I did that re-collecting after moving from Alaska to Florida. I was ruthless when packing up my library for our move. But now that we are settled I’m slowing adding back from free library carts, thrift stores and eBay. Will you be keeping your list of who recommended books to you in a notebook or digitally? My teen daughter just used an app to record all the titles of her bedroom library. I keep my very favorite books in my bedroom and the rest are in my study. After all this re-collecting I will need some more bookshelves. Fun problem.
I love the idea of making notes of one’s dialogue with books. (And I’ll admit to a minor obsession with marginalia 😁) I sort of feel like that’s what my blog posts were/are.
The poem reminded me of an article on marginalia I read a while ago which talked about some of the funnier notes that were found in the margins of illuminated manuscripts by those who made them...including cat prints. There is something that tickles me when I think about monks shooing cats away from their work (especially as I type this with a cat leaning over one arm as I type.)
For some reason I still can't bring myself to write in the margins of my books. Not sure if it not wanting to "mess" them up or not wanting others to see my thoughts? What I have come to love to do is to take notes as I read with my fountain pens and notebooks. That seems to satisfy my desire for an analog engagement with what I read.
Your year of notebook-themed books reminded me that I recently stumbled on Carson Ellis' One Week in January: New Paintings for an Old Diary while shopping for a gift for someone else. I was entranced: what a cool idea from one of my favorite illustrators. Plus she's illustrating a time when I, too, had just moved to Portland (albeit at a very different stage of life) and that deepens the connection for me. I'm sure it won't be long before I pick it up.
I did that re-collecting after moving from Alaska to Florida. I was ruthless when packing up my library for our move. But now that we are settled I’m slowing adding back from free library carts, thrift stores and eBay. Will you be keeping your list of who recommended books to you in a notebook or digitally? My teen daughter just used an app to record all the titles of her bedroom library. I keep my very favorite books in my bedroom and the rest are in my study. After all this re-collecting I will need some more bookshelves. Fun problem.
I love the idea of making notes of one’s dialogue with books. (And I’ll admit to a minor obsession with marginalia 😁) I sort of feel like that’s what my blog posts were/are.
The poem reminded me of an article on marginalia I read a while ago which talked about some of the funnier notes that were found in the margins of illuminated manuscripts by those who made them...including cat prints. There is something that tickles me when I think about monks shooing cats away from their work (especially as I type this with a cat leaning over one arm as I type.)
For some reason I still can't bring myself to write in the margins of my books. Not sure if it not wanting to "mess" them up or not wanting others to see my thoughts? What I have come to love to do is to take notes as I read with my fountain pens and notebooks. That seems to satisfy my desire for an analog engagement with what I read.
Your year of notebook-themed books reminded me that I recently stumbled on Carson Ellis' One Week in January: New Paintings for an Old Diary while shopping for a gift for someone else. I was entranced: what a cool idea from one of my favorite illustrators. Plus she's illustrating a time when I, too, had just moved to Portland (albeit at a very different stage of life) and that deepens the connection for me. I'm sure it won't be long before I pick it up.