Aging with Grace

Think not of the books you’ve bought as a “to be read” pile. Instead, think of your bookcases as a wine cellar. You collect books to be read at the right time, the right place, the right mood.

Luc van Donkersgoed

My Book Cases

Earlier this year, my friend Kathie sent me this quote. I love it, as she knew I would. A cellar of books. Perfect. Books on racks, aging for just the right moment. Do you need a reason for all those books sitting on your shelves waiting to be read and you still keep buying more? Here it is. Instead of collecting wine, you collect books. Maybe you collect wine and books. Even better.

It actually is a valid reason. Your feeling about a certain book often depends on your state of mind. I have re-read a book and felt completely different about it than when I first read it. Sometimes, when I look at my bookshelves for something to read I see a title that has been sitting there for a while. I’m suddenly interested in reading it. The time wasn’t right before. Often our reaction to what we read depends on our mood.

Some books are classics. Like fine wine, they remain for years and only get better with age. Books by Jane Austin, Colette, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Antoine De Saint-Exupery, Virginia Woolf, to name a few. Like selections from certain vintners, I have a complete collection of books from some authors, such as Louise Penny. I know there will be a time when I start at the beginning and re-read ever book in the series.

It doesn’t matter which books you collect or why. When others look at your library, they see it through their eyes, not yours. I once had a guest say he had not heard of many of the books on my shelves. I have never been sure if that was a comment on his lack of discernment or mine. It doesn’t make a difference. It’s what speaks to you.