Thursday, February 7, 2008

More about the library

Thanks for sitting in my library while I was out plowing. I realized this evening that I had a bit more to say about the library and books in general. We were thrilled when we bought the house that it included a separate office that we could use as a library. Our previous house was small and didn't have an extra room that we could earmark solely for books, computers, writing and thinking.

There were certain elements that I'd dreamed about including in this space. Floor to ceiling bookshelves were number one on the list. Also included were a large desk and credenza. The desk and credenza were easy to find but the bookshelves were actually very difficult. I visited many, many furniture stores looking for a combination that would fit on both sides between the walls and the center window. I could not believe it but the IKEA Billy bookcases came in perfect combinations of sizes and had a corner unit that allowed me to wrap around to yet another wall. The extensions take it almost to the ceiling allowing for the installation of down lights. They were very easy to construct and they're very sturdy.

The paint color was an easy choice, I love red and have always wanted a red library. It's dark and calm in here, even in the daytime.

I mentioned in the comment section yesterday that books make me feel safe. I can't elaborate further because it's too much work to figure out why......they just do! There are favorites that I re-read occasionally including To Kill a Mockingbird, The Good Earth, River Horse by William Least Heat Moon and of course, Cross Creek which I just finished for the umpteenth time.

I feel like the old woman in the Ray Bradbury novel, Fahrenheit 451. She's successfully kept her large library a secret for many years, but the powers that be discover her books. Rather than be separated from her precious volumes she chooses to stay as the police burn the house and the books to the ground. At the end of the movie they discover the people living in the woods - living books, walking around each day reciting the books they've memorized by heart. Each person had to decide which book they were going to be.

Which book would you be?

3 comments:

Shannon said...

If I could be a book I would probably be Dandelion Wine by Bradbury or Lolita by Nabokov.

Vee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vee said...

Oh that is a tough question! I reread three of the ones on your list. I'll leave you to wonder which one I have never read.

On Brin's recommendation, I just finished reading "The Thirteenth Tale." I'm pretty sure that you'd like it very much.

Today is our third day of snow. Have you gotten a break in the weather yet?

Sorry about the delete and all for one little letter.