I recently went to an antiques show. I love antiques, "junque" and old stuff in general. (That includes old people).
I went from booth to booth. At this particular show, my primary temptations were a great big metal bread box — but I wasn’t ready to spring $200 for it. Then I found some stacks of wedding photographs from the late 1800s/early 1900s. I love looking at old photographs. Old wedding photos in particular. You can read so much in the faces of the newlyweds. "What have I done?" "This bozo gave my father five cows in trade for me, and I’m really ticked off." And then there are those couples you can tell are madly in love. Despite the carefully posed pictures, their eyes, and their smiles reveal everything.
But the items that really get my pulse moving are the books. Old books. County histories. Cookbooks. There must be others who share my addiction, because one of the top search phrases that brings web surfers to my blog is "old books". I blog about buying books. Old books, new books. Whatever! I love them. I have them in my kitchen, on my bedside table, by the tub, in my closet(s) and on shelves. They make me happy. They keep me warm.
I’ve always preferred books to movies because you can customize them. If Tom Cruise doesn’t tickle my fancy, then I can put Viggo Mortenson in the lead role. It’s my decision. I’m the director. Books provide rich details you’d never get on the screen. They provide dimension in so many ways. Books teach empathy. They teach me that even if I don’t agree with someone else’s point of view, that I can still understand.
I have books everywhere. My husband, who does not share my addiction, does not understand. It’s like that movie GREMLINS. Even if the Evil Book Stealers came and hauled all my books away, they’d certainly miss one under the bed, or under a box in the closet. Soon they’d multiply. Soon, we’d be up to our ears in more books.
It’s an addiction. I suspect many of you suffer (suffer? <Insane Laughter>) the same addiction. Tell me about it!
Speaking of old books, my husband bought me a signed 1942 edition of Rebecca–my second favorite book–for Yule. It’s not mint condition, but you can bet I’ll treat it like gold.
Yasmine
Comment by Yasmine — January 30, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
I have that book addiction. My tbr pile is somewhere around 300 books right now. Among them is an autographed copy of THE SEA KING. It’s near the top of the pile and I hope to get to it soon!
Comment by Nita — January 30, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Ooooh, Jolie, I proudly step up and join you and the other book lovers. Old books are so much fun to acquire! I’ve got a super-old edition of LAST OF THE MOHICANS–a couple of worms thought it was a good read, too, but I still bought it-for TWO DOLLARS! I recently bought a 1911 edition of J.M. Barrie’s PETER PAN AND WENDY (SIX Dollars!), which I read just before reading my new copy of PETER PAN IN SCARLET! Lol! Now I’m heavily into Stephen King’s LISEY’S STORY!
Hey Nita-I’ve got that same great book, too-THE SEA KING! Hurry and get to it-you’re gonna LUV it!
Fun post, Jolie!
Comment by Cindy — January 30, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
Books, books, BOOKS!
Since I first held a Poky Little Puppy book in my grubby little hand I’ve loved ‘em.
Prized possession: Pride & Prejudice with a photo dustjacket from the 1939 (?) movie.
Best buy: 111 Regency novels for 25 bucks at a flea market.
Most loved: Really old edition of Pride & Prejudice with pen & ink illustrations, circa 1898
Comment by Donna Lea Simpson — January 30, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
Great post, Jolie! Yes, I confess, I have a book addiction too. Huge TBR stack but I still want more. I don’t read nearly enough, but I want to. Old books are great too. Love them, but recently had to either sell or donate about 2500 books of all kinds when I cleared my clutter. I kept all my favorites, of course.
Comment by Vonda Sinclair — January 30, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
LOL, Jolie, I can relate. Books everywhere in the Coyle house. EVERYWHERE. One of my prized possessions is Kiss of the Spider Woman - it’s just a paperback but it was signed in my presence by Manuel Puig before he passed away. Puig was such a graceous man. I went to a local college to hear him speak. He inspired me in many ways and the book is a reminder of that.
Luv,
Cleo
Comment by Cleo — January 30, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
I think anyone reading this blog is going to have a book addiction LOL! And I am no exception!!! BTW… I LOVED the Sea King and look forward to your next book!!
Comment by Mary — January 30, 2007 @ 11:54 pm
My name is Kris and I am a book addict… I love my books. I love that I can be anyone anywhere in them. Some times I feel like Walter Mitty. One of my prized possessions is a first edition House at Pooh Corner, I love Pooh too.
Comment by Kris — January 31, 2007 @ 7:51 am
Mary — Thank you! I’m so glad you loved Kol and Isabel’s story!
Kris — who couldn’t love Pooh? He’s just so squooshy and warm and sweet.
I couldn’t get my photos to upload here yesterday — user error, I’m sure, so I stuck them over on my blog (www.joliemathis.blogspot.com). Piles of books! But I can see I’m in like company here!
Thanks everyone for blogging with me!
Comment by Jolie — January 31, 2007 @ 9:49 am
yeah! I have the same problem. I probably have like 20-30 books on waiting right now. I just keeping buying more and more. I wish I could stop working for a month to do all my readings. Yeah right!
Comment by Barbara — January 31, 2007 @ 1:57 pm