Book Weather

Two small notebooks are ready to be filled with titles, names and notes about interesting books I hear about and then try to find either through second hand book stores, regular bookstores and the library. I don’t use the ” big river” to get my books, you know the one. I think that is just too much of a modern thing for me to do so I am content with my tried and sometimes effective method of finding these books and authors. There are so many choices that I am usually satisfied with what I get .

Sometimes there is a dry spell or a lull between finding a really good book and I feel at loose ends without something to hold my interest. It isn’t usually for long. There are two full bookcases of my own collection to satisfy any period of being temporarily lost for a good book. Often during these lulls I hit the cookbook bookcase in another part of the house and usually find hours of good reading there. I often would rather read vintage cookbooks than anything else.

Then, of course there are my really old books kept on their own shelves in another bookcase in my bedroom way out of reach of any curious pets such as the book destroying bulldog I am babysitting at the moment. My collector books would also be good for entertainment during a month full of blizzards if that ever should occur and I can’t get my fresh supply of literature from my usual sources.

When my young neighbour comes in to visit she always asks me if I really do read all of the books that I have and I tell her the truth. Some I haven’t read yet but they are just waiting like emergency supplies for the right time to be read. Some of the books I have read several times. Some of the books I read every year as a seasonal ritual.

None of my books are the trendy fresh ones as they don’t appeal to me when they are all hyped up and popular in the media. I may be drawn to them later when I find them in a discount barrel at a bookstore or at a garage sale and I will take them home then to read, or leave propped on a shelf for a rainy day.

I don’t always finish reading a book if it doesn’t appeal to me because life is just too short to be bored or put off by a book when there are so many good books somewhere to be found and treasured. Ruthless, I toss an unappealing book and pick up another hoping for the best. Whether I read it or not is my call.

It is a good thing that I’m not a book reviewer, a bookstore owner or a librarian because I would be too hard on the material and probably ruffle feathers. However, the ones that I like would be praised to the hilt and I would use my powers of persuasion to encourage others to try them. It just wouldn’t be fair though. I will leave that for the more courageous and outspoken individuals who make these reviews and judgements in good conscience. ( I bet that ruffles a few feathers right there.)

My taste in books is based on how I was raised, my life experiences and my education but thank goodness I am open to suggestions and willing to take a look at something different, obscure, vintage or even contemporary. It usually depends on the weather, like a twinge at the prospect of change.

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