What do you do when your library is closing for a couple of months and any book you check out is not due back until it reopens?
You go shopping!
Well, that's what I did. (Twice. So far.) I made a list of all of the books I wanted to read, all of the books that had great reviews, all the books that look interesting. I started taking them off the shelves with great aplomb, my arms filling quickly. I took as many as I could drag to the car and promised a return trip.
And I also placed books on reserve like mad, anything I wanted to study this winter. Miraculously, every one of those books also came in this week.
I will be reviewing my wish lists on Amazon.com and Half.com to see what other faves the library might have in stock for me. I also will walk through the shelves, both fiction and non-fiction, plucking what looks ripe.
I can't remember if there's a limit to how many books I can keep: 24, 36, something like that. Maybe, if due dates are all cattywhompus, maybe "book limits" are, too.
It's almost like Christmas came early — which is what I usually feel when I walk through the doors of the library. But this time, I don't have to worry about overdue fines, my one Achilles heel. At times, I simply buy the book from the bookstore because I'll wind up paying that much in fines.
But not this time.
This time, I have a chance to actually finish the books before they're due. If there's a reason to look forward to winter this year, this would be it: dozens of books piled high around the living room. (Wait, that's the status of my living room on a regular day.) (Not to mention the bedroom and the den....)
I checked out a book on decorating the house with books. Maybe I'll get some good ideas.
I'll see you in February, when my library re-opens and I come back up for air.
I would be so jealous, except that I know that I'll benefit from the recommendations you'll have after working your way through your winter stash of books.
ReplyDeleteRegarding decorating with books, Anna Quindlen has a great quote:
"I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves."
I'm sure you would agree!
Absolutely. In fact, I think I'm the only person I know who looks at windows as a mixed blessing: beautiful light but no place for bookshelves! (Except in really cool shelves above them -- okay, windows are cool!)
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