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Yes, the electronic age is here and despite me making a good wage from it all, it's really rather rubbish.
What's really poor about the whole situation is that bookshelves are going to be come a thing of the past. There are people reading this who have never had one. And never will. It'll all live on some electronic gizmo or in the cloud and that's so sad.
There is nothing better than going into someone's house and while they finish getting ready, looking through their bookshelf. It's like being given a summary of the kind of person they are. I love looking at other peoples book shelves, love it! Although mine is small and sparse, I'd like to have a great big massive one (bookshelf), filled to the brim with books. But it's bad for the environment and nobody buys books and you can't browse someone's kindle.
What a bummer.
But it's bad for the environment and nobody buys books and you can't browse someone's kindle.
Why?
I've got two bookcases full of crap but it's loveable crap
If I was to put all my books on bookshelves, I'd need a bigger house... I do like books, but then I also liked vinyl. TBH if you could rip books to a kindle, I'd already have made the swap and done away with all the paper
TBH if you could rip books to a kindle, I'd already have made the swap and done away with all the paper
You have no soul.
Ditto CD cases, when you were dating a burrrd you could get a good guage on the type of person based on the volume of Dido & David Grey cd's 😉
We're seriously down-sizing. Baby imminent and space at a premium. We had three huge bookcases in a fairly small two-and-a-half bedroom terraced house. Lots of paperbacks had to go but lots of 'art' and photography books have survived the cull. Also, anything not related to proper literature has been given to charity shops.
All that said, there's nothing worse than a person who defines others according to their musical tastes / library. I take the point that it can help provide a summary of a persons' nature but "Don't judge a book by its cover, YO!".
😉
there's nothing worse than a person who defines others according to their musical tastes
A person with poor taste in music is worse 😉
if your TV is bigger than your bookshelf, then you're working class.
All that said, there's nothing worse than a person who defines others according to their musical tastes / library.
Not defining as such but a certain combo of CD's would indicate that a somewhat gung ho approach could be taken to getting some action.
Having emigrated books suffered in the move.
CD's/DVD's compact down well books just don't.
We only have one partially filled bookcase now and it does look a little lonely.
It was always good when someone came round to lend them a book if it took their fancy.
I'm having bookcases built into my new house. I'm aiming for a sort of old fashioned sitting room.
It all started because my missus has a large glass dome (think huge snow globe ) with stuff birds in it. So I fancy a kind Victorian, Sherlock Holmes theme. Anybody know where I can get an old stuffed grizzly near or a suit of armour? Oh, I'll need a fez for the bear too 🙂
Forgot to add, I agree with Samuri, I love books and other peoples bookshelves. And I hardly ever buy books new, the beauty of reading other people's books is they vary greatly. If I bought books they would probably all be very similar.
Plus, they are free, and the more people get kindles the more 2nd hand books for me 🙂
and at no point has anyone ever picked up a Kindle* and said "Wow I havn't read that is it any good"
*they may have and other ebook readers avaialable
I will never replace the feel of a good book with some ikindle!
I love books, I love the smell of an old book and the dogeared pages, I also like the pleasure of being the first person to read a brand new book.
I will always have a bookcase of sorts, I currently have 2 which considering my recent downsize is pretty good going.
Looking round at the small bookcase behind me, I can't see any fiction 🙁 lots of nature stuff, birds, flowers etc.
The kitchen bookcase naturally contains mainly cooking books but there's lots of them, IMO digital media can't replace these, grubby, stained recipe books with hand written annotations that have been handed down a couple of generations can't be digitised.
We have another small bookcase on the landing with mainly fiction and quite a few kids story books, the youngest one is now 16 so not really sure why we have all those, I'll ask the missus 🙂
However the real jewel is in my workshop, it's mainly filled with workshop manuals and parts lists for motorbikes from the 50s to the present along with many old Motorcycle Mechanics magazines from the 60s and 70s that I can only assume have a 'needed' article in them. 😕
All my fiction reading is via a Kindle now though
wall to wall books here, can't stand electronic reader gizmowotsits. Definitely agree on the looking at other folks books and CD's as well.
We've just moved and slung a load of paperbacks out, but I couldn't bare to throw out the 'good stuff'. Also just inherited a house/contents and tbh I'm now looking at the vast piles of books (and shelves) and thinking that while I love books, when are we ever going to refer to them - as now we just 'Google' any question we have...
wall to wall books here, can't stand electronic reader gizmowotsits. Definitely agree on the looking at other folks books and CD's as well.
Plus One
we have a book case... but its filled with 400+ dvds and growing to the point we need a bigger one 😆
samuri - Member
There is nothing better than going into someone's house and while they finish getting ready, looking through their bookshelf.
Nothing? NOTHING!?
bigrich - Member
if your TV is bigger than your bookshelf, then you're working class.
Citation needed.
I prefer to look through a woman's knicker drawers while waiting. It's more revealing than her book collection.
😆
thing that gets me is that you don't own any of these ebooks or mp3s that you buy. If you die then they cease to be yours, you can never pass anything on, ypu can't riffle though piles of old books.
[quote=CaptJon ]bigrich - Member
if your TV is bigger than your bookshelf, then you're working class.
Citation needed.
3rd place, Top ten one-liner jokes, edinburgh fringe 2012. Can't remember the blokes name.
Agree with samuri though, bookshelves rock. Had once custom made for the last house, 5' * 6', the missus thought it was extravagant as we'd never need all that. I didn't dare tell her I knew it'd be full before we ordered it. paperback shelves on it are stacked two deep and we've a few other book cases through the house. I was made to clear away the bookstacks either to proper shelves or the charity shop.
I do not own a kindle, nor do I have a kindle app on my netbook - though I might get one so I can read Sherlock Holmes and the like for free when I go on holiday. Then again, there's a nice feeling when you hand over finished books to the rep, people spending a season out in a ski resort are usually grateful for something new to read
While I love tech, books are forever. Always grown up around books, as has my son. Would he love reading as much as he does if all there had been was a kindle? Apart from the actual words, books are real, you can touch them, scan a shelve for something, hold them.
Long live books and book cases.
We got rid of all of our books, my wife studied English literature at Durham, and Ioves real books, so we ended up buying about a quarter of them back from the local charity shop. She's now replacing all of her old favourites, although she does seem to do most of her reading on her kindle.
We have a proper poncy bookcase now.
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A Kindle might be able to replace paperbacks but will it ever replace coffee-table books and odd quirky books like the one we own about the Scottish islands by Hamish Haswell? No.
long live the bookshelf!
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My [s]GF[/s] Fiance is obsessed with the fact that we should have bookshelves in the lounge. Since culling the paperback collection substantialy on Amazon a couple of years back we only have about 4 shelves worth of decent books between us. The rest of the shelves in the spare room are filled with DVD's (probably never watch them again) and old dirt/singletrack/whitelines.
Now my mates dad is an ecologist and has thousands of books, lots of them actually old and useful - it kind of makes sense for him to have decent bookshelves. How many of us can really put our hand on our hearts and say this is the case?
I've read plenty of books, I don't tend to re-read them. Bookshelves are just basically society's way of making me pay for a slightly bigger house than I really need.
Mine are rammed
Stoner - that's not a bookcase. That's some kind of art installation with a couple of books added because it looks good. 😉 Get another few hundredweight of printed matter in there and it will become a bookcase - right about the time they are (as someone said earlier) stacked two deep.
long live the bookshelf!
I didn't know 50 Shades Of Grey came in so many different covers.
'ere, Stoner! Ya Coffee table's got a hole in it! What good's that? 😉
The day I get rid of my bookshelf is the day I install a touch screen, low wattage TV in its place that lets me (and anyone else) see all of my ebooks, and flick them over to the handheld reader.
(White robes optional)
Stoner - nice.
Paulosoxo - that ladder's a bit of an affectation isn't it? although I can see where you're coming from and appreciate the reasoning
Personally, I will re-read good books over and over and over. Even books I've read half a dozen times will give me something new each time I read them. doesn't stop me reading new books as well of course
Love bookcases, and have a house filled with them - but I'm trying to stick to Kindle for the cheap 'n cheerful fiction buys, otherwise they end up taking up a whole load of space, for books I'll never get round to re-reading.
But it's definitely the first thing I look at when I enter someone else's house.
Isnt there a danger full book cases simply say, "Look at what i've read, aren't i great?"
Isnt there a danger full book cases simply say, "Look at what i've read, aren't i great?"
Absolutely. I know some people that have bookcases full of "classics" that have never been nor never will be read. But, they, y'know, look right.
As long as people are reading, who gives a shit how they're doing it?
CaptJon - Member
Isnt there a danger full book cases simply say, "Look at what i've read, aren't i great?"POSTED 3 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
Depends on the books you're laying claim too.
Paulosoxo - that ladder's a bit of an affectation isn't it? although I can see where you're coming from and appreciate the reasoning
It keeps the children happy
[i]Stoner - that's not a bookcase. That's some kind of art installation with a couple of books added because it looks good[/i]
+1 - more thought entirely, looks like a womens' work that
We have two biggish bookcases in the dining room, plus the kids have one each in their bedrooms. Hardly any DVDs or CDs and a small TV.
I've probably got more books next to my bed than some of these posted bookcases have, and then about 800 books in the lounge, 300 or so in the loft and about 1,000 at the aged parent's house waiting for me to buy a bigger house...
I had always wanted a house of my own for the sole purpose of turning part of it into a library. When I bought three years ago, I immediately transformed the front of the house into a library of which the walls are lined with books, and in which the kids are allowed to do nothing but read or write. It is a sanctuary at the end of the day, and the kids are growing up surrounded by wide ranging literature.
I don't own a Kindle (yet), but I can't imagine it replacing such spaces and what they contain.
Just bought new book shelves, went for a 5 metre one which turned out to be a little over optimistic!
I go back to the good stuff over and over again. The TV is pants so I just reach over and have a read.
I was surprised to see that my collection of historic motor racing books out number the cycling ones
deadlydarcy - Member
I prefer to look through a woman's knicker drawers while waiting. It's more revealing than her book collection.
brilliant!
Nothing wrong with having both bookshelves and a kindle. eBooks are cheaper, don't use any paper and easier to hide!
As they are cheaper you are more likely to download them and try it. You can then buy a new copy if you want a physical one for your book shelf. Or of course you might spot a copy of something you have enjoyed in a 2nd hand bookshop.
The 'demise' of book shelves is a bit strong. People will still need somewhere to store obsolete technology.
if your TV is bigger than your bookshelf, then you're working class.
A couple I know have absolutely no books in their house ... but they have had a grossly oversized 50" screen for 5yrs+. And it's on every second of the day - literally. Yes they are working class, but nowt wrong in that. Just can't understand the desire to sit in front of a box for hours yet have no compulsion to pick up a book.
Both my billys are now full, however i must admit i have stopped buying paper books with the exception of travel guides, since i got my kindle.
The bookcases will stay though. I have no idea what else i would put along that wall!
im ashamed of my books..i lend out all the good ones and they never come back, when people eye my books i always have to point out that its only the crap ones that are left
im ashamed of my books..i lend out all the good ones and they never come back, when people eye my books i always have to point out that its only the crap ones that are left
I feel your pain... for years I collected awesome books, simply because as a kid the only books that my family had around were cook books, trashy mills and boon romances and dire books about trams and steam trains..
but looking at my bookcase now, I see mostly cook books, trashy romances and dire books about cycling and art. I can't even remember a fraction of the works of evocative and life changing literature that are lent out to the drunken masses.. 😐
FWIW books have excellent acoustic sound deadening properties and so make excellent additions to every available surface in the room that you keep your hi-fi in..
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Here's the ponciest one from midlifetowers. Great to get the kids to look something up in Britannica instead of Google and then find them browsing sideways through the book instead of clicking links. Have about twelve bookcases around the house, I think my maps and travel one is my favourite, next to the dining table for spreading a map out and planning/reminiscing about a trip.
i love books, but i prefer art on my walls than books.
What cheeses me off is that it is nearly impossible to get decent track mounted shelving systems these days other than a rather gash utilitarian one from B&Q.
Try vitsœ
Try vitsœ
Thanks for that; not looked at vitsœ before - looks good but must be the SRAM XX cassette of shelving whereas I'm more of an XT man...
I know someone who is about 22 and has never read a novel apart from when he had to at school. I was barely able to conceal how appalled I was when I found this out!
I had always wanted a house of my own for the sole purpose of turning part of it into a library. When I bought three years ago, I immediately transformed the front of the house into a library of which the walls are lined with books, and in which the kids are allowed to do nothing but read or write. It is a sanctuary at the end of the day, and the kids are growing up surrounded by wide ranging literature.
does your library smell of rich mahogany?
I got rid of a load of books when I moved but kept some. I much prefer to read an actual book than an electronic version but i'm considering digital magazine subscriptions rather than the paper version.
Grum i very rarely read books [except with my kids]- not read one for a few years tbh 3-5 at a guess.
It is no measure of anything other than what I enjoy though readers are appalled when you tell them.
Grum i very rarely read books [except with my kids]- not read one for a few years tbh 3-5 at a guess.It is no measure of anything other than what I enjoy though readers are appalled when you tell them.
Too busy watching Manchester United DVDs eh? 😛
I dunno - I don't think I'm a snob but it just seems like you would be missing out on a lot of great art/culture by never reading books.
Its a strange one as people who like art/theatre /books and stuff do seem to be more superior/snobby about their hobbies than football fans.
I dont really know what the reason is.
I don't really think books are necessarily some highbrow thing that people are snobbish about - look at massively popular stuff like Dan Brown or 50 Shades of Grey. Lots of Booker prize type books I've tried to read I've given up on for being pretentious. I'd have thought you might quite like some of the 'hard' sci-fi out there though.
Put is this way - wouldn't you find it a bit weird for someone to say they never listened to music, read books or watched films?
Books, books, books - love 'em!
Spare room, floor...
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to ceiling...
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And newly-refurbished living room...
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartie_c/7866916704/ ]DSC03303[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stuartie_c/ ]stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr
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we're in the process of trying to buy a new house (and selling ours), I will demand that as well as a good sized garage (or samuri-cave as it will be known) I also need a number of embedded bookshelves like Stu's there.
I'm also quite keen on the idea of a downstairs bog to let people know I've finally made it to the big time.
Very much not a problem here.
Despite having a clear out when we moved house 11 months ago, roughly a third of the 7.5T truck we moved in was filled with books. The second day after we'd moved in involved Ikea and a good selection of Billys as a temporary measure until I can build some bespoke efforts.
We both have Kindles as we travel a lot, but they don't replace "proper" books.
The scary thing is that her parents run a publishing company and her dad is an author and must have the best part of 20,000 books floating around their house (including lots of first or special edition stuff), and my parents must have the best part of another 15,000. We're gonna need a bigger house when we inherit that lot!
I fail to see why people have issues with ebooks and their readers, there's no law says you have to get rid of the dead tree versions, they can co-exist quite happily, same as music. I can't carry a whole bunch of books on the off chance I'll get some time to read one, but I can carry my phone or my pad in my bag.
I stopped off in Avebury this afternoon fo a couple of pints and sat and finished China Mielville's UnLundun. I've been reading it on my pad, and Kindle told me which page I'd got to, and did I want to skip forward. I love my books, some I've had for most of my life; how they've stayed in one piece I don't know, and I have treasured signed ones that will never be parted with, just like my signed CD's.
I can also love reading books on the go, too, and the sheer convenience of having a bunch of favourite books always to hand is a joy, plus being able to download lots of free stuff via the Kindle app means I'm never without something new, although quality can vary a bit.
But so can books you buy in Waterstones too...
Oooh where are you moving to?we're in the process of trying to buy a new house (and selling ours),
As well as nbt having a huge bookcase, we also have 2 that my wonderful grandpa left me. I really notice it when visiting different houses when there aren't any book cases.
Some of the bookcases above are very nice indeed. It makes me want to lean in further and see what the actual titles are.
There will always be books in my house and I have no interest whatsoever in any electronic reading device.
Same goes for my CDs, they have their place in the lounge and won't be replaced by any gizmo.
Who wants a sanitised house. 😐
I was a complete Luddite for ages when it came to e-books, but now most of what I read is on the Kindle - but since most of what I read is modernish stuff anyway, all I've really done is swap some new paperbacks for some electrons. The advantage is it frees up the bookshelves for more interesting old books.
Bookshelves are great - I've even got one at the shop full of bike books...
Grum i very rarely read books [except with my kids]- not read one for a few years tbh 3-5 at a guess.It is no measure of anything other than what I enjoy though readers are appalled when you tell them.
So that is the explanation for all the typos.
We have a couple of large bookcases at home and i do like my 'analogue' books. The Kindle though is excellent when i am travelling. I can have a couple of books on the go at the same time and it is super convenient.
[i]Oooh where are you moving to?/[i]
Close by. Outside of Leigh which reminds me of Derry in the Steven King novels but close enough we can carry on seeing the people we like and working at the places we do. Houses are cheap in the surrounding area too and I'm impressed at the size of the house we could afford, if we could sell ours obviously. And therein lies the sticking point. Nothing moves at the moment and the valuers report was terribly depressing. £15k down on what I was hoping for.
I'm also quite keen on the idea of a downstairs bog to let people know I've finally made it to the big time.
Buy a bungalow.
We've around 7 or 8 bookcases. All currently upstairs, so to visitors it looks like we don't own any books.
Spending my life reading and writing non-creative* legal tedium has somewhat killed reading for pleasure for me. I think I;ve read two books this year, something which has been going on for a decade now. I find it quite depressing.
*Not quite true in its context but hardly a beautiful narrative read, however good my drafting skills may be.
FWIW books have excellent acoustic sound deadening properties and so make excellent additions to every available surface in the room that you keep your hi-fi in..
We buy special covers for our books with better audio qualities than the standard ones. Cost about £1k a metre, but well worth it for the better sound reproduction.
Cost about £1k a metre, but well worth it for the better sound reproduction.
you do realise that it's directional don't you..? If you put it on the wrong way around it will make all your vintage vinyl sound like Jessie J..
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Books are good
Bookcases, vinyl LP rack, CD rack. All still in my house.
No idea where I'd fit the 30000 tracks on me 'pooter though.
Or the library of Kindle books for that matter...
I [i]love[/i] books (i.e. actual books) but the older I get, the more I fear... clutter.
In some respects, I care a good deal more about having access to books than owning 'em. When I'm a destitute pensioner, I plan on spending my time in various municipal and university libraries - perhaps even sleeping the night in rarely-visited sections. 8)
I like this thread because you can look inside peoples houses.
I gave up reading it when I saw pictures.