Comments on: On The Shelf http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/ This ain't something else. Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:39:52 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Ed R http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182296 Ed R Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:36:39 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182296 I've just recently figured out how to turn my cl9oset door in the spare room into more bookshelf space. And if I replace the bookcases with bookshelves attached to the walls, I can go up to 12 feet high. That will be enough shelf space for a few more years. I’ve just recently figured out how to turn my cl9oset door in the spare room into more bookshelf space. And if I replace the bookcases with bookshelves attached to the walls, I can go up to 12 feet high. That will be enough shelf space for a few more years.

]]> By: Cliff http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182285 Cliff Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:46:56 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182285 The book, I mean. Jesus. The book, I mean. Jesus.

]]> By: Cliff http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182284 Cliff Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:46:31 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182284 Maybe. Very well thumbed, as well. Maybe. Very well thumbed, as well.

]]> By: Mr Angry http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182281 Mr Angry Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:29:06 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182281 This all came about because you found a Jeremy Clarkson compilation on my book shelf last week, isn't it? I told you. It was a Christmas present from my mother. This all came about because you found a Jeremy Clarkson compilation on my book shelf last week, isn’t it?

I told you. It was a Christmas present from my mother.

]]> By: Cliff http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182261 Cliff Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:09:08 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182261 How dare you, MDF. That is stained pine with British cardboard laminate backing. How dare you, MDF. That is stained pine with British cardboard laminate backing.

]]> By: JonnyB http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182257 JonnyB Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:49:00 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182257 I've been peering and peering, but I just can't work out whether it's stained pine or covered MDF. I’ve been peering and peering, but I just can’t work out whether it’s stained pine or covered MDF.

]]> By: Kathryn http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182159 Kathryn Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:33:56 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182159 John Snelling it is! John Snelling it is!

]]> By: VerseFameBeauty http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182085 VerseFameBeauty Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:01:45 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182085 I loooove looking at people's bookshelves! Personally, my book philosophy is I only buy it if I'm going to read it at least twice. Most of my collection is 19th century British literature, with some good nonfiction to round it out. The spines of most of mine are hard to read, though, because I love paperback editions; 1) They are very cheap, and 2) Are much easier to read (that is, hold for a long period of time). Read $4.50 Signet Classic paperbacks two or three times and the spines are pretty much white. :-P I think there's a website where people post photos of their bookshelves but I can't find it at the moment... I loooove looking at people’s bookshelves!
Personally, my book philosophy is I only buy it if I’m going to read it at least twice. Most of my collection is 19th century British literature, with some good nonfiction to round it out. The spines of most of mine are hard to read, though, because I love paperback editions; 1) They are very cheap, and 2) Are much easier to read (that is, hold for a long period of time). Read $4.50 Signet Classic paperbacks two or three times and the spines are pretty much white. :-P
I think there’s a website where people post photos of their bookshelves but I can’t find it at the moment…

]]> By: Katy Newton http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182084 Katy Newton Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:44:39 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182084 Really? That's it? I admire you. I am trying to cull my books at the moment as all of my shelves are double-stacked and there's about 2000 of them (or something) in one room. I've managed to cull everything else but I really struggle to ditch books. Really? That’s it? I admire you. I am trying to cull my books at the moment as all of my shelves are double-stacked and there’s about 2000 of them (or something) in one room. I’ve managed to cull everything else but I really struggle to ditch books.

]]> By: Cliff http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182074 Cliff Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:41:30 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182074 That, as they say in your books, is IT. I read a fair bit but I became ruthless one day a couple of years ago and have given away books to charity shops ever since. There are some here I haven't been able to part with, and others I just haven't gotten around to throwing away yet. That, as they say in your books, is IT. I read a fair bit but I became ruthless one day a couple of years ago and have given away books to charity shops ever since.

There are some here I haven’t been able to part with, and others I just haven’t gotten around to throwing away yet.

]]> By: Ed R http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182047 Ed R Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:41:31 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182047 I must be doing things wrong, if this is your entire library. I have one 12-foot-square room whose walls are covered from floor to about chest-high with books, placed in shelves in double and even triple rows. The bedroom has a huge bookcase similarly loaded, plus there's the huge stack of books on the nightstand and the technical bookshelf in the office. No idea on the total count. I don't think I want to know. I realize that books take up space and space is a serious premium for you in the UK. It's just very tough for me to give up a book. I must be doing things wrong, if this is your entire library. I have one 12-foot-square room whose walls are covered from floor to about chest-high with books, placed in shelves in double and even triple rows. The bedroom has a huge bookcase similarly loaded, plus there’s the huge stack of books on the nightstand and the technical bookshelf in the office. No idea on the total count. I don’t think I want to know.
I realize that books take up space and space is a serious premium for you in the UK. It’s just very tough for me to give up a book.

]]> By: anna http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-182013 anna Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:33:38 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-182013 That's IT? Oh god, I've got more than that on my shelves here and I've only been here 8 weeks (and we were terribly terribly practical and only allowed ourselves 12 or so each to bring with us, the rest are in storage) I blame my mother. That’s IT?

Oh god, I’ve got more than that on my shelves here and I’ve only been here 8 weeks (and we were terribly terribly practical and only allowed ourselves 12 or so each to bring with us, the rest are in storage)

I blame my mother.

]]> By: Katy Newton http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-181999 Katy Newton Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:25:57 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-181999 I was pleased to see that we overlap quite a lot. We even have a little corner of Buddhist philosophy from my mother's Nicheren Shoshu days. I don't have The Fragrant Pharmacy but I <i>totally</i> used to order it in when I was in charge of WH Smith's Alternative Health section. I was pleased to see that we overlap quite a lot. We even have a little corner of Buddhist philosophy from my mother’s Nicheren Shoshu days. I don’t have The Fragrant Pharmacy but I totally used to order it in when I was in charge of WH Smith’s Alternative Health section.

]]> By: Cliff http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-181986 Cliff Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:39:16 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-181986 And bibles are bottom left with comedy roughly at the top. This was unconciously arranged, but now it seems there's something in it. You can read too much into this of course. What could you make of someone into Machiavelli and vegetable growing? Way too much. Good beginner's books (and therefore best overall) on Zen are Peace Is Every Step and Zen Mind, Beginner's mind. But Zen gets overexplained so it gets confusing in long books. John Snelling's book is about the best I've got. Perhaps I can interest you in some of our literature. :) HAHA And bibles are bottom left with comedy roughly at the top. This was unconciously arranged, but now it seems there’s something in it.

You can read too much into this of course. What could you make of someone into Machiavelli and vegetable growing? Way too much.

Good beginner’s books (and therefore best overall) on Zen are Peace Is Every Step and Zen Mind, Beginner’s mind. But Zen gets overexplained so it gets confusing in long books. John Snelling’s book is about the best I’ve got.

Perhaps I can interest you in some of our literature. :) HAHA

]]> By: Kathryn http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-181973 Kathryn Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:50:27 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-181973 Interesting. Both the books and the color-blindness thingy. I see you have the zen books present. I would probably get those if I didn't find being zen so difficult... Interesting. Both the books and the color-blindness thingy. I see you have the zen books present. I would probably get those if I didn’t find being zen so difficult…

]]> By: Cliff http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-181962 Cliff Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:03:25 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-181962 Yeah. Also - I am colourblind, and this morning did not know I was bleeding or not. Turns out it was dried coffee on finger - which is the SAME COLOUR - but I could only identify the substance by smell. Yeah. Also – I am colourblind, and this morning did not know I was bleeding or not. Turns out it was dried coffee on finger – which is the SAME COLOUR – but I could only identify the substance by smell.

]]> By: Sam http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-181945 Sam Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:44:32 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-181945 I was going to say that you have some alarming pastels on there... I was going to say that you have some alarming pastels on there…

]]> By: Cliff http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-181932 Cliff Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:02:22 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-181932 Some of those belong to Mrs. This, I should say, but very few. Phillipa Gregory, for example. But mine should be pretty obvious. Some of those belong to Mrs. This, I should say, but very few. Phillipa Gregory, for example. But mine should be pretty obvious.

]]> By: mike http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-181930 mike Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:56:48 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-181930 There's almost no content overlap between your bookshelf and ours: Margrave Of The Marshes, Zen & The Art... and that's it, I think. We generally try not to hang on to fiction; it's clutter that we'll never re-read, so it gets passed on to friends or charity shops. We'll keep hardbacks, art books, reference books, coffee table books. There’s almost no content overlap between your bookshelf and ours: Margrave Of The Marshes, Zen & The Art… and that’s it, I think.

We generally try not to hang on to fiction; it’s clutter that we’ll never re-read, so it gets passed on to friends or charity shops. We’ll keep hardbacks, art books, reference books, coffee table books.

]]> By: Katy Newton http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/comment-page-1/#comment-181916 Katy Newton Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:10:45 +0000 http://www.thisisthis.org/2008/10/27/on-the-shelf/#comment-181916 I am so doing this. I am so doing this.

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