"It's better than food! It's books!"

[serinde]

Instead of eating lunch, I went to the NYPL and got a library card. I restrained myself (also I was running out of lunch hour) to:
- Anansi Boys, Neil Gaiman. (Somehow I hadn't read this yet.)
- Mansfield Park, Jane Austen. (Because I've only read it once.)
- Meet the Austins, Madeleine L'Engle. (Comfort food.)
- Star-Spangled Manners, Judith Martin. (Just because.)

I seem to be going back through layers of life. The bi-weekly library trips were a terrifically happy childhood ritual for me, and though I'm explaining away this decision as a necessary supplement now that I am looking at not having a big house I can keep copies of every book I could possibly want in, it occurs to me to wonder whether I'm not trying to reach back to old-time comforts.

Comments

[briony530.livejournal.com]

Oooh! My second favorite Jane Austen!

[must-sew-faster.livejournal.com]

Nah, if nothing else, think of the library as a place to test drive books and movies you may want to buy. Is much cheaper in the long run anyway, and you won't have as many piles of stuff cluttering up your life, unless you forget to return stuff.

[tayefeth.livejournal.com]

Old time comforts are good things.

[lillilah]

After moving a bunch and with the prospect of much more moving in my future, I just decided that the library can own the books for me. I wish you much library happiness!

[sbp.livejournal.com]

It's hard to find a decent large lending library in London because the funding is split across lots of smaller boroughs. But I used to love going to the big local libraries when I lived in smaller towns. A friend of mine says the Barbican has a good library, so maybe I'll try that.

[syringavulgaris.livejournal.com]

Well, the local branch isn't large nor particularly great, but I hear tell the branches are pretty good about ordering books from other locations.

[caelfinn.livejournal.com]

For the past couple of years we've made a concerted effort to use the library and only buy books that we really really need, ones that we know we will be referring to a lot, etc. It's been really good. It has also helped me get rid of some books since I know if I really want to read them I can always get them at the library.

Both the Brooklyn Public Library system and the NYPL (yes they are separate systems) allow you to request that a book be sent to the branch nearest you so you can pick it up easily. You can even do it all online :). It's very convenient.

Happy Reading!

[cobrawoman.livejournal.com]

I never manage to get to the library any more, but I just got around to reading Anansi Boys and Mansfield Park is on my TBR shelf.

At Least Your Book Collection Doesn't Look Like This!

[caelfinn.livejournal.com]

An Abandoned Library in Russia (http://englishrussia.com/?p=1849)

[nancaurelia.livejournal.com]

Yes, the weekly library visit was a happy family ritual from my childhood too. Hurrah for happy family rituals.

I listened to Anansi Boys on CD and liked it pretty well.

(Sure wish I could make italics, but alas, no.)