“Bookstores always remind me that there are good things in this world” ~
Good morning, sweet friends. I hope this finds you well and looking forward to things you enjoy this Labor Day Weekend. This past week was rather busy for us. Every day, other than one, I had an appointment or someplace I had to be. Not my idea of a lovely week. However, we survived.
During the first few weeks when I was home from the hospital and didn’t have the strength to do too much, I worked a bit on my books. By that I mean, sorting through them ~ keepers and those to donate. Such a difficult task. Our Senior Center has a book club and is always delighted to receive books and magazines. I feel they are in good hands there and readers will enjoy them. Mike delivered one overflowing box this week and many more to come. Our bookcases are stacked to the brim, therefore, this job ‘had to be tackled.
I have read from many of my dear blogging friends how many of you also struggle with this conundrum and I have listened to the tips you shared in dealing with this challenge. And a challenge it truly is! I will tell you, “If I had not had books to read when I was sick, I would be having tea with the folks in the ‘white coats.’ And, Mike would have moved to the attic in the garage living with the squirrels and butterflies.
” Books should go where they will be most appreciated, and not sit unread, gathering dust on a forgotten shelf . . .” ~ Christopher Paolini
“I am simply a ‘book drunkard.’ Books have the same irresistible temptation for me that liquor has for its devotee. I cannot withstand them.” ~ L.M. Montgomery.
“For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.” ~ Anne Lamott
The words of Anne Lamott are, in my opinion, so very true. Through reading, I have gained enormous empathy for others and I do wonder about the fearless courage of humans, young and old, and how they managed to endure the many horrors of war and their lives after. I honestly don’t know if I would be so brave, however, I guess we never know what we are made of until the specific time shows itself. When that happens, we truly learn what “community and friendship” mean.
“Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher
“Reading should not be presented to children as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift.” ~ Kate DiCamillo
Did you know that in Iceland there is a Christmas Eve tradition called “Jolabokaflod?” Jaolabokaflod translates into ‘Christmas Book Flood.’ It is one of the most unique Icelandic Christmas traditions. The tradition is to give or receive new books on Christmas Eve. One theory is the tradition began as a way to promote literacy in Iceland, as a study revealed in the late 1800s only 50% of the population could read. It is not just about the giving, it is also about the reading.
The best moments in reading are when you come across something ~ a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things ~ which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours.” ~ Alan Bennett
Dear friends, I do hope you have enjoyed your visit and perhaps you join me in my love of books and the idea of making sure they are placed in good hands for their next life.
Know, I wish you and yours a beautiful day, a safe Labor Day Weekend, and a lovely week ahead. Stay well!
Amour,
Sandra
Images:: Tumblr and Pinterest
Lovely post. My daughter texted me last night to say Goodnight Moon celebrates its 75th year. My sisters and I sorted and priced nearly 200 young adult readers for our booths at the antique mall this week (mostly Nancy Drew from 1930s to 1970). Another sister who lives alone is never really alone….she reads voraciously and travels vicariously. Books are forever friends! I’m sure your box lot will be gratefully received by the seniors!
Rita, you are certainly in good company with all those readers in your family. I really need you with all your organizational skills to weed through my books. I remember watching an episode of Hoarders many years ago and the poor woman couldn’t part with anything. I have thought about that as I have been sorting. However, I don’t believe I am at that point – yet! Hope you have had a great week!
I love Iceland’s Christmas Eve tradition. I also love the pretty book covers on the old books you have shown. Thank you for sharing your love of reading.
My husband’s parents were avid readers, and it took us several van loads to donate their many books. In my father-in-law’s last few years, my mother-in-law read aloud to him every afternoon.
I have always loved to read, but in the last few years, I have not read many books. Sadly blogs and Instagram have taken up my time. I have thought many times about giving up the latter and reading more.
I am so glad my grandchildren are reading instead of watching TV. I ordered a book from Amazon that should arrive today.
Hi Bonnie. I love Iceland’s tradition also. It is also wonderful to hear your grandchildren are reading rather than watching TV. There is little on TV worth watching, in my opinion. Interesting to me to read about your mother-in-law reading to your father-in-law. I have always told Mike he will have to do that if I ever get to where I can’t read.
Hope you enjoy your new book and that you have had a great week!
Good morning, Sandra! I do share your love of books. My mom was a first grade teacher for 40 years. She often talks about how amazing it was to teach a child to read. That was the reason she never moved to teaching upper grades. She truly loved teaching children to read. I know that must have been a most rewarding experience. I hope you have a wonderful holiday tomorrow and blessed week ahead, sweet friend!
Hi Shannon. I agree that it would be wonderful to teach a child to read. And believe it must have been in your mom’s heart to do. Plus teaching first grade would be fun, they are so excited about learning at that age. Hope you have had a lovely week!
I love the term “book drunkard”! One of my favorite things to do is to go to used book stores. Have a wonderful week ahead Sandra!
Hi Penny. I love those words too. I certainly am one. I am with you on the used book stores. My mom and I could roam around one for hours. Hope you had a great week !
What a truly wonderful post on the delight and joy of books and reading. Loved the photos and the quotes you shared. (Had to add a few to my quotes collection.)
I’m so glad you found comfort in reading while you were ill and convalescing. Had a wee chuckle at your description how your books kept you sane and away from folks in white coats, and Mike didn’t have to resort to living in the attic with squirrels and butterflies. 🙂
Thank you, dear Sandra, for another delightful read on a Sunday morning. Best blessings to you and Mike. Wishing you both a beautiful week ahead.
Hello, Brenda, Many thanks for your kind words. I do think I would have gone mad when I was sick if it were not for my dear books. I am happy you enjoyed the post and am so very sorry it has taken me so long to respond. I am still playing catch-up in every aspect of life. But I am on the mend so that is the main thing. Have a wonderful week ahead.
I so enjoyed this post! That is not unusual for me to say, but I, too, am an avid reader. My parents were both school teachers and our daughter teaches first and second grade. My mom and daughter have both said that they can tell when parents read to their young children; it shows when they arrive in the first grade classroom. I usually am reading more than one book, and enjoy more than one genre. Your post spoke to my heart. Thank you.
Hello, Linda. For those of us who are readers, we would be in trouble without our books. I am happy you enjoyed the post and I thank you so much for your kind words. I am still playing catch-up and I apologize for taking so long to respond. Have a wonderful week!
I don’t know that Icelandic tradition but I love the idea! This is such a beautiful post, Sandra, and one near and dear to my heart. I don’t have a kindle. I love reading the printed pages, holding the book. I love holding used books, wondering who brought them to sell or what the previous reader thought. The book is so much more than just the story within but the thoughts of the author as they pulled together ideas and red herrings. I don’t know what I’d do without books.
Is that sorting books photo your own piles to go to the senior center? A wonderful idea and an absolutely beautiful room.
Hello, Jeanie. I don’t have a kindle either, nor do I want one. I am with you on reading a real book. And, I agree with your every word. No, that photo of the room with the books is not our home. You would run out the front door screaming if you could see the sun room where our books live. Scary! Have a great week!
Sandra,I love books and have a very large collection. I need to purge, but they are like my old friends and I can’t imagine parting with them. But, soon I must. I enjoyed this post immensely, our love for books is just one more thing we have in common. As a child I enjoyed Lois Lenski books. I still have one in my safe keeping for my girls. Wishing you a delightful week and hope you are improving and regaining your strength every day!
Dear Pam, books are our old friends. And we don’t discard old friends. But every now and again – it is a job I have to do. And while I haven’t been up to par it is a perfect job.
Pam, I am getting stronger every day and yesterday had shots in my knees so I should be good to go. I have over 60 peonies that will need put to bed for winter so I hope to help with that job. Hope you have had a wonderful week and that your weekend will be the same.
As another “book drunkard” I loved this post, Sandra. I’m always culling books and find it difficult to part with them. Books are in every room of this house, too. I hope you continue to gain strength and improve in health. Books are a comfort when ill. Hugs, Lorrie
Hello, Lorrie. I am also a “book drunkard” as you can tell from this post. I am making progress on my sorting out – but goodness it is a chore. Like you, I have trouble letting many of them go. I am getting better every day, it is just a slow process. Hope you have a beautiful week – sending you Hugs as well!