I'm Booked!

A room without a book is like a body without a soul.

--Cicero

 I have many things that perform no function other than being beautiful to the beholder or at least interesting to look at.  Photos, art on the wall, flowers in vases, decorative candles, elephants in my collection.  I have a few wall quilts, not to be used for warmth, just for show. 

There are people I know which use books primarily as décor. They have books sitting in their houses that will not be read, for their sole purpose is to adorn a shelf or a table, a fireplace mantel.  I guess that’s a new way to look at literature as art!  Our books serve a function: to be perused, to amuse, educate, enlighten, evoke imagination, entertain, engage, enrage, or enclose one within a sacred space.

Few of our books are in mint condition; most of the non-fiction books have markings of some kind: highlights, underlining in a variety of colors, notes scribbled in the margins.  Many have wrinkled or torn covers, dog-eared pages, sticky notes, index cards or bookmarks caught within them.  Some books we have are older than we are, or just as old, or purchased only yesterday; some are library books due tomorrow.

The books cover topics in literature, history, mythology, spirituality, psychology, prayer, scripture, art, poetry, biography, “how-to”, college textbooks buried in the basement, picture books for children, and politics, politics, politics (thanks to my husband!)

Many are reference books: I have several atlases, three English dictionaries and one Spanish-English dictionary, three thesauruses (say that three times quickly!) and one set of very outdated encyclopedias from my childhood. 

Because of all these books, we have some fascinating roommates in this home of ours: Native Americans, great saints, presidents, civil rights leaders, presidents’ wives,  coal miners, migrant workers, Dorothy from Kansas, and her friends from Oz, a few hobbits, Harry Potter and his friends, (and enemies), inhabitants of Russia, Afghanistan, India, the Frontier West, future time travelers, Narnians, and more that I have yet to know.

We have several Bibles—one being an audio version, dating back to the days of cassette tapes.  That would be the only “electronic” book we might have.  We keep talking about the possibility of getting an electronic reader like a Kindle or Nook.  Something holds me back. I imagine some day I’ll give in and purchase an e-reader, if for no other reason than to give my arms a break when we travel.

My books linger lovingly on bookshelves, in baskets, on the coffee table, on top of the piano, in tote bags, next to the fireplace, on both desks, on the kitchen counter, in the kitchen cupboard, part of nearly every room, but never, ever as just décor.