Today is the ninety-sixth birthday of Ralph Ellison. Also born today, four years earlier, was Wallace Stegner. Yesterday was Montaigne’s. And the day before that: John Steinbeck, James T. Farrell, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and the author of this blog, who turned fifty-seven on Friday. Mrs Commonplace wanted the books off the floor, but was undecided how to go about it. A Kindle would keep future purchases from winding up there, but would do nothing to relieve the present clutter. She decided upon a Bosch router instead so that Mr Commonplace would perhaps be enticed to build new bookcases. It remains to be seen whether this ploy will succeed.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Birthdays
Today is the ninety-sixth birthday of Ralph Ellison. Also born today, four years earlier, was Wallace Stegner. Yesterday was Montaigne’s. And the day before that: John Steinbeck, James T. Farrell, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and the author of this blog, who turned fifty-seven on Friday. Mrs Commonplace wanted the books off the floor, but was undecided how to go about it. A Kindle would keep future purchases from winding up there, but would do nothing to relieve the present clutter. She decided upon a Bosch router instead so that Mr Commonplace would perhaps be enticed to build new bookcases. It remains to be seen whether this ploy will succeed.
There is something so thoroughly wrong about having to abandon books and turn instead to a Kindle. In my humble opinion, nothing can replace the tactile aesthetics (to coin a phrase) that a person experiences with a book in his or her hands. If I had a the choice between the Kindle and the books, I would be reading the instructions for the router, ordering some lumber, and getting busy on those shelves. And I would make sure the shelves were expansive enough to allow for even more books.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Montaigne now - and the guy's surprisingly funny.
p.s. - IKEA!