Saturday, November 1, 2008

Books

Reading : The Physicists by Swiss writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt :
A play about the immorality of nuclear proliferation.


This month's City Daily Photo Blogger theme is Books. It's an understatement to say I have books. I have so many books, I don't have space enough for them. My library contains a broad range of fiction and non-fiction. I have books about World War II and literature by Swiss authors. I have texts on sociology of religion and biographies of religious leaders. I have the writings of Pope John Paul II and the rantings of Adolf Hitler. I read C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling.

Right now, I'm reading Hedrick Smith's The Russians and Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope. After that, I'll probably read George Pelecanoes. In a week or two, I could be reading about folded and tilted rock in one of my geology texts or purusing a coffee table book about the National Gallery of Art. The possibilities are endless.

Just a small portion of the thousands of books I own.
You can never have too many books.

My only hang up? I wish I read faster than I do. Perhaps, if I spent less time in front the computer and more time behind a book, I would alleviate this problem! Books, as I opined last week, are the backbone of intelligent discourse and civilized living. They are the best gift we can give ourselves and our children.

To see how other bloggers around the world interpreted this month's theme, go here to view thumbnails of all the participants.


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 10/08

14 comments:

 gmirage said...

Exactly my thoughts! I have been doing CDP but not my personal blog...because I haven't read much books nowadays, I ran out of ideas and style in writing =D Thats why I relied on my photos since they paint thousand words!

Great photos for today! Happy theme day!

Greyhound Girl said...

I adore books- I even have a separate blog dedicated to my reading! I love the B&W!

Maya said...

I love books! Nice shot of you reading too. The B&W lends a certain feel to it that it wouldn't have in color.

Arlene said...

You look cozy reading that book & your place looks so clean & organized! I love books, but find I mostly read in the winter.

Janet Kincaid said...

Mirage: I've definitely got to read more! But I'm like you: I enjoy my photo blog a lot.


Prof: I know! I need to start reading that blog. I'm always on the look out for good book recommendations. (Although one of the last books I read based on a recommendation was awful. It was a Cormac McCarthy book and it was just yuck. The End of the Road? Or The Closed Road? Or something with Road in it. Bleh.


Maya: Books rock! As for the B&W, that's to hide all the blemishes! :-)


Arlene: I was pretty cozy. As for a clean and organized, I try, but I don't always succeed. You just happened to catch my place on a good day!

slim said...

Great post! I like your eclectic tastes. Hedrick Smith's book was a great read.

Somehow I don't picture you holding a "kindle" for your reading pleasure . . .

Jilly said...

Your feelings about books are shared by so many of us, I think. Such a nice shot with the lamp behind - and it so works in B and W.

USelaine said...

I don't read quickly either, and I have so many books waiting to be read. I try to keep my photo blog simple, but it still takes a lot of time.

You might like "Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son’s Return to His Jewish Family" by Stephen Dubner.

Kunal Bhatia said...

yay, that's a huge collection; and i quite like your book case too!
- Mindless Mumbai

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

Oooh how true. Never too many. I adore the top photo, looks so cosy.

Janet Kincaid said...

Slim: Even though Smith's book is somewhat dated, it's been a fascinating look into the Russian and Soviet psyche. As for the Kindle, I've looked at it and it's kind of cool technology, but I love the feel of paper and actually turning the pages.


Jilly: Thank you! I worry that people don't read enough (although I think I live in one of the reading-est towns in the U.S.), particularly young people. Glad you like the B&W. It just worked better.


USElaine: Oh, the horrors of my to-be-read pile! It's almost as tall as I am (and I'm not very tall. 5'2".) Just when I finish one book, I add three more to it! LOL. I'll have to check out the book you recommend. The title alone sounds intriguing.


Kunal: That's only one small portion of the books I own. As for the bookcases, don't look too closely. They aren't custom-made, which is what I would really like.


Lynn: The more books, the merrier (and smarter, I say.) I was feeling pretty cozy on my couch. The subject matter I'm reading isn't heartwarming, but an excellent play I like to read every once in a while.

The Artful Eye said...

Much like you, too many books not enough space or time. I've started mounds on floors, on table tops wherever. I like the smell. Enjoy eclectic mix of literature. Lot's of history WWII, classic,art etc. I don't like to read fast because I want to enjoy every wordly morsel, so the books keep piling.

Too much time on computer, wasted.

Tash said...

Excellent photos for theme day.
Soooo many books, so little time! rats! (& bloging for hrs hasn't helped either)
Your library is wonderful. I read The Russians long time ago - I'll have to flip thru it now to remind me of what I read. What Swiss authors do you read?

Janet Kincaid said...

Andrea: Books as an unintentional decorating element sort of rules the roost here. I'm like you: I savor every word and well-crafted thought. As a result, my TBR pile is enormous. One day I'll win the lottery and then I'll spend the better part of the rest of my life just reading and absorbing information written in books!


Tash: My Swiss collection is pretty limited and is strictly German-language, as that was my major in college. I've read Fredrich Dürrenmatt (love him!), Peter Bischel, and Max Frisch. There are numerous others, of course, but those are the three I know primarily. I've also read a little Rousseau, but in English.