I readily submit to you, dear friends, a confession. I am an addict. I am obsessed with books. I simply cannot stop acquiring them. Bookstores, peddlers and pushers of all my desires, must be wholly avoided at times. I once stayed at the Library Hotel in NYC and spent an entire evening with my nose planted in every aged volume, submerging myself in the aroma of weathered paper. The snap of a spine and crackle of a translucent cover performed a symphony varying in depth depending on the heft of each tome.
Ritually, in that lull between Christmas day and the New Year, I find myself ambling along the aisles of my nearest book retailer. Arms weighted with anthologies to autobiographies, hours escape the day, pecuniary concerns have fled, and I ultimately saunter out accompanied by fog of utter ecstasy.
This year a list will chaperone me.
Yes, THAT book. Yes, I’m the last person on the planet to purchase it. I also have never seen Titanic, but that’s more out of obstinacy than any other influence.
On recommendation from Lisa Borgnes Giramonti at A Bloomsbury Life:
2. Punch
3. A Perfectly Kept House Is The Sign Of A Misspent Life
The latter is an attempt to relax my rigid Virgoan deportment.
4. And anything by Beverley Nichols
These should keep me occupied until February, when the cycle invariably repeats itself.
What, dear reader, is your unconquerable addiction?
Indeed, books are an addiction. When my husband and I were dating and moved in together, we had to rent a storage unit for all of our books (combined, we had almost 2500). We had to purge a bit before we moved into our current house.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this is an addiction, but I also collect vintage/antique linen and Inuit sculpture.
Deanna,
ReplyDelete2500 books is STAGGERING. I'm in awe. I would say anything becomes an addiction when you lose control of rational thinking. I don't even get that way about shoes!
MT
anything about the Mitford Sisters or by them!
ReplyDeleteOh, anonymous above me--yes the Mitfords!! While we are at it, let us not forget the Langhornes of Virginia--especially "Five Sisters." Right now, I have surprised myself by ruining Christmas for my children because, I cannot stop reading Laura Hillenbrand's new book--Unbroken. I hate WWII, but this woman has the active voice knocked out of the park. What a story! Cookies, parties, Turkey's and Tenderloins are all neglected because I am riveted to this masterpiece. I'm in deep trouble.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Liz
Liz
I just discovered your blog and love this post. I am addicted to books as well and have been buying them, collecting them, filling my many bookshelves and decorating my house with them for a long time. I am very excited about the books I got as Christmas books yesterday: "Wait for Me" by Deborah Mitford, "Must You Go?" by Antonia Fraser, and "French Essence" by Vicki Archer. Looking forward to lots of good reading.
ReplyDeleteCount me in as well - just can't ever have enough!! My problem now is that I'm out of bookshelf space - plotting where to build some next - bathroom and laundry rooms almost only places left!!
ReplyDeleteAll wonderful suggestions! I've returned from the bookseller with three volumes, some deviating from my list (shocking, I'm sure): the Domino book which I'm already devouring; Must You Go on Sunday Taylor's recommendation (thank you!); and a children's book titled Modern Fairies, Dwarves, Goblins & Other Nasties by Lesley M.M. Blume. The last book is by the author of Let's Bring Back - an amazing compendium I highly recommend and haven't put down since BTG's mother gave it to me for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteYes, books are my addiction as well, as my apartment will attest to. I always say, no more books until I've read the ones I have, but that never lasts long. I discovered Beverly Nichols myself last year and went on a binge, reading everything of his that I could get my hands on. He's the best!
ReplyDelete