The first thing, naturally, when one enters a scholar’s study or library, is to look at his books. One gets a notion very speedily of his tastes and the range of his pursuits by a glance round his bookshelves. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., The Poet at the Breakfast-Table (1872) I have noticed that when … Read more
The sole substitute for an experience which we have not ourselves lived through is art and literature. ~ Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Nobel Lecture, 1971
Mama Squirrel commented: What I collect? I blush to use the term…scrounge is more to the point, since collecting might imply that I am more knowledgeable than I am about things such as editions and conditions. Not at all, my dear! Knowledge of editions and conditions is NOT necessary to be a true book collector. … Read more
A home library should have both breadth (books on a wide variety of topics) and depth (lots of books on a single topic). Whatever topic piques my children’s curiosity, there is likely to be at least one book they can pull right off the shelf. As they develop passions for certain subjects, we try to acquire a … Read more
No man has a right to bring up his children without surrounding them with books, if he has the means to buy them. It is a wrong to his family. He cheats them! Children learn to read by being in the presence of books. The love of knowledge comes with reading and grows upon it. … Read more
In response to my recommendation of How to Read a Book, Maureen commented: Just wondering, don’t you find that these analytical approaches take away some of the wonderful mystery and enjoyment? Or does approaching certain books in certain ways add to your enjoyment of the book? I guess I just like to fall into them … Read more
What a sense of security in an old book which Time has criticized for us! ~ James Russell Lowell, “A Library of Old Authors,” My Study Windows (1871)
There are many people—happy people, it usually appears—whose thoughts at Christmas always turn to books. The notion of a Christmas tree with no books under it is repugnant and unnatural to them. ~ Robertson Davies, The Merry Heart (1997) Thanks to Lisa B. for sharing this quote. Books under the Christmas tree—and at every birthday—are part … Read more
A friend told me recently that she loves to borrow my books because it’s interesting to see what I have marked in them. She especially loves my question marks in the margins! One hazard of lending a marked book, however, is that if it is lost, you can (usually) replace the book, but not the … Read more
I just love Tasha Tudor’s books and illustrations, and I was delighted to find a video about her in our local library a few years ago. Take Joy: The Magical World of Tasha Tudor is beautiful and inspiring! Highly recommended. I haven’t yet seen Take Peace: A Corgi Cottage Christmas with Tasha Tudor, but it … Read more