Book Shelves

I wonder how many homes DO NOT have book shelves?  I wonder if you, like me, scan other people's bookshelves when they are not looking, to see what they read?  Crime fiction, travel books, cooking recipe books, novels.  Hard back books, paperbacks.  Different sizes and non-uniform stuffed onto shelves that don't get dusted very often.  Do they actually read them? I ponder.  I silently try to guess who in the household reads Historic fiction, who is into astronomy or steam trains, who likes Victoria Hislop or Penguin Classics?  Are there any I recognise and where are the children's story books?

My books are not on display for visitors to do this sort of inquisitive questioning which is very rarely verbalised.  Today I have decluttered the two book cases I own.  One in a spare bedroom, the other in the garden cabin.  I have books from my former career - theory study books and self-help books; spiritual growth books, writing books.  I have long stopped keeping novels I read as I have never read a novel twice.  Why keep them?  I now take a photo of them and 'pin' them on my Pinterest board - A Good Read.  I blog about them too lately.  I then give them to friends or family who I think may enjoy them, or to the church for fundraising, or to a charity shop.

I have always loved books and, although I have read a few on my Tablet, I prefer the feel of a paperback novel.  I like the cover picture and back page giving me a taste of the story inside.  I like turning an 'actual' page rather than scrolling left on a screen.  And I like bookmarks - I use them now I value books more; I used to fold the corner of the page down to remind me where I had got too. 

If you buy a second hand book and find underlinings, stars in the margins, or scribbled notes at the bottom of the page, it was probably mine.  Do you do this too?  Some would say its sacrilege to mark a book like this but those who have used books to study, will, I am sure understand this.  Having paid good money (and study books are very expensive) I take ownership of it and imprint it with my own learning or relevance to the essay I want to write.   I keep it on the bookshelf long after the exam was taken and passed.  I keep meaning to revisit its informative pages or re-read it, but I never do. 

So now they have been pared down to a few favourites in each category.  I'll keep them a bit longer, why I am not sure.  There are books I haven't read yet as well, ones I mean to get around to but always see another one more appealing in the moment.  One click on Amazon and another book is winging its way to me in the post.  Or, on a visit to a town that has a bookshop, I browse the shelves, breathing in the smell of paper and bindings, ink and glossy paper.  I so wanted to work in a library or bookshop but never did.  Being surrounded by books brings a peace and joy to my soul.  Time stands still and there is no rush when in Waterstones, W H Smith or a library.  I try to use my library still but sadly I fail each time I enter a bookshop or buy from Amazon. 

I grew up with weekly visits to Ward End library in Birmingham, a big old building next to a fire station and across the road from a vast park area that I used to frequent.  It's all still there.  I went passed it on a coach a few months back.  It looked the same from the outside and I guess it still housed as many books only now there would be multi-national languages as a large ethnic population now reside in the area.

I used to take my daughter to our town library when she was little for a 'story-time' group with other toddlers.  Afterwards she would choose 3 or 4 books to bring home to read.  Do children still do that?  The library is certainly a noisier place than it used to be; no-one 'shhhhh-ing' you if you make a noise.  People chat and use their mobile phones in libraries just like anywhere else.  Computers are available and on the top floor there is still a reference library, but this has less and less on offer since Mr Google came along.

Are you a book or e-reader?  Do you keep all your books or have the occasional sort out like I do?Who is your favourite author - do you stick to one author or try different authors?  Do leave comments below.  Hope this blog sparked some interest?

Book Review - Autobiography of Clare Balding

This book made me wish I had a relationship with animals like Clare did.  I've only ever owned one dog and never ridden a horse.  I like the look of horses but have not had the opportunity or occasion to sit on one or ride.  It must be a lovely thing to be able to do.  I am not sure how I feel about horse racing or steeple chases.  I can understand Shire horses working the ground or pulling heavy weights but galloping at speed round a course or jumping fences in fields looks to me to be dangerous for the rider and less than fun for the horse.  Cantering along a beach or down a country lane looks more fitting for the animal.  Dressage and funny walks and shows of skill seem very unnatural to me.  However, I entered into the arena, racecourse and countryside with Clare guiding me through her expertise.

Her sense of 'self' from a young age was very impressive.  She talks about the scrapes she got into and found herself in, with her younger brother, as a total norm of growing up in an unaffectionate/unemotional family set up.

It was nice to re-connect with famous Grand National and Derby winning horse names again that I had, somehow, heard of and stored somewhere deep in my mind: Mill Reef, Aldanti, Shergar and others.

I felt relief when Clare made a friend at boarding school as for the first ten years of her life it seemed that her world was full of adults except for her younger brother.  The relief soon turned to disappointment as Jenny disowned Clare over how she dressed out of uniform.  Clare's resolve at such a young age to overcome that hurt is remarkable.

Her early account of being in the Queen's presence is hilarious.  Clare's quirky nature and lack of ladylike finesse is frowned upon by her parents but just accepted as 'normal' to Clare.  I like the fact that she does not put on 'airs and graces'; she is natural and 'herself' at all times.  Not many of us can do that - we adapt to our peers' ways of behaviours or others expectations of decorum/behaviour that it is no wonder we sometimes doubt who we really are.

Her school days are reminiscent of many a young girls' struggle to be part of a team, group or gang.  The emotions of the scrapes she got into sorely felt as I was reading.

Reading her book did make me want a horse - not to own one, or even to ride one.  But to be a friend to one, talk to one, feel its coat and mane, to get to know its ways, study it like Clare so obviously does - hands on, body on body.  To be 'at one' with such a magnificent beast must be an awesome feeling.  Clare managed to shift her affection with each dog or horse, it was total love and care that perhaps human to human we lack - stroking, playing, walking, sleeping, running, jumping, feeding, cleaning, grooming.

The book made me think again about the difference it makes in our lives that those who believe in us, see our potential and ignore or forgive our failings.  They are the people who point us in the right direction - not necessarily with words of encouragement - but because of who they are and how they influence our thinking and being in a world where negative vibes are daily battles.

I absolutely loved Clare's feministic stances and wanted to shout out aloud whilst reading, "Good for you Clare".  However, I did feel a little sorry for her brother Andrew, being on the end of a line of 'put downs' - their Grandmother and parents modelling to Clare less than encouraging remarks and acts that it was inevitable she looked down on her younger brother.  But he too has taken his place in the sporting world and there was a good feeling ending.

I listen to Clare every Sunday morning on Radio 2, enjoy her commentating on sporting events on tv and especially during the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations.  I have observed herrow in her 'fi, eld' and she looks so happy and content.  Well done Clare, well done.