It's Nice That's weekly series "Bookshelf" - in which artists, writers, designers, and creative thinkers list their five favorite books "in the whole ruddy world" - is an addicting and fascinating read. I was just talking with a friend the other day about how revealing bookshelves can be. My own is admittedly sparse (I've been doing most of my reading on a Kindle lately, and I don't even own a real shelf), but I consider the two tall stacks that I do have an ever-expanding work-in-progress.
Thoughts on a personal top five: Just Kids, The God of Small Things, possibly Jesus's Son by Denis Johnson, and something by T.C. Boyle and Geoff Dyer. You?
Photos, from top to bottom: set designer Anna Lomax; Antiques Roadshow's Marc Allum; Anna Lomax's Chapelle du Rosaire; Why Cats Paint, owned by Dazed and Confused editor Tim Noakes; Hilary Greenbaum of The New York Times Magazine; photographer Will Sanders.
So fun bumping into you and Max. :) Dash is possibly the cutest baby I've ever seen in my life. xo.
ReplyDeleteOooh I love bookshelves. I just want to run my hands all over the book spines.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the name Dash! I meant to say that on your post a few days ago. It's so badass and unique!
I loved Just Kids, and Grace Coddington's new autobiography.
ReplyDeleteBookshelves really are revealing! Right now mine is covered mostly with books my mother reads and sends on to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is so great! I am always curious as to what books people have, and I am always a little worried when I go into homes where there are no books, or when I meet people who say they don't enjoy reading. I don't have a bookshelf, but I do have very deep window sills, and that's where all my non-school books hang out.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to choose only five books, but Just Kids is definitely up there (I don't know if you feel the same way, but I think that book changed my life), as are The Giving Tree, Time's Arrow, And the Band Played On, and The History of Love.
a houses's best accessory is often its bookshelf.
ReplyDeletexx
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Kimia, it was so lovely to meet you! Will email you this week - we need to have a proper hang-out!
ReplyDeleteTara, I love it, too! I'll be sure to pass along your compliment :)
Angela, I've been meaning to pick up Grace - I've only heard amazing things.
Kathy, it definitely changed my life - I love it so much. And "The History of Love" is a great one - the last line of that book has always stuck with me.
"Why Cats Paint" - what an awesome choice.
ReplyDeleteAnon, right?!
ReplyDeletei love seeing other people's book shelves, it really is revealing, you're right. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBookshelves are my favorite. Truth: I will sometimes just sit on my futon and stare at my bookcase and note the way the books are leaning and how it changes day to day as I remove/add books. There's something comforting about a full, slightly messy bookshelf, especially if it includes some knick knacks.
ReplyDeleteAwesome. I am a sucker for books - I think they say so much about the person living in that space. Sometimes I sit back and think about what my bookshelves say about me. There are many missing. We have more bookshelves, though, and they are rapidly filling. How to pick five? I adored Just Kids too. Off the top of my head, I think of... Poisonwood Bible, Leaves of Grass, The Celebrant, Contact, East of Eden...and can I throw a Harry Potter in there just for fun? ;-)
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