text and images britt-arnhild
If you walk up the stairs from our hallway to the first floor landing, you will be met by a new bookcase, two new bookcases actually, put together. Filled with my collection of artbooks and my old paperback classics.
The bookcases were made especially for me by my 88 years old father in law this summer. Put up on the landing by Terje last week.
Terje and I decided to change rooms, dens, the ones where we have our desks, our computers, where we do our paperwork. He got the small one, the one I have been using for a couple of years, I got the big one, which is actually an extra livingroom, the one we used together for many years when the house was still filled with kids living at home.
In this moving process I decided to go through all my books, there are thousands of them. Dusting, sorting, giving away, filling new space, rediscovering old treasures.
Children´s books from my parents childhood, from my own, books collected, read and cherished for and by our gang of four.
In the guestroom, which is also a room where I display many of the children´s toys, I have set up a bookcase for the children´s books.
A heaven for any book loving child.
When I and my oldest brother were young readers, there was an elderly couple without children living in our neighbourhood. In their basement they had a special room where all four walls were filled with children´s litterarure. Once a week my brother and I were invited there, to look at the books, to feel them, to read, and to borrow. I was in paradise.
One of the old books in this case is a bedtime storybook by Enid Blyton. Bestefar (grandpa) Johannes always read a story from this one when he took me and brother Frode to bed.
There are books in every room in our house.
Terje despair........shake his head.......and then helps me with the measures when I need a new bookcase carpented by father in law.
On top of mormor (grandma) Olga´s old sewing machine books, there are books waiting to be read, or like Jomfru Lide, which is the book Terje and I have been reading aloud the past months. Only one chapter left now.
In the hallway I have my collection of travel litterature. The crown of my book collection. The books mostly read.
Travel memories. Travel dreams.
Travel plans to be made.
There are still books to sort, to organise. But most of my dear books are in shelves now (most bookcases are in the basement........I forgot to take photos down there) Some are also in a couple of baskets, searching for new owners. If you lived closer I would invite you over and you couple see if you found something you like.
I love my books. You can see that, can´t you :-)
Last night I started to read..........well, that´s a tale for another day.
What is your favorite book?
Who is your favorite writer?
