Sunday 7 February 2010

Fire Hazards & Book Reviews


"That damned pile of books outside our bedroom is nothing more than a fire hazard," moaned Rob the other evening.
"How ridiculous," mocked self, trying to picture how bad they must look.
"They are mum," said Sas. "And it's not as if you ever read those books."
"I do."
"Well the pile never goes down," she said raising an eyebrow in typical know-it-all teenage fashion.
"She does actually," said Rob. "It's just that as she reads one, she replaces it by buying at least two more."

Cheek. Although, much as I'd like to argue with them, I have to see their point. These are the books that I don't have a bookcase for. All the others are in various bookcases throughout the house, and on shelves in the shed. I think the solution is simple. I need another bookcase.

Just thought I'd let you know that you'll find a new review over at Bookersatz, written by yours truly, about Sue Moorcroft's lovely book, Starting Over.

Right, I'd better get back to the cooking. It was cook lunch, or help Rob in the garden planting potatoes, and I have to admit that I got the easiest job out of the two, especially as I can keep coming and going from the computer/tv/book to check on it as it simmers/bakes/cooks?

34 comments:

Anna Scott Graham said...

Now THAT is a stack of books, well done!!!

I'd rather be cooking than gardening too... :)))

Anonymous said...

Ah the new book case.... Plans in hand? Mmm me thinks the cooking is the better deal! Done neither looking at rugby!

Fee

Alice said...

Reminds me of my house! Mind you, I've been good on the book front lately. When we moved into this house (small) I sorted out all my books so that instead of having them all out, I just have one bookshelf full of the books I haven't yet read - the rest are in the loft. Mind you, I do still keep buying more - hmmmmmmmm x

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

anna - I love writers, they make me feel that I'm not alone when it comes to my compulsion to collect books.

fee - lol. Why am I not surprised to picture you sitting comfortable whilst watching all those fab men running around? x

We must go and see Invictus together (spelling?)

alice - I love that you still have them stored in the loft though. Brilliant.

HelenMWalters said...

Wow! That is some TBR pile. I thought mine was bad, but I'm in awe.

Jenny Beattie said...

Oh I'm relieved to see I'm not the only one with a BIG problem. I am trying REALLY hard not to buy any more for the time being...

Yeah right.

Kaye Manro said...

Your book pile reminds me of mine. I need more book cases too. I love the little dialogue you posted here. Shows off the writer in you!

Why don't they understand? We always need more books.

LOL

Chris Stovell said...

I hope you'll have room for just one more at the end of June :) !

I wonder how many of us here have got the same 'fire hazard!'!!

Denise said...

Wow! That's an amazing pile. I found a solution to mine a couple of years ago. Go on holiday and read a book a day! OK, so that's only 7 less but it's a good excuse.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

helen - I think I'm a lost cause!

jj - I was determined to resist buying too many books this year, but haven't done very well at all.

kaye - we're definately very misunderstood when it comes to book addictions.

chrish - that extra book (TTT) has already been pre-ordered. Can't wait to read it.

denise - what a brilliant solution. I could do with a holiday.

Troy said...

That is one pile of girlie books!
However I've enjoyed Sidney Sheldon in the past and "The Unknown Soldier" sounds interesting. I can't believe The Da Vinci Code is still on your TBR pile - he's done four others since!
Another bookcase (or two!) must be on the next birthday list.

Jan Jones said...

It's just possible that you might need more than one new bookcase...

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Hahahaha!! This looks like my house, several rooms in fact. I love books!!

Suzanne Brandyn Author said...

Some people collect spoons, some collect dolls, we collect books. Your collection looks similar to mine, although my bookshelf in my office, is nothing compared to the pile in the garage. lol I must have another clean out one day. :)

Sherri said...

What a marvellous photo - I'm positively salivating!

I've read quiet a few of those, but it was the Jilly Cooper pile that really took me back. I devoured those when they came out (don't tell me how long ago that was - it'll make me feel old.)

I took several bags of books to the charity shop before Christmas and now have a rule - I only hold on to books I haven't read yet, I really loved or I think I might read again one day. Anything else has to make room for new ones!

Queenie said...

I'm working on the same basis as Bernadette. Still have a big TBR pile, though not as big as yours. You definitely need another bookcase - or possibly two!

Unknown said...

Books are strange things. I had a good clear out 12 months ago. Now? I have piles of books, just like that one, all over the house. I think of them as added insulation rather than a fire hazard. ;o)

I finished (and started) Twenties Girl yesterday. Thoroughly enjoyed it, but I'm a huge Sophie Kinsella fan.

Anonymous said...

That's a lot of books! I don't have time to read these days, unless I stayed up all night!!

CJ xx

B.E. Sanderson said...

That has to be the biggest TBR pile I've ever seen. You definitely need another bookshelf, or a box, or a forklift. LOL

Carol said...

Hehehe, that looks like the wall of books we have in our spare room!! If you find anywhere selling reasonably priced nice bookselves let me know...we've been looking for ages and can't find ones that don't look like a big box!

C x

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

troy - I have various other genres of books in bookcases too. I've been meaning to read The Da Vinci code for, well years, obviously. I wonder if I'll ever get round to it.

jan - I think you could be right. I feel a spell of shopping coming on.

kareng - lol, I'm glad I'm not the only one.

suzanne - I love that you have books stored in your garage. So funny.

bernadette - I did read the Jilly Cooper books years ago, then found my copy of Octavia and had to buy the rest to re-read them. I think I need to have a sort out of my books too.

queenie - I think you could be right.

shirley wells - I've never thought of them as added insulation before. I'll have to use that argument with Rob.

Looking forward to reading Twenties Girl soon.

crystal jigsaw - I must admit I don't seem to have as much time as I'd like to read either.

b e sanderson - lol, I think you could be right.

carol - I have several old ones that I've found in second-hand shops. They're lovely, but don't match.

Faye said...

I recognize your dilemma, Debs. I used to donate books I'd read to the local library. then I wanted to read them again so had to buy another copy. It's not a bad thing for books to need re-reading. Now, like you, they're just stacked, ready6 to pick up again if the mood strikes.

You're planting potatoes already? Amazing! I would have thought March.

DJ Kirkby said...

Love your TBR pile, it makes me feel so much better about the size of mine :)

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

I have several similar piles of books - and yes, I also keep buying more.

XX

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

faye - I do manage to part with books, but there are some that I'm sure I will read again.

Rob planted some at Christmas in the greenhouse, hopefully ready for Easter - Jersey Royals.

These should be for the summer, I think.

dj kirby - it's nice to know like-minded people :)

suzanne - we're simply addicted to books.

Hope and Chances said...

Now what I want to know is ...do you keep the books you've read?? If so, have you got a 'I've read those pile'? I came up with a sort of solution last year - I use the library to borrow books - that way I'm up against a time limit to read them and I'm not adding to my piles! Sort of works until the nice librarian tells me you can just telephone to renew! :-)

DAB said...

Maybe (or maybe not) once you've read them you could make a seat or bench out of them. Sky Arts has a posh book seat on their Book programme. TFx

Liane Spicer said...

Egad. Your TBR pile beats mine hands down!

Sally Townsend said...

Nothing compared to the books here, but can we let go of any of them ? not on your life !!

Flowerpot said...

a very worthwhile fire hazard, methinks...

Debbie said...

Books are one thing I have a hard time resisting too. Although lately I have been mailing some of mine off to other folks through online trade sites. At least the pile goes down a tiny bit like that!

Leigh Russell said...

Definitely time to buy another book case! I waited for months for a new book case for my class room at school. When it finally arrived, it made a huge difference.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

serendipity - sounds like a good idea.

I do keep a few books that I've already read, but not too many. I don't think the house could take it.

tf - I love that chair on The Book Show and have entered the competition a couple of times.

liane - I keep promising not to buy more books...

sallys chateau - you must have so many books. It's a fun addiction to have though, isn't it?

flowerpot - me too.

debbie - that sounds like a good idea.

leigh russell - I can imagine. I really must buy another one too.

Theresa Milstein said...

I can relate. My shelves have no more room for books. All the ones I'm waiting to read are on my TV stand. If the pile gets any higher, I won't be able to turn on my television with the remote. My husband has commented more than once about this problem. I'd better read faster!