Tuesday, May 21, 2013

May Photo A Day : Day 21: I Care About This

My Books!

There is a rule in the house which I try to make everyone (read hubby) follow: everything has a place and there is a place for everything, except books (which my husband reminded me when I kept nagging him about few of his things lying around for a few hours). He pointed out the many books and magazines I have all over the place. 

Ah, I digress!

I deeply care about my books. In the picture you can see one of my bookshelves. My favourite timepass is to organize / reorganize books, and stand in front of my bookshelf and look at the wonderful collection I have. Until some time back, when my shelves were not overflowing like this (double parking, as you can see), they were divided as per genres. Even now, to some extent, I maintain that.

The top most shelf has biographies, autobiographies and memoirs. The bottom-most has mythology inspired literature; and so on.

Earlier I would also take them all out in the balcony for airing. Even now, cleaning my bookshelves (or cleaning in general) is therapeutic for me.

You would also not find my books lying around. They are handled and kept properly.

Even this bookshelf was a gift from my husband. We had been discussing about getting a new bookshelf identical in dimensions and look as our wardrobe so that we could keep it in our bedroom; but I could never imagine that he would do all the planning, get it perfectly made and also get it delivered at 12 am on my birthday. When somebody came at 12 o'clock and my husband ushered me into another room, I thought it would be the usual birthday cake but this was out of the world. It has been the best gift of my life yet. It still gives me the thrills :-)

26 comments:

  1. Wow! You echo my sentiments on this topic. Books ... ah! Books... what would I do without them.
    I love standing in front of my book almirah and keep arranging the books every now and then. And even I have double parking of books!
    I was planning to write on books too... :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I told you, we are alike in so many ways :-)

      Delete
  2. You have read my mind. I love books, can't do without them... everyone in the family does... and I don't know how people give away a book after reading it. My books become my priced possession.. can't part with them :))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, I never give my books to any one, not even to close friends. I may gift books but never lend. They never come back, no matter how good the intentions. It just never happens :-(
      In my family, my husband and I have opposite interests. He is into gaming, I into reading. I never play games on his Playstations and he never reads. In college, I used his library card too ;-)

      Delete
  3. It is a lovely shelf and I tried clicking on it to enlarge (i wanted to read the name of the books) but it didn't work :P

    And I can understand your thrill when u must have recvd it!!!

    Do u lend your books?? I don't!! Not unless I really trust the person!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I knew, you would but I keep the resolutions low for the blog. Uploading etc is easier.
      I have another one in the other room, but this one is my favourite for obvious reasons. I am nagging hubby for one more now. But he is putting his foot down. So far he has agreed to get one which has to be completely covered. Now you would understand my need to be able to see them. So we are in a dead-lock at the moment.
      No I never lend my books, not even to the best friend. I would buy one for her but never lend my own.

      Delete
  4. Jealous !!! of the book shelf and of your cleanliness OCD. I do have a bookshelf and arranging the books will cause a fight between me n hubby. So I let him arrange and then I stuff books lying around whenever he is not looking..And he goes mad as expected :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So both of you love books,I guess :-)
      That is the best thing about different interests. He does not even touch my books or magazines (and I am too possessive about them). I don't go all out to cross levels in his games.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous1:34 PM

    That is such a lovely gesture. I can imagine the feeling when you saw it. My books lie all around the house. So I can't identify with this. ;)

    http://www.whatmycameracaptures.com/may-photo-a-day-21/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I don't know anyone better than him in the art of gifting. And I am not complaining :-)
      His gifts are always thoughtful and apt for the person. So whenever I need to gift to anybody, I tell him to pick a gift, whether for friends or kiddie birthdays!

      Delete
  6. waa such a perfect gift!

    ReplyDelete
  7. wowow !
    book shelf - a bday gift- That is some thing lovely
    books r the best gifts and book shelf is coool too !
    I can understand the obsession with the books and the orderliness one wants to have ;)
    have fun

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He has gifted me book once but otherwise he keeps distance on books because he does not know what I have read / not read / want, etc. He is totally oblivious to books. I am fine with it. I anyways buy so many, with his money ;-)

      Delete
  8. wow! That is such an awesome shelf ! Jealous , jealous , jealous ..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Come on, how much of the shelf are you actually able to see. The books are making it gorgeous. Right? There is no better way to decorate a house :-)

      Delete
  9. The shelf in my house is cramped with books...have to buy a new shelf now...but, no place. :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No matter how much space we have, it always falls short :-)

      Delete
  10. WOW! First Shilpa's book-shelves and now yours! What a day this has been! And I'm sitting here with my mouth still open, as a toddler might perhaps, for a bar of chocolate! It's only by exercising the utmost self-restraint that I haven't started drooling on my keyboard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha no matter how many books we have, we always drool at more books. I can totally identify with your feelings :-)

      Delete
  11. Awwww! So neatly organized. I am so glad to find so many book-lovers who care about the books so much :)

    Lovely post Reema!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too Nandana! It is always a pleasure to know another book lover :-)

      Delete
  12. Anonymous1:42 AM

    You know what.. I have been ogling at everybody's bookshelves thanks to this tag :) You have an awesome collection arranged very neatly :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha ha thank you so much. I love arranging and re-arranging my books. i am crazy about them.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous11:26 AM

    Lovely bookshelf..My bday is coming and i really want to share thsi post with hubby so het get some idea for gift :-) :-)

    Me too doesnt like sharing my book, would anyday prefer buying abother copy and gift to fren who want mine:-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arre you should know by now how to drop not-so-subtle hints to your husband ha ha. Just kidding. Believe me, I did not get him to do this for me. I like surprises and more often he gives me lovely gifts.
      When is your birthday?

      Delete