You know, those books you haven't actually read, but want sitting on your shelf when people come over. Moby Dick. War and Peace. A Brief History of Time. Don't they make us look smart?
I'm a book hoarder in the first place. Probably half the books I own I haven't read, but definitely plan to. That's all I ever ask for at Christmas, and I still have all my old books from high school. And then of course when I get bored or depressed the first stop is the local thrift store where I can get like six or seven books for ten bucks. Not bad, right? So I have a pretty large not-read-yet collection anyway.
But those show off books are there. My big pretty leather anthologies of Shakespeare, Lewis Carol and Edgar Alan Poe I got for my birthday two years ago. I've read some from these guys, especially Shakespeare, but those particular books definitely also look pretty on a shelf.
I've come to the conclusion, though, that having show-off books is not a bad thing. I think all of us are booky enough that we really do intend to get around to them some day, even War and Peace. Maybe seeing them on our shelves between Harry Potter and The Help will inspire us. I firmly believe that it is always a good idea to expand our literary horizons, and Captain Ahab will always be there when we're ready.
Maybe we put them on the shelf in our front entry so we look smart. Maybe one day they'll actually make us smarter.
Are you a book show-off too? Which ones do you have prominently displayed in the living room?
Sarah Allen
7 comments:
I don't know if I can consider mine show-off since mine are in my bedroom overflowing on a bookshelf.
Shelly
http://secondhandshoesnovel.blogspot.com/
Ulysses. I don't think I'll ever get around to reading that book, but I display it prominently. I display War and Peace, too, but that one I actually read (and loved!) in college.
i am not a book hater--but i have to say--i once displayed them all--now i try to stuff them away!
I definitely show off my books. That's why I buy hardcovers. Oh, and I need more bookshelves!
Agh, Moby Dick for sure. I have read War and Peace and the original novel version of Les Miserable as well as Vanity Fair. (Sorry, I'm done showing off.) I got through a period of liking epic classics, and now that I'm over that period I like to take my epic novels and place them in obvious points on the shelf so I can brag. Heh heh. One day I have to finish Moby Dick. I do.
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No I don't, simply because none of my friends are real bookie people. I do have the Complete Works of Shakespeare on my shelf, but Hubby brought that into the marriage!
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