reflection of them. This difference is always apparent in the bookshelf. I can't stop myself from glancing at a client's bookshelf. I'm not some crazy person who goes though the homes of my clients--I won't go into back rooms searching for books, but if the bookshelf is out in one of the main rooms, I always look.
Part of it is that I believe the books a person owns says a lot about who they are. And this fascinates me. It also makes me think about my own bookshelf--and how what is on it illuminates my own desires, interests and passions.
My own bookshelf is a very good representation of me. There is a large about of fiction--mostly classics, YA and horror (most of the horror belongs to Husband). Some non-fiction--humorous non-fict, history, law, homebrewing and cooking. There are a few coffee table books, all that deal with either art, seashells or cats. I stare at the bookshelves and think--yep, that's me.
What do your bookshelves say about you?
12 comments:
I love looking at other people's bookshelves too. I could browse them for hours. We have several shelves in our house. My husband's shelves have computer books, graphic novels and RPG books. My son even has two small shelves with his children's books. Mine are filled with a lot of fiction. Horror, sci-fi, paranormal romance. I've kept all my textbooks from university which include ones on Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy. I also have a good bunch of classic fiction books.
I'm afraid my books say I shop at the Goodwill too much. No romance novels, but I'll buy most anything that doesn't smell musty or like cigarettes. If I had money I'd buy art and philosophy books, but for now, I use the library and the Goodwill. You wouldn't find textbooks. I always needed to sell them back to buy new ones. You would find most of the older classics.
When going to a new house that's the first thing I do - look at the books and then they make for some good conversation.
I love looking at bookshelves, too. Mine say I'm a writer with an eclectic reading habit.
I have a lot of MG/YA books on my shelf . . . but if you look at the newest ones, a lot of them are Adventure/SF/F. :)
I think the sight of bookshelves just makes me feel more at home wherever I am. I remember once several years ago when my husband and I were looking for a new apartment, we looked at one that was yet to be vacated and saw a bookshelf full of the kind of stuff we read. It made us feel like the house was friendly and indeed we moved in and spent a couple pleasant years there.
Our bookshelves are such a chaotic mess. The books tend to be piled very haphazardly and there are all kinds. Classics, lots of fantasy and sci fi, a whole shelf devoted to Tolkien, another shelf for Bibles and religious books, collections of the world's most important literature such as Plato and Herodotus, lots of other random reference books. My husband works at the local library and whenever they discard books he gets first pick so he's always coming home with books that catch his eye. I think we have about 5 copies of LOTR and the same for Dune.
My bookshelves say, "Is there ANYTHING that woman won't read?" It always strikes me as odd, and a little sad, to go into a home with NO BOOKS. I mean, how can people LIVE without BOOKS???
LOL. Now I have to go look at my bookshelf and wonder what it might tell people about me. All my cooking and craft books have their own spots in other rooms.
They say I like a lot of science fiction and fantasy! Oh, and movies.
That is very interesting that you like to look at bookshelves! If you'd like to see mine, it is at the bottom of my blog (Shelfari).
The Write Soil
Christine--According to their reading tastes, I think your husband and mine would get along. Except we have the comic book closet...it is a little out of control!
Linda--LOL! I pick my books at garage sales all the time, so I hear what you are saying!
Carole--Eclectic is good! I wish I was more widely read!
Susan Flett--I agree! It is always a little sad
Golden Eagle--I love the YA--but I probably should expand out more like you.
Sarah--I agree a home with a bookshelf does feel more homey. Since we've had the little one, we moved all our books to the back room, and I miss them being out and around!
Susan Gourley--It is fun to think about!
Alex--I didn't even think about the movies! With my husband's love for bad horror, the DVD rack would probably scare someone away.
Dawn--I will check it out!
This is such an interesting point of view and I love it. It is totally true. You can tell a lot by a person's bookshelf. Mine would say that I want my kids to have a love of books because right now mine is consumed with books for my kids while mine are tucked away in the crawl space until I get another bookshelf to add tot he house. One day I hope to have a huge library full of lots of great literature for all of us to enjoy. I'm a bit of a nut.
Abby--I for one, don't think you are a nut! Our little one is just a year, and he already has about thirty books. I can't imagine how many he will have a few years from now!
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