Bookish Talk

Looking at books, rather than reading them, seems to be the order of the day recently. Bookshelf space being somewhat at a premium (in order to maintain a minimal and ordered atmosphere),  it is always with a certain care that I select which book to purchase.  I often ask myself, do I need this, by which I really mean, do I really need this?  Quite often, the initial thought is yes, but this quickly turns to no, but often a weak willed one as I ask myself the same question about the same book a few times (on different visits to the bookstore).  Nonetheless, I have stayed quite firm in buying only those which are absolutely essential and which can brighten up the collection.

From the small selection of last year, as opposed to years prior when books kept coming in like unwanted junk mail,  I most looked forward to, and enjoyed the following three (at least, these are the ones that pop into my head):

Bespoke: The Men's Style of Savile Row (James Sherwood)

Our Kind of Traitor (John le Carre)

The Noel Coward Reader

As for this year, so far the only thing on my list is something first leafed through at the International Fine Arts and Antique Dealers Show last autumn in the Axel Vervoordt booth, Wabi Inspirations, which will be on the shelves (quite possibly including my own) later this month.

With that said, I do always remember the words of one of my friends, who is minimal to the extreme.  "One in, two out" is his motto when it comes to buying books.  And the best thing is that he actually does it!