I do not “get out much” on the Internet anymore. At least not as much as I used to. But I couldn’t help but notice that many of my Internet confreres have included me in the “tell me what’s on page leventyleven” book meme.
I am gratified, of course, to be thought of. But of course I can’t just cooperate. I’m a weirdo. If you must know, my house is like a nest of books. There are piles of them everywhere. Shelves depend from the ceiling; rise up from the floor. These stalagtites of text, stalagmites of print, and encrustations of illustration are too loopy to be of much interest to anyone else, I imagine. And the one gaping void has always been the same for me: I don’t read fiction. I practically never have. That’s what you’re all interested in, I know it, and I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. I do not have a subscription to any newspapers or magazines, either, now that I think of it. We own screens, but we can’t watch broadcast or cable television on any of them. I told you I was strange, but you don’t listen.
But there were many that expressed an interest. Let me see if I can be of some help. That first picture shows you the pleasantest where where you can read at my house. You should have a place like that in yours. A place of quiet contemplation, with the world just over your shoulder out the window. A light and a clock and a place for your drink. My wife reads here often while she listens for her child to fall asleep down the hall. Here’s what’s on the shelf over it.
8 Responses
That Paul Johnson book is a powerful one. Take page anything from that one, and you’ve trumped what most people can find anywhere else.
Pogo! We loves us some Pogo.
Which one? (You can click the picture to embiggen it.)
Oops. I picked the one I knew at 10 paces.
PJ’s one of my favorite authors. I finished the blue and white icon, A History of the American People last year, along with Birth of the Modern. I loved The Intellectuals; it was hilarious, but haven’t yet hit A History of the Jews.
But the American People book is superb. I showed him parts that contradict his school textbook and he gets both curious and upset, like someone is hiding somehting from him. Because they are. (“Why don’t they teach us this stuff?” he asks.)
His Freshman history teacher was none to happy when he asked her how FDR was not a socialist after she described his various progressive schemes. Having PJ back you up is, well, formidable.
P.S. Thanks for the window box pieces. I may try to do that on our garage and not hurt myself.
Pogo-Send me a picture when you’re done. Of your windowbox, or your stump, whichever turns up first.
Paul Johnson’s most lively and informative book is Modern Times, I believe. It’s on one of the other 500 shelves around here somewhere.
The P.C. term these days is “residual limb.” Trees have stumps.
Trust me.
Non-fiction is totally acceptable, you know. Lots of people doing this meme have posted things from non-fiction books. Even I – gasp – read non-fiction from time to time. Mostly history.
Thank you for allowing us to peruse your bookshelf. It’s one of the greatest things about being invited to the homes of other folks, to be able to spy on their reading preferences…
P.S. Hey, Janet! Miss you over at S.F.