The Haunted Bookshop
“It’s one of the uncanniest things I know to watch a real book on its career – it follows you and follows you and drives you into a corner and makes you read it. […] Words can’t describe the cunning of some books. You’ll think you’ve shaken them off your trail, and then one day some innocent-looking customer will pop in and begin to talk, and you’ll now he’s an unconscious agent of book-destiny.” – pg. 121, The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley
Title: The Haunted Bookshop
Author: Christopher Morley
Length: 265 pages
I am constantly haunted by books. As a reviewer your TBR pile grows and grows, but there are books that you want to read that no one is asking you to that sit and lurk until finally they demand that you pick them up.
I purchased The Haunted Bookshop years ago; it was the same time I bought Parnassus on Wheels. Nearly two years after finally reading my first encounter with Morley, I’ve finally been hunted down and captured by his wonderful sequel.
“There’s only one way to lay the ghost of a book, and that is to read it.”
Now that I’ve revisited Roger and Helen Mifflin, however, I just want more. I want to know what happens after this glorious book fetish mystery. After Parnassus on Wheels, it was exciting to see Mr. and Mrs. Mifflin after they settled down. But now I want to know: how does all the inadvertent advertising change the face of Mr. Mifflin’s business. I want to hang out with these fine people until we experience their inevitable deaths. Favorite characters deserve that much, for their fans to sob at their memorials.
Mostly, I adore Mr. Mifflin’s constant book recommendations. As long as people love books there will be books about bookstores, I am convinced, because the truly bookish seek out recommendations from their favorite characters, always. That was the romance, for me, in writing The Bookshop Hotel. I hope in time that fans will see more similarities in my work to Christopher Morley than to Debbie Macomber (of whom my writing has been compared) and the like. Ultimately, however, I’m happy with however I am categorized as long as people are enjoying them.
So Many Books
I reblogged a post this morning discussing books, the acquisition of books, and when a person could possibly have too many, (*gasp*) yes, too many books. This got me to thinking, yet again, about my own collection – ahem – addiction.
You see, Spring is just around the corner. My husband just cleaned out our master bedroom closet the other day and I donated a trash bag of clothes to Goodwill. Nooks and crannies will be conquered. The stuff that has piled up throughout Winter will be organized. Although I clean the house every day, this is when the true disinfecting from top to bottom occurs.
And the biggest mess of my house is the part of me that I love to love the most…
Yes, those are piles on the floor.
Yes, those are paperbacks stashed in the window sill. (And an empty fish tank.)
You don’t want to see inside those cupboards… so many paperbacks.
Guardian of the Library
I don’t remember what the top of that end table looks like… and that basket underneath is filled with picture books.
That completes The Library. One day, the dream is for that room to be all built in bookcases. When that magical day comes, I’ll actually have lots of empty space on the shelves and nothing piled anywhere. I’ve done the math. Therein lies the dilemma when it comes to purging. Purge too soon and my shelves won’t be full. Too late and I could be on the next episode of hoarders.
Wait, but there’s more…
This is the “school closet.”
Kiddo’s shelf, comprised mostly of the books from my childhood.
Kiddo’s actual shelf – you know, the books she picked out. (And a few given to me at the baby shower many moons ago.)
The last one… I promise.
This is why, other than review copies, my goal for the last few years is to make sure I read more of what is already in my personal inventory… and attempt to avoid new purchases like the plague. I was largely successful in this venture in 2013 – here’s to continuing the plan in 2014. I will not allow myself to spend more than $100 on books this year, and I must give away more than I bring in. That is the goal.
What about you? Are you a book collector? A digital collector or physical copies? What is your vice and addiction? How do you decide what to keep and what to toss?
And lastly – am I a pack rat?
Anakalian Whims 