As I was tucking James, by Percival Everett (a book both my husband and I just finished and highly recommend) into a free-ish spot on a shelf in our library/dining room, it struck me what I wanted to write about in this month’s newsletter: where people keep their books.
Back in the mists of time, when Tom and I were newlyweds, I decided that, over a long weekend, I would build library carrels in the second bedroom in our tiny apartment. Why wouldn’t I? Tom was with a study group for the three days and I had a new Skilsaw—a Christmas present from the insurance company where I was the receptionist—and I was dying to use it. We had no money and I had no construction expertise. What could possibly go wrong?
In 1971 there was no YouTube to help me figure out how to turn what was in my head into reality. I struggled hauling everything up three floors: plywood, screws, nails, paint, none of which we could afford. For the next three days I sawed, banged, and swore (I’m sure our neighbors were furious with the noise), until at the end of the long weekend I had cobbled together something that I thought was worthy of the Library of Congress.
Thirty-five years later, when we built our home and a long time before I knew I was going to be a mystery writer, we made sure we had just the place for our hundreds and hundreds of books …I love this room.
A dear friend of mine, who wrote the quintessential compendium on Agatha Christie, keeps all his Christie works together alongside the book he wrote about the greatest mystery writer ever. And now, my books have pride of place in the same treasure trove. I’m beyond honored.
Books deserve a home wherever you want to keep them. They love being stacked on tables, chairs, the floor. They love to line the hallway to the bathroom or hang out in a basket on the porch next to your favorite reading chair, pile several high and top them with a lamp.
Organize them by subject, author, fiction, nonfiction, size, color, or don’t organize them at all. A friend of mine shared this quote from Lev Grossman’s trilogy The Magicians (which I’ve never read, but I love the quote):
“It didn’t matter where you were, if you were in a room full of books you were at least halfway home.”
Please share the clever places you store your literary treasures with me! I’d love to see pictures or you can just tell me where you tuck your gems. :)
There you go. Let your imagination run wild. Email your suggestions to me at tana@tanalhboerger.com.
I can’t wait to hear your ideas!
Cheers and Santé,
