The situation has reached critical mass. I have cleared out books I don’t need or want anymore (two boxes full) to make room for new purchases, and it’s now just a hopeless situation. No more re-org. No more clearing-out. Everywhere I look are stacks of books. It’s better than stacks of laundry or stacks of garbage, I admit. Sometimes it’s rather cozy and it’s always a stimulating atmosphere. I’ve lived here for six years now and I still feel a little sigh of pleasure when I walk into my apartment. It’s a perfect little space and I love it.
But the books have now taken over. Hope and I cower in the corner, outnumbered. And I am no longer willing to get rid of any to make space. No. The point is to get more space.
Nothing to do now but move. I’m working on it.
Did you read Glimpses of the Devil by Peck? Was it good? Did we talk about this?
I did read it! He went completely off the deep end, as far as I’m concerned. hahaha But some of the stories he tells are amazing. But he starts to sound a little bit like a wack-job! Too Christian for me.
You can feel that at work in Road Less Traveled and especially People of the Lie – but I found those books more relate-able. Glimpses of the Devil is NUTS.
I know he’ll be remembered for Road Less Traveled but I really think that People of the Lie is his masterpiece!
ooh I spot Home by Julie Andrews. I was so excited for months leading up to the release of that book. I’m such a fan of that lady. I still get a thrill when I spot the book in the stores. I have to restrain myself from picking it up everytime I see it. I mean it’s in my own bookshelf!
Hey, I was wondering where my copy of “Fatal Vision” was.
If it’s any consolation, I once read an article that book-lined walls also serve a very practical purpose – they are excellent for insulation. So, you could think about it as in investment in cutting down on your heating bills.
Nicola – I haven’t read Julie Andrews’ book yet but I really can’t wait! It’s only a first volume, right? The pictures are amazing!
Kristin – Now that is good way of looking at the situation!
Jeff – hahaha That’s how bad the situation is: I have been forced to put my true crime books right up next to psychology and therapy books, as well as my Sex Astrology book and it’s just a mish-mash and goes totally against my organizational propensities!
Also, there’s something sick about having Bill Simmons’ Now I can Die In Peace rest right up against Ariel, by Sylvia Plath, her posthumous poems.
The whole situation must not stand!
I have some appointments tomorrow. I am dying to move.
My OCD, it is triggered.
Lisa – me too!
Wanna come to New York for a weekend and help me go apartment hunting??
:)
Dude, you have a serial killer shelf. I LOVE that.
hahahaha Emily – I know!!! Look how dog-eared they all are, too!
Ok Sheila, I have to say I’m jealous of your book invasion problem.
Alessandra – You are??
Are you looking to build up your book collection?
My situation is totally out of control right now. It’s fine, because I love books – it’s cool to be tormented by them … but I am sooo eager to live in a place where I can SPREAD OUT.
curious what you think of the camille paglia stuff…
I love Camille Paglia to death! My only real complaint is that she doesn’t publish enough books. I was thrilled when she had a regular column on Salon. She has been saying for years that Sexual Personae should have a sequel. Sexual Personae ends with the chapter on Emily Dickinson but Paglia has repeatedly said that she wants to take her analysis into the 20th century – and I am DYING for her to do so. I want to read her chapters on TS Eliot and Joyce and Thomas Mann and whoever else she would pick. Her recent book on poetry – Break, Blow, Burn – is wonderful, too. But I’ll read whatever she writes. I’ve been a huge fan since college.
Two of my posts on Paglia books:
Post on Sex, Art and American Culture here
Post on Vamps and Tramps here
I also love that I can spy a copy of the Herbie book I sent you in one of those shots.
Emily – yes!! And the Tretiak book too!
More books? Always. But I can’t really complain, I have friends with awesome libraries who lend often. Boyfriend is lender number one right now. Yeah, I’m a bit of a book nerd version of a gold digger.