daisy

This built-in bookshelf was one of the things I really liked about this house when we bought it 4 years ago. The house was built by the family we purchased it from, built in 1959. He built in a lot of custom touches, all out of this same wood laminate. I think other people's bookshelves are always so much more interesting than your own. Honestly, I have read most of the books on it, so I don't go back to it for books too often (other than the art books and phone book). We watch a lot of movies, those are there too. But I think it is more a representation of people that I am connected to rather than ideas. The objects all represent specific people that gave them to me (mostly my rather large family), and most of the books as well have a history that connects them to a person.



This is my prized collection of 1920's children's books, "My Book House" by Olive Beaupre Miller. Great illustrations, received these as a 13th birthday present from my father. Also in this shot, one of my prized beetles and a small sculpture from my sister. The books remind me of my collector dad, who used to say to all of us, right after opening some toy received as a present, "You should keep it in the box, it will be worth a lot someday!!". We never kept anything in the box, no regrets here.



Bookshelf Guardienne. I love this paper mache doll from Mexico, great face! 'Nuf said.

hilary

highlights include: a collection of colored fairy books, several books on Irish history and folk tales, Irish language, A history of the crusades called Through Arab Eyes, the Hebrew Goddess, selected plays by George Bernard Shaw, Nietzche, Jung, Norton's Anthology, The Druids, Tom Robbins' books....books on sex, dreaming, handicrafts, anatomy, alternative health, botany, ancient mystery cults, and a piece or two by CS Lewis because he has good advice on avoiding temptation ;). All have survived the culls of '04, '07, and previous years and date back to before college. This is one of 8 filled bookshelves in our possession. ;)
Hey, it's better than collecting cardboard boxes....

tech dude

Here's my "bookshelf" at work. Not much to it, as I have the world's largest library at my finger tips (google). But if you look closely there are a few books on it towards the top.

Check out tech dude's incoherent ramblings at Geek-Think.

brandy

What can I say,
Books



quiet
self-absorbed
enriching
shared
learning
thoughtful
traveling
idealist






messy
organized
old new
excessive
odd
revealing
hidden
project






others
mine
ours

saelwa

My Home Office. Aesthetically this is the favorite of my three bookshelves. It's a pretty green color (I painted it), it has that great plant (still living!) on top and is crowned by a photo of my boys at the state fair (we got our bunny that day). But it barely qualifies as a bookshelf anymore. It has been reduced to a utilitarian storage facility (alas! where is the otherworldliness of a real bookshelf?)

My Professional Library. This is the place where my hopes, dreams and ideals lay stored. Nestled in this frigid corner of my house are those books that contain the theories, philosophies and unrealized craft projects that have informed my professional, parental, and artistic development. These are the few items that have survived repeated anti-clutter cullings. Did you notice that this bookshelf is tucked in the corner surrounded by all the shit that life has brought into my life?

Daily Life. Books from friends ("You have to read this one, it so reminds me of you") who are fully aware that I have not read an entire book (that has more than a 9th grade reading level) in more than five years. Cookbooks from the library as I once again psych myself up (in an attempt) to take my rightful place as a domestic goddess. Children's books for when I exercise the one area (only area) of parenting in which I feel confident--reading with my children (shit, I'm a teacher with a theatrical background, I'd better be able to read a story).


You can find out more about saelwa's life at 200 days. Or leave her a comment here.....

the rules

Rule # 1: You may submit up to 3 photos. Send them to suesun40@gmail.com or give me links to your flickr photos. Try to make them of the largest size and highest resolution possible.... all the better for voyeuring in. However, any photo will do!

Rule #2: I will publish what you send me as is. I will neither censor nor judge nor crop.

Rule #3: Please do not rearrange or organize or dust or manipulate your bookshelf in any way immediately before its photo-op.

Rule #4: I trust that you will follow Rule #3, because to doubt you would be foolish and completely unprovable.

Rule #5: I will publish photos anonymously, or with your name as the title, and/or with a link to your blog/website. The choice is yours-be sure to let me know your desire. You may be as transparent or as obscure as you wish.

Rule #6: Optional: Write some sort of explanation or description or history of your books/bookshelf, in prose or in poetry, and I will publish it along with your photo(s).

Rule #7: I can change the rules at any time.