I definitely agree that building a library is a serious business, and I am very selective about how I build my own. I generally only choose books I know have a specific sort of quality to them, craft-wise. Books that feel timeless, in a way. I think that curating a collection of physical books is becoming more important than ever, especially with the rise in censorship and political correctness. There are enough stories warning of what happens to a society where books are not valued.
This is timely for me. My husband and I are in the process of assembling our own library in what is currently a catch-all room. I grab as much Shakespeare and as many of the classics and fairy tales as I can find at thrift stores and antique shops. Something else worth acquiring is local history. I live in so-called flyover country, so I've begun keeping my eye out for unusual or interesting records of the surrounding area. One example: a 1980s book of watercolor paintings depicting local places.
I really enjoyed reading this one. Thanks for the thoughtful post.
I definitely agree that building a library is a serious business, and I am very selective about how I build my own. I generally only choose books I know have a specific sort of quality to them, craft-wise. Books that feel timeless, in a way. I think that curating a collection of physical books is becoming more important than ever, especially with the rise in censorship and political correctness. There are enough stories warning of what happens to a society where books are not valued.
This is certainly true! Nothing is forever, of course, but it's an excellent pursuit to build something as meaningful and lasting as a good library.
This is timely for me. My husband and I are in the process of assembling our own library in what is currently a catch-all room. I grab as much Shakespeare and as many of the classics and fairy tales as I can find at thrift stores and antique shops. Something else worth acquiring is local history. I live in so-called flyover country, so I've begun keeping my eye out for unusual or interesting records of the surrounding area. One example: a 1980s book of watercolor paintings depicting local places.
I really enjoyed reading this one. Thanks for the thoughtful post.