love this. I'm older than you, but I remember feeling the same way. Reading was always an adventure, removing oneself from reality and alot of times, an escape from the reality for a few minutes or hours of that time.
Oh what a lovely essay from Kristine. The Roald Dahl poem is perfect, and thank you, Matthew for making such generous space at Beyond the Bookshelf for other writers.
I so enjoyed this! I imagine a personal library as a living, breathing piece of our lives, evolving as we do. What an incredible way to mark our journeys. "Our life has been an unintended experiment in maximalism" is my favorite. I felt this deeply, and have often wondered WHY I can't get my surroundings to look like others' "magazine houses" (I call them). And then I realize it's because our family life is full, brimming with books (yay), laundry, growing children, definitely some mess, all of our dreams, and a lot of love. It's just how we roll, and while I strive for order, I'm so grateful for all of it. Thanks, Kristine and Matthew!
You're so right that it's living and breathing, and I call them magazine houses too! They're beautiful but often feel empty in a way I would probably struggle with after a bit!
Thank you for sharing Christines wonderful essay Matthew, I have a feeling anyone who has a passion for books is never going to have much success at minimalist living... I know I don't, there are piles of books in every room... including my laundry/utility room! 😂
I just saw a comment somewhere, maybe on Substack or Bluesky, that it's fine to have loads of books you haven't read. Just as we often have many more forks than we ever use at one time, or coffee cups, or hats. The advice about not acquiring additional books until we read the ones we already own is a pleasant little fiction and we all know it.
As a teacher, I love the ritual of students visiting a faculty office and casting eyes over the bookshelves. There’s usually a title that draws the eye - different for each person. The book becomes the foundation of a bond, a mutual curiosity.
Thank you for the lovely meditation on the home library. One of my summer projects is to gather the pell-mell artifacts of mine that have scrambled over the years and put things back where I want them. Wish me luck. Hah!
The mutual curiosity part is so true. When we host gatherings at the house, I'm always curious to see who attending takes time perusing the shelves. It's one of my favorite ways to get to know someone I don't know well!
For a long time, once our library graduated from the five shelf black bookcase, our games lived there! Eventually they too expanded and needed a larger space!
Thank you Matthew for introducing us to Kristine!
Thank you for reading, Linda! I hope you enjoyed! ✨
I did and I subscribed!
Happy to have you as a new reader! ❤️
love this. I'm older than you, but I remember feeling the same way. Reading was always an adventure, removing oneself from reality and alot of times, an escape from the reality for a few minutes or hours of that time.
It’s truly the best escape! Thank you for reading Sherry!
Oh what a lovely essay from Kristine. The Roald Dahl poem is perfect, and thank you, Matthew for making such generous space at Beyond the Bookshelf for other writers.
Thank you, Jody! I was excited to be able to reference this poem again! When I had a Bookstagram account my handle was @alovelybookshelf 🤩
That is such a lovely essay! Thank you Kristine for writing and thank you Matthew for giving us the opportunity to read this piece!
Thank you so much, Norman! I appreciate you reading and sharing!
I loved this interview! I just want to curl up with all those books 📚
Thank you, Kate! As do I!
I so enjoyed this! I imagine a personal library as a living, breathing piece of our lives, evolving as we do. What an incredible way to mark our journeys. "Our life has been an unintended experiment in maximalism" is my favorite. I felt this deeply, and have often wondered WHY I can't get my surroundings to look like others' "magazine houses" (I call them). And then I realize it's because our family life is full, brimming with books (yay), laundry, growing children, definitely some mess, all of our dreams, and a lot of love. It's just how we roll, and while I strive for order, I'm so grateful for all of it. Thanks, Kristine and Matthew!
You're so right that it's living and breathing, and I call them magazine houses too! They're beautiful but often feel empty in a way I would probably struggle with after a bit!
Thank you for sharing Christines wonderful essay Matthew, I have a feeling anyone who has a passion for books is never going to have much success at minimalist living... I know I don't, there are piles of books in every room... including my laundry/utility room! 😂
Thank you for reading, Susie! And I suspect you're right about that 🤣
I just saw a comment somewhere, maybe on Substack or Bluesky, that it's fine to have loads of books you haven't read. Just as we often have many more forks than we ever use at one time, or coffee cups, or hats. The advice about not acquiring additional books until we read the ones we already own is a pleasant little fiction and we all know it.
"Pleasant little fiction" for sure. Love this! The Japanese concept of tsundoku is one I fall back on time and again!
Tsundoku - I had to google. Exactly!
As a teacher, I love the ritual of students visiting a faculty office and casting eyes over the bookshelves. There’s usually a title that draws the eye - different for each person. The book becomes the foundation of a bond, a mutual curiosity.
Thank you for the lovely meditation on the home library. One of my summer projects is to gather the pell-mell artifacts of mine that have scrambled over the years and put things back where I want them. Wish me luck. Hah!
The mutual curiosity part is so true. When we host gatherings at the house, I'm always curious to see who attending takes time perusing the shelves. It's one of my favorite ways to get to know someone I don't know well!
Wishing you luck!!
Yes, me too! :-) I like to browse the games, too. There are Scrabble people and Boggle people. I’m a Boggler, but Scrabble will do in a pinch.
For a long time, once our library graduated from the five shelf black bookcase, our games lived there! Eventually they too expanded and needed a larger space!
I am a Scrabbler, but I do enjoy Boggle as well!
Love R. Dahl. Also love cooking Dal
I've never made Dal! But read plenty of Dahl.