-Hardcover? Or paperback?
This question gets right to the heart of one of the few sources of disagreement in my marriage.
I prefer to read trade paperbacks, while my husband prefers hardcover. The problem arises when deciding which books get stored in the large built-in bookcase in the family room (the one the builder said we would never fill up, but was actually overflowing the day after he packed up his tools and went home). My husband believes only hardcovers belong here and that paperbacks should be relegated to the bedroom bookcase.
For the most part, I have given in. His collection does look better (and, yes, he does read the leather collectibles we have accumulated over the years), but if you look closely there are still a few shelves of some favorite paperbacks. My tbr stacks and others I can't bear to part with reside in the bedroom. Perhaps more built-ins are in order!-Illustrations? Or just text?
Illustrations generally aren't that important to me. However, I really enjoyed the original illustrations included in the 2008 Persephone Classic edition of Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day by Winifred Watson.
-First editions? Or you don’t care?
I've never been much of a collector, so I don't care.
-Signed by the author? Or not?
Getting a book signed by the author would be great, but I haven't had many opportunities. Earlier this winter, my daughter and I went to see David Sedaris (her creative writing class just read Me Talk Pretty One Day). We had hoped to get a book signed, but the end of the line was out of sight and a monster ice storm was just getting started. Oh well, another time...
Your bookcase is gorgeous and I am so jealous right now. Congratulations on your fabulous blog award...I am new to your blog and am glad I found it. Thank you for leading me to Roses Over A Cottage Door...too charming and Deacon is too cute.
ReplyDeleteI have a few hardback books but my husband's history ones are nearly all hardback.
ReplyDeleteBookPsmith,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I'm glad you like Darlene's blog, too.
zetor,
ReplyDeleteMost of the hardbacks in our bookcase are my husband's history collection, too. Thanks for visiting!
I agree with your husband; hardbacks look better when displayed. Happy Booking Through Thursday!
ReplyDeleteI actually agree with him, too, Sally...just don't tell him ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh my word -- that bookcase is to DIE for!! If I lived in your home, I don't think I would ever leave the living room; it is such a happy place :)
ReplyDeleteMolly,
ReplyDeleteI love that room! It's the first time we've ever had space for our books. The contractor really thought we were crazy wanting that many bookshelves. I can only imagine what he'd say if we called him back to build more (it won't happen though).
Your book collection looks wonderful! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you, Claire. And thanks for
ReplyDeletestopping by!
I love your bookcase! I could fill it up, too. Twice! Funny what the guy said.
ReplyDeleteTara,
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's amazing how easy it was to fill up those shelves. Now I'm wishing we'd done the other wall, too!
I clicked on the picture, but still couldn't read many titles. :<( It is just about my fave thing to look at people's bookshelves. I'm a big mixer - hc and pb all together. I think that paperbacks are just as beautiful, and sometimes even more so because they are often colorful, and I love color! The only organization thing I do (and I was just telling someone this!) is to put say, all my Wodehouse books together. You can get really nice bookcases at Target that look like Mission furniture for not so much money if you don't want to do built-ins. I love the curve at the top of yours.
ReplyDeleteNan,
ReplyDeleteI love looking at other people's bookcases, too! Sorry you couldn't read many of the titles. We added that room on to the house 6 years ago and put the curve on top to mirror the opposite side of the room (sliding doors with a curved window above).
I covet your bookcase!!
ReplyDeleteDawn
She is Too Fond of Books