In Praise Of Books

Have I ever mentioned how much I love books? Every corner of our home houses a pile of books. Cookery, travel, interior design, architecture, film, fashion, classic cars, antiques and collectables, homeopathy, Hinduism, aromatherapy, yoga, cats, Pilates, DIY, photography, festivals; any visitor to our house can sum up our passions by simply perusing our collection.

The kitchen cabinet houses cookery books and recipes torn from magazines.

You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend ~Paul Sweeney

We ran out of shelf space a long time ago.

Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house ~Henry Ward Beecher

We rescued this bookcase from a skip, a lick of paint and it's as good as new.

I find television to be very educating.  Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book ~Groucho Marx

  

I've always loved the 1960's kitchen sink dramas. Poor Cow, Up The Junction, A Taste of Honey, The L-Shaped Room, A Kind Of Loving ......no romances for me, I prefer bleak landscapes, Northern grit and sad endings. Nothing beats unearthing a battered vintage paperback at a jumble sale to add to my collection.

1960's paperbacks displayed on a Victorian washstand and nestling against Buddha

 My favourite book of all time? No question of a doubt, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. I don't know how many times I've re-read it, but I absolutely adore it. I was devastated when Johnny Depp bought the film rights and intends playing Lin, I always picture Russell Crowe or Daniel Craig as the burly anti-hero.

Yet more of our collection. I found the Nick Cave book at a jumble sale, it's signed by the dude himself. I have a weakness for Taschen, especially Art Deco and late Twentieth Century design.

Bedside reading, nearly all of our paperbacks are second-hand.

What's your favourite book? I'd love to know.