I guess I won't be finished moving into this house until my modest library is set up. I want it out in the front room, where it will beckon my attention. Where I can easily grab a book and absorb more from it. I'm not real big on fiction at all. A few books on politics, books about art, metal working, 4 of the foxfire books, and others.
Does anyone else have a collection of books they treasure? Jim.
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
I am a complete and total book worm. My idea of a perfect time is curling up on my couch with a fire going in the fireplace, reading a great book with my cat curled up at my feet and my dog on the floor next to me. Oh, I almost forgot - with a cup of jasmine scented green tea.
My treasures? My cookbooks, including two which Julia Child signed to my husband and me.
My father's most cherished possessions were his books. I had to build a 12' long bookshelf in my office and I still have stacks of them on the floor.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
BOOKS!!!
I love books. I've been collecting them for 30 years... even have a separate column in our bookeeping for them... Research.
I read two or three fiction books per year, generally on holidays or when I travel. Otherwise I can generally be found with my nose in one of my reference books.
I have a full shelf of books on all aspects of signs... My Disney section is about 12-15' of books. Smaller shelf on theme parks in general. And a 12-15 feet of books on the 'making of' many different movies.
The section on computers and programs gets bigger all the time with about 10 feet of library currently.
Then there's the section on planes... another on trains... and of course the section on automobiles. A large section on history, with many picture books of old photos.
Lots and lots of art books...
There's books on Bonsai. architecture, stage craft, Mini golf, sculpture. mold making, bridge building, and a thousand other things...
Fifty or so feet of periodicals gathered through the years, with complete collections of Signcraft, Sign Business, CineFX magazine, Fine homebuilder, Architectural Digest, Disney Magazine, Grand Scales Railroad, plus many issues of many other magazines that have caught my attention through the years.
I treasure all my books... and keep them handy behind my desk in my studio. There's always a stack of them by my easy chair in the living room and another stack by my bed for browsing before I sleep.
The books are grouped in sections by subject and I can generally lay my hands on a certain book in a hurry. I have read them often enough to know what I have. Even with the hundreds and hundreds of books in my collection I have only purchased duplicates 4 or five times. These now reside happily at either my sons or son-in law's library.
My favorite books are largely defined by the projects I am working on... Each project I do makes it vital that I aquire new knowlege... and with the library handy there is no shortage of reference material at hand. And each time I read them I see and learn new things.
You could say I LOVE books!
And then there's Janis' large collection of books...
-dan
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Dan - now, there's a man after my own heart. If Jeanne and I were ever to get a divorce (which we aren't, after 40 years) it would be over my books.
There's a magnet inside every bookstore that draws me in against my will.
My shelves are filled with all types of woodworking books, art books of every description, architecture, engineering, painting, and a growing collection of Frank Lloyd Wright. Various journals and magazines are taking over most of the shop and house.
In addition to the "research" books, at home I have a lot of biographies, inspirational, humor, and a wide assortment of "just other stuff".
Often I will get interested in a topic, like stained glass, and collect a shelf of books....and then loose interest and go on to something else. Drives my wife mad.
When I leave this earth someone is going to inherit a ton of paper.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Raymond
quote:Often I will get interested in a topic, like stained glass, and collect a shelf of books....and then loose interest and go on to something else. Drives my wife mad.
It sounds to me like you and I could be great friends, and our wives would be too. We have an awful lot in common.
And as for not being able to walk past the bookstore because it draws us in... that would be our 'magnetic' personalities.
-dan
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
When my dad died a couple of years ago, I had to travel to NJ and pack up his house and studio. The last Saturday afternoon I was there, I also held a "memorial service" of sorts at his house. It was fairly informal, just a gathering of his friends and family.
One thing I did was set up an entire room in his house with all of his books that I decided not to take back to CA with me and I invited everyone to go in and take whichever ones they wanted.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Dan, what do you mean "we could be great friends"? I thought we were already great friends. Or, do you know something I don't?
Yes, our wives need to get together. Jeanne needs to hear that there are more people out there like me. And that our disease is incurable.
She will sometimes say, "Why don't you sell some of those books". Poor woman...the heat must have gotten to her.
Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
My favorite books are Signcraft-second are how to fix motorcycles third is woodworking books.I must read Signcraft front to back at least 3 time before putting them in their place.Always going to grab one when I have time on my hands.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
...Here ya'll go again,endearing me to you!! My Mom managed a bookstore for 15 years at the mall. From the time I could read ('til I decided to become an alcholic and screw up the best years o' me life) books were my whole world...if not for goin' in signbiz, I would have owned/operated an art studio, a bookstore, or a greenhouse (nursery). I am amazed by people who "hate to read".....it's like they're sayin' "I hate to breathe". I love any kind'a educational/how-to book, as well as biographies...as I am in the middle of remodeling my house, or if my feller and I build or buy another home, a wall of bookshelves will be as much a requirement as indoor plumbing, LOL! Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
My mom was a librarian most of her life. She is a great researcher & somewhere along the line became somewhat of a Custer fan. (actually I think more of an Errol Flynn fan, if you ask me) She has co-authored a few custer research books, so I guess my literary interests may have been inspired somewhat. I love to read, & I can handle reading manuals & informative books, but my favorite books are spy, or detective type stuff. All Robert Ludlom's stuff, Dick Francis, John Grisham, & some Tom Clancy. In NYC I was on a Anne Rice kick for about 7 or 8 books. I also liked Tom Wolfe, & Ken Kesey stuff, & Tim Robbins. I don't collect those kind of books though. Read 'em once & give 'em away. I have enough junk as it is.
Posted by Bill&Jane Diaz (Member # 2549) on :
Books just seem to CALL to me! I agree with the SignCraft issues but also Letterhead Magazine! There's not alot of reading, but OH, WHAT EYE CANDY! We have a huge library of our own of art books and I am personally hooked on watercolor, quilting or cookbooks. I am currently on our library's board of directors and worked at the library when my children were little as the "storyhour lady" so my connection to the library is dear. Next time you guys go to your public library, THANK someone! There is such a multitude of services available there that people sometimes just take for granted. Our has things available that I don't think alot of people even know are available form public libraries, like checking our audio CD's, DVD movies, and even art work & puppets! I don't know if you know that you can march into almost any library and ask about inter-library loan and get almost any book in print!! If your libray doesn't have it they can "borrow" it from another in the area. Check with your librarian! This is a great way to see if you are going to like a book before you purchase it.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
There is such a multitude of services available there that people sometimes just take for granted. Our has things available that I don't think alot of people even know are available form public libraries, like checking our audio CD's, DVD movies, and even art work & puppets! I don't know if you know that you can march into almost any library and ask about inter-library loan and get almost any book in print!! If your libray doesn't have it they can "borrow" it from another in the area. Check with your librarian! This is a great way to see if you are going to like a book before you purchase it.