Greetings from the water-logged Northeast. The rain keeps on coming. I do spy a bit of sun at the moment, so fingers are crossed. It’s been so bad here for the past 2 months that there is a patch of our front lawn that I still haven’t been able to mow. Because it is at the bottom of our little hill, all the moisture seems to collect there. It has yet to dry out from the hurricane, much less our most recent rains.
I seem to be featuring the den lately. This little vignette sits atop my music cabinet just to the left of the stairs. Before we go any further, say hello to Monty:
How could you not love that face?
But this post is about books. To the left, you will see some vintage books.
I’ve found a few well-loved vintage books that I treasure. I don’t buy them just to buy them. I know many of you buy them for crafting purposes or for display. Try as I might, I simply cannot take a book apart and use it’s pages for something else. I’ve done it with sheet music, but that’s as far as I can go. Books are living things to me and I just can’t do it. Must be genetic.
If I buy a vintage book, it is because I love the author and it has meaning to me. That book on the left, Lyrics and Love, is full of beautiful poetry about house and home and is in near perfect condition. A Girl of the Limberlost is a favorite from childhood; I have two copies and this particular one is the oldest. Claudia has obvious meaning and was given to me by my friend Spencer. And the Jeeves books are favorites of ours – Don has played Jeeves onstage. If you have never read Wodehouse, you are missing out on some of the funniest characters ever written. You will laugh out loud.
This vintage book is priceless to me because my grandmother gave it to my great-aunt Rhoda for Christmas in 1912. Rhoda died a few short years later, a victim of the flu epidemic. The pages are so fragile that I rarely open this book. This is the color illustration inside the front cover:
And this book, equally dear, was presented to my grandmother in 1904 as a prize. She had memorized the most bible verses of anyone in her class.
I have some first editions that I love, a signed copy of To Kill a Mockingbird that I keep in a safe place and others that are dear because I’ve read and re-read them so many times.
Oh, and I have this book:
We bought it on our honeymoon. It’s been well-thumbed because it was formerly the property of Grass Valley High School
I pressed some wedding flowers in it.
And a four-leaf clover or two.
And it has some beautiful illustrations:
But I do accumulate more books than I have room for in our tiny cottage. The other day, I was in purge mode. I attacked the bookshelves that are on my side of the bed, ruthlessly pulling out books I knew I would never read and/or consult again.
Our little library has need of books for its shelves and also has a book sale every year. I will be donating these to the cause so that someone else will have the pleasure of reading them.
Long live books! And by that I mean the 3 dimensional kind.
For those of you who participated in my modest little meme, Reality Shot Thursday, my thanks. I loved your posts. I’d like to keep this going for a while and I’d be most appreciative if you’d spread the word. I don’t know about you, but I love shooting a no-pressure-real-life photo. It’s refreshing!
Beverly suggested I link with Pink Saturday since the cover of Alice in Wonderland is pink!
Claudia, I adore your narrative. The stories you weave together about your history and your current life. You know I tried the Kindle, but it just wasn’t for me. I love those three dimensional works of art. I love turning the pages and feeling the stiff spine beneath my fingertips as I read it. And I love Monty!
Brenda
WHAT GREAT BOOKS, SUCH TREASURES…..
I HAVE A FEW OLD ONES…..SHAKESPERE
VERY OLD, FALLING A PART…..IT WAS MY HUSBANDS GRANDMOTHER. IT IS PACKED AWAY, I FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT.
HAVE A NICE DAY, I AGREE…ENOUGH RAIN…….RIZZI
I know just what you mean. Your books are treasures, and your Alice book is gorgeous.
And, it’s pink. I hope you’ll link it with us on Pink Saturday this weekend.
Love your books. I put a link on my blog about Reality shots. Hope you get some people that want to join your post on thursdays. I am looking forward to seeing other peoples “disorder”. I could in fact photograph my whole house. LOL
I loved seeing the girl of the limberlost Claudia, this is one of my favorites. I have most of Gene Stratton Porter’s books and love them all. Don’t old books have the best smell?
hugs from here…
What! another great post by Claudia?
Yep, you’ve posted about books, vintage books at that. It falls in with my task of painting my darkroom. Ex-darkroom since digital cameras.
Hubby and I built my darkroom in the corner of our downstairs garage.
Since it was a darkroom it was light-tight and was kept de-humidified during summer months and keep from freezing in winter months.
I’m describing this because – – – that is where I keep all my favorite books. Most are vintage and all are dear to me.
Now that I’ve painted the darkroom white and trading printer/enlarger in for crafting and frou-frou I’ll be displaying my vintage books.
Your post is timely,
hugs to all
Gerry
Claudia,
A great post. I love books but do read on the Kindle quite often. I have arthritis and the Kindle is not heavy. I still have cookbooks, craft books, knitting books, art books…..
One of my favorite childhood books was “Maida’s Little House”. I look for these when we are poking about.
More rain coming in – enough….
Carol
Yes, I have a NookColor and read many, many books on it.
However, I do purchase hard copies of the books that I know I’ll read over and over again.
Most of what I read is for entertainment and will never be read by me again.
I ♥ my NookColor.
btw, we could use the rain here in min-Missouri
hugs
Gerry
Right the three dimensional ones. I could never rip one up. Every one shown on my hearth has been read by me or will be read by me. That photo of your stack of purged books looks just like my bedroom floor and table. The Alice book is so beautiful.
Claudia,
What a great post! I adore old books. Some I have for the subject, some for the beautiful illustrations & covers, some are in pieces so they’re great to create with. Some I buy for the titles. I was going to do a post called ‘not oprahs book club’. I love that you own books that were precious to your family,& the one called Claudia…awesome! My fave is your bird book. How perfect that you pressed your wedding flowers. One last thought. I guess nooks & kindles are good for some people, but I will always want to hold mine, feel it& smell it!
Lisa
Pinktastic! Reminds me to get back to reading.
My PINK is here, please come and visit when you get a chance. Have a nice weekend!
Your Alice book is such a treasure, I know how you feel about it because it was given to you by your grandmother. I’ve tried books on an I-pad but you don’t get that goosebump feeling all over. The coloring on the Alice book looks wonderful. Have a really wonderful Sat.
Ann
I love your vintage books, especially Alice. I love all things Alice.
What a treasure to have all these beautiful old books. Wonderful. Happy pink Saturday.
What tresures, Claudia!I also am the proud owner of some nice vintage books, I may show them sometimes. Thanks for sharing yours.
Hope all is well with you,
Monica xo
Beautiful Claudia and love old vintage books too….
what a wonderful collection you have :))
Happy Pink Saturday!
hugs,
kay ellen
Monty definitely looks fed up with the rain too!!!! He’s adorable.
I only read ‘real’ books – no electronic assists for me. I love vintage books for their awesome bindings and fabric covers, the colors and illustrations, all so much lovelier, especially for decoration…….remember someone said, ” books make a room”. You have some beauties Claudia.
Anyway dear, hope the rain has stopped – I’m up early today – the stars in the clear still dark sky at 6 AM were just amazing.
Hope things are going better – thinking of you and your folks.
Warm hugs – Mary
Oh how i love books! I think next to flowers they are my favorite thing to have in my home. Books and more books! I can re use a book, but only if it is truly falling apart. They are easy to find cheap.
I hope your weather dries up and the sun comes out.
Hugs,
Terri