The seven day blogging challenge asks that today I take a photo and tell you about it. I live in an area littered with coastal walks, glorious countryside and amazing historic locations to visit. Where red squirrels occasionally frolic along hedges and trees. So with this all in mind……. I took a photo of two bookshelves.
Yes don’t thank me, I know how overwhelmed you are right now. I should of warned you to brace yourself for an eye watering glorious image – that every pixel would be a joy to gaze upon. The sheer scale of the image you stare at, almost unbearably so beautiful you find a single tear slowly running down your cheek. The world becomes silent and you wonder if this is indeed perfection…….. (sorry I went too far)
Yet I’ve taken a photo that encompasses whole worlds, some alternate, some past and some in the possibilities of the future. Life both fictional and real await you, to be reawakened and discovered anew. Mark Twain sits near a mid-19th Century diary and Sherlock Holmes rubs shoulders with Chaucer.
I find often find solace in older work, the style of language and skill of the authors, often beating seven bells out of their modern counterparts. It doesn’t have to be a well known author of yesterday for me to enjoy.
We live in societies of diversity, literature reflects this and there is a place on today’s bookshelf or in an ebook reader for lesser known authors. For it is only your opinion that truly counts and reading is deeply personal, don’t let popularity cloud your reading choices.
Upon the lower shelf you will find newer works, but this shelf is double stacked as are the ones below – books from different eras mingle unashamed waiting with eager anticipation for your attention.
Hidden away on a shelf are numerous bookmarks, one of which I found in an old book. Which I photocopied and created a more sturdy new version. In the deep past my bookmarks were train tickets. Plentiful, especially as one year I took at least 700 – 900 train journeys (not joking). – Update: See comments for train journey details.
This five shelf bookcase is one a pair. One hot summer years back I walked them both across Winchester, to be reassembled and later they accompanied us to the island.
The shelves that carry the weight of worlds.
wow I love it. I love books!!! :)) amazing! even more the fact you used to take 700-900 train journeys each year!!! you practically lived on a train…still it must have been great, meeting the variety of people. 🙂
Hi Bili,
Cheers for your kind words. 🙂 Books are fantastic.
I’ve had some amazing work journey’s in my time. My last major one involve walking a pier, a boat and a train.
When I did the 700-900 that was for a year whilst my girlfriend and I were not living together. It was as follows:
Monday – Thursday (20 train connections)
A walk, a train from Farnborough Main to Basingstoke. Then Basingstoke to Overton. Then same journey back at night.
Friday (5 or 6 train connections)
A walk, a train from Farnborough Main to Basingstoke. Then Basingstoke to Overton. Then at night Overton to London. At London two tube trains to Kings Cross. I either then got on a train to the Midlands (another couple of hours) to see my girlfriend or I met her and we went back via three trains to my home.
Weekends (4 to 10 train connections)
This varied but I would always be on a train on a Sunday. Either commuting from the Midlands back home through London or going to London with my girlfriend. If you start hopping on and off tube trains it adds up!
I just added this up and it goes way over a thousand! Though I did take some holiday time off that year……which a few times involved trains! d’oh
I also did some amazing train trips for work to different parts of the country. I hate to say but most people are not chatty on train trips in the UK. On long journeys someone might chat, but often it is a great excuse to look out of the window, read a book and listen to music.
Anyhow I’ve probably just bored you with this lengthy reply!
Cheers for leaving your comment. 🙂
All the best
Andrew
What a wonderful collection of books … I’ve been neglecting my own reading list of late and need to get stuck back into some printed goodness.
Lovely photo too! 🙂
Hi Tracey,
It is so easy to neglect reading. Don’t know about you, but when I do neglect the books I feel out of sorts. How fast I am reading or if I am reading can reflect how I am.
I hope you get back to your books soon.
Cheers for your kind comments.
All the best
Andrew