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March 28, 2008
And... I never... learned... to read... (Oscar clip)
My biggest weakness is books*.
When I first came to France, I spent a good two or three years not being able to afford to buy books, and spent a considerable amount of time and energy trying to procure them in the most economic way possible. I read about one book a month, and I used to drag the words out in my mind to make them last longer. I eventually became a member of the American Library in Paris for a year, but there's just something special to me about owning books, and I let my membership run out without renewing it.
Now, I'm lucky enough to work within 3 minutes walk of two English bookshops (selling both second-hand and new books), as well as a couple of other shops that have a rich selection of all sorts of English literature, but this really is my downfall, you see. I buy at least one book a week, sometimes more. I would prefer to go without certain things in my life than to go without being able to read.
It started at a young age, when my parents had to forbid me from getting up and reading in front of the fire before 6am. After 6am was fine, but they were not to hear a peep out of me before that. My sister is the same, and it's really all my parents fault anyway, since they're both bookworms too.
I always have a book in my handbag. I read on the train. If I'm not having lunch with my colleagues, I read at lunchtime. I read as I walk. If I don't have my ipod on, I read standing in line at the supermarket (and sometimes when I do). I'm a book nerd, and proud of it.
I'm not particularly fussed about what I read - I often find myself buying the first thing my eye falls on - I love reading all sorts of books, although that's not to say I'm not discerning. I might spend a month reading every single bit of crime fiction I can get my hands on, then spend the next month devouring Dickens, and the one after that I'll be all about modern fiction.
I always thought that I'd marry a reader. Someone who loved books as much as I do. But unless it's a cookbook, a photography magazine or a comic book, Sylvain is not so much into reading. It occasionally surprises me that I'm ok with this, but at least it means that I don't have to share the precious space in our bookshelves with anyone else (except for one little spot where he keeps his comics, but that's a small concession to make).
Speaking of books, if you're in Paris tomorrow, SOS Helpline (the anglo phoneline support network) is having a big book sale near Charles de Gaulle Etoile, just a couple of steps away from the Champs Elysées. It's for a good cause, and you can donate your old books and pick up some new ones while you're at it! Waiting beside our front door are two big bags of books I'm planning to donate... I just have to make sure I'm reasonable and don't buy more than I can carry home.
* stationery comes a close second, but that's another post for another day.
Posted by Katia at March 28, 2008 9:18 PM
Comments
Comments
lucky I'm a fast reader. I should be able to get through a vast number while I'm there. Do you lend them out to travelers? I was wondering how to hide several kilos of books in my suitcase so that the Hefmeister wouldn't notice. I had already ditched my shoes and planned to buy new ones in England but you may have solved my problem.
Posted by: Sabine | March 28, 2008 10:52 PM
oh my gosh. I love books. my husband and I have a million. we both are happy to sacrifice other things but not our book or travel money! and don't even get me started on stationary! I love pretty papers - be they writing stationary, gift wrap, etc. you will be in heaven in Venice - they have beautiful paper shops. sigh - I am hoping to get there before the paper exhibit leaves the Fortuny Museum.
that would be my dream business - a lovely book and stationary shop!
Posted by: stacy | March 28, 2008 11:47 PM
Hi, only recently found your blog...
I'm a big reader, my husband isn't unless it's one of his few crime novelists. I'm okay with this because it takes him about 15 times longer to get through a book than I do, so it all balances out.
Anyway, I buy English books on weight these days. Calculate how many English words I get for my buck, even if I'm in England at the time.
As for stationery, don't get me started....
Posted by: DrJ | March 29, 2008 1:00 AM
I love reading too! I just wish I liked reading more in French...
Posted by: Victoria | March 29, 2008 3:38 AM
I had NO IDEA you shared my stationery fetish. We need to TALK :-)
Posted by: rhino75 | March 29, 2008 2:19 PM
I'm a huge bookworm too. I just joined goodreads so that I could keep a list of all of the books that get recommended to me. I have to steer clear of the used bookstores here as well...just so I don't end up overspending in them...
Posted by: Angie | March 29, 2008 2:58 PM
Sabine, I was JUST thinking about you the other day, as I was arranging some books in my shelf - you've probably read half of what I've got already, but hopefully there'll be a few you won't have read ;)
I also think there is a pretty nice selection in a little terrace house in Cambridge, so you should be fine for a few weeks!
Rhino, darling, we MUST talk. Kindred spirits indeed.
Victoria, I've NEVER felt that reading in French was relaxing, which is why I don't own any French novels. Maybe one day I'll get there, but I'm not there yet.
Stacy - thanks for the Venice tip! As if I wasn't already, but now I'm REALLY excited!
Angie & DrJ - seriously, I have to be so careful in the second hand book shops here, especially because they're so close! I already spend a ridiculou amount in them...
Posted by: Katia | March 29, 2008 7:43 PM
sigh I need to learn how to spell stationery. sigh
Posted by: stacy | March 29, 2008 11:55 PM
I LOVE to read! And I read almost any type of book. Ive even read some self help books. I usually will donate everything I buy to th elocal library cuz Im not one to read the same book twice. My husband isnt a reader at all. My boys arent either. Although Ive been making them read a chapter of a book a day. Reading is good for you I keep telling them! LOL! Thats an interesting fact about the string around a cats stomach! It almost tempts me to try it out my cat! hehe!
Posted by: Amy | March 30, 2008 9:06 PM
When I am in Paris again, I will let you know. I have so many books that we run out of places to put them all. I'd be glad to give them to you. I read lots of mysteries myself.
Posted by: Linda | April 5, 2008 8:02 PM
Oh MAN, how I wish I had seen this post sooner! How could I have missed it?! I would have been up for donating some of my books and perhaps acquiring some more (unneeded) ones -- it's a major weakness of mine as well. And in my case, my boy and I are *both* massive bookworms, so talk about quite the collection... And books hanging out of every nook and cranny, it's crazy! Really no place to put them all -- and yet we both keep bringing more home!! It's insane.
Posted by: Alice | April 7, 2008 10:31 AM