I've recently adopted a new way of prioritizing my reading list, based not on what books interest me the most, but on the aesthetic appeal of their covers... in reverse order. Let me explain.
You see, once upon a time, I regarded books, not so much as possessions, but as friends... friends that would last a lifetime. I still think of books as friends, but they occupy a more temporary place in my life. I've been on the move for the last six years. I no longer have huge bookshelves to store books on. Nor do I have a permanent place to store a bookshelf.
So, books have taken on a more transient role in my life. I scrounge them up in used book stores and hostel book swaps, and when I finish reading them, I take them to the next book swap or give them away to someone who I know will enjoy them. I just can't physically schlep them all around with me in my backpack.
Well, in the last year, I've managed to become more or less permanently fixed in this flat in Prague, and I've managed to gather together quite a few books from various sources... all of which I intend to read before I pass them along. At the moment, they are occupying a bookshelfy spot on the side of my bed, out in plain view, and therein lies my dilemma.
You see, I think they take up too much room and hide the beautiful dark wood of that bookshelfy sideboard, and so I am motivated to read fast in order to make more room and put that beautiful wood on display. But in a simultaneous race to improve the aesthetics of my room, I'm choosing to read the ugliest books first.
Right now, I'm reading a very worn copy of A Bright Shining Lie (a history of the Vietnam war). Been reading that one for a long time... months, actually. It's a bit dry, but has its moments, and I'm interested in the topic. But most of all, I'm really motivated to get that cold, steely blue color out of my warm, yellow, orange and purple room. It just doesn't belong here.
The next to go will be Break-In, an equestrian mystery by Dick Francis. I've already read one of his equestrian mysteries, and I expect this next one to confirm my suspicions that he is a formula writer. Nevertheless, I must rid my bedside of that horrible black cover with its garish, fluorescent orange/pink lettering. And that one will be quickly followed by a black and blue collection of science fiction short stories.
Oh, there are other books I'm much more keen on reading... like the German version of Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being, the Polish version of Paulo Coehlo's The Alchemist or the German version of his Eleven Minutes. And I'm looking forward to re-reading Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead... even though I don't really agree with her politics, she's a fab storyteller.
But those will have to wait until I've rid my bedside of all its ugliness. Why is it that the most interesting books also have the prettiest covers? It's just something that I'm going to have to work with.
And what about you? How have you prioritized your summer reading list?
kruuyai posted on May 31, 2008
| views: 199
Comments
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mobil said on May 31, 2008....
Screw that Kru, get some books on how to make a guy squeel like a pig in bed. No, first a book on how to get a guy into bed haha.I read where you are having a tough time Kru, wrote the above to make you smile not to add to your difficult time Kru. Sometimes we take life too seriously, take ourselves too seriously. We forget to enjoy the most important and simple things life has to offer. All my best to you Kru. -
Zayda said on May 31, 2008....
LOL. Kruu, your strategy for reading books reminds me of my strategy for buying books. Sometimes, I buy a book simply because it has a fabulous cover. I actually have a book that I am considering taking the cover of to my tattoo artist so he can adapt the vine and scroll-work design on the cover into a tattoo.
And yes, Dick Francis is a bit of a formula writer. Unfortunately, most of his books are also in garish colors. -
kruuyai said on Jun 01, 2008....
mobil: Well, like I said, if it wants to stay on my bookshelf, it has to be pretty... who cares what it's about! Thanks for the smile. :)
Z: "Your" tattoo artist? Somehow, tattoos have never entered into my picture of you, and now you're telling me about your tattoo artist the way that most women talk about "their" hairdresser. lol... now I have to totally erase my image of you and come up with a new one. That should keep me busy and keep my mind off my troubles for a few hours. :)
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Zayda said on Jun 01, 2008....
LOL. Yes, Kruu, my tattoo artist. :) I somehow thought that you knew I have tattoos. That's what the "inked" refers to in my profile description.
Well, I certainly hope that your rethinking of your image of me is at least entertaining.
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kruuyai said on Jun 01, 2008....
Z: I guess I assumed that "inked" had something to do with the fact that you're a writer. lol Well, yes, let's just say that my image of you now is more... mmm... how shall I put it?... colorful! :) -
queenparanoia said on Jun 03, 2008....
well since i dont have a job yet i have so many books that i'm reading... i just finish reading 2 light romantic-comedy pocket book yesterday.. =) -
FlowersbyFarha said on Jun 04, 2008....
yeah, Dick Francis is formula writer-- I made it to about 3 when I decided I really didn't need to read about the protagonist getting beat up in chapter three and a car exploding in chapter 7.
I confess-- I had my collection of 80-some Agatha Christie books in paperback... read'em as I found'em. Read them randomly as if visiting an old friend. Read them by character. Read them alphabetically. Read them chronologically. Finally traded them in at the local paperback exchange to make room for "new friends."
Doesn't matter what order you read them as long as you read them. Putting a book on display ONLY because of it's cover solely for it's use as interior design without regard to it's content is like having someone for a friend only because s/he is pretty.
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kruuyai said on Jun 05, 2008....
queen: You finished reading two books in one day? Wow! You are a fast reader. And you complain about the length of my posts! ;-)
Flowers: Hey! You just ruined the book for me! lol I did the same thing with Sherlock Holmes. It gets easier and easier to guess who dunnit.
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queenparanoia said on Jun 06, 2008....
it's just a pocketbook kruu. very thin and you can finish it in an hour or so! i'm actually a slow reader... =) -
FlowersbyFarha said on Jun 06, 2008....
Ooops! Sorry, kruuyai.... does that mean I shouldn't tell you the formula for the Bosom Busters? (aka dime romance novels, probably so-called because years ago they SENT you a dime to try 4 free novels to get you to sign up, lol!) -
kruuyai said on Jun 06, 2008....
queen: Oh well, my posts are probably as short as your books, too. :)
Flowers: Bosom Busters?!!! LOL Are they anything like Harlequin Romances?... you know, fiery, independent woman meets powerful he-man. She starts out hating him but ends up in love with him....
Damn! Suddenly, I have a craving for Cheez-it Crackers, and you can't get them here! :( (Now, someone please explain to me the correlation between Cheez-its and Harlequin Novels??)
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Zayda said on Jun 06, 2008....
The correlation between Cheeze-its and Harlequins: They are both mindless activities. It's easy to mindlessly eat a whole box of Cheeze-its and Harlequins are pretty mindless eating. And well it's easier to mindless eat a whole box of Cheeze-its while reading a Harlequin! -
kruuyai said on Jun 06, 2008....
Z: You can say that again! I broke my Harlequin habit when I was about 13, but the Cheez-it addiction is a lot harder to kick. No matter how much you eat them, even though they taste the same every time, they're still yummy. :) -
FlowersbyFarha said on Jun 06, 2008....
Kruuyai: You got it... the one time (well, 4 times really because it was 4 books, but not really because it was the same plot, just different names and job descriptions.) I read Harlequin romances, it was because they mailed me the dime to buy the trial offer. I'll check back later, but I'm busy tonight with setting up a sale/contest promo thread in Etsy. (See my shop for details to be updated once the thread starts http://www.flowersbyfarha.etsy.com) -
FlowersbyFarha said on Jun 06, 2008....
Well, shoot, I forgot the part about having to log in when commenting...so the above was hours ago, truly.
And now... I have the contest up and running... if you're on Etsy (or would like to be...)
Welcome to my first Killer Prenewal Sale!
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5653717
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