I love books, for the pleasure of reading as well as the book itself. I don't know how many books I own (not having counted them in about three years, or so), but I must own in advance of 1000, which may be a lot to some and a little to others - I suppose I fall in the latter. Living at home, with an agonizingly small income (which my lifestyle far exceeds) means that I cannot always afford the books I want - I am also only 21! Going into the offices, homes, libraries etc of friends, tutors etc, and my own small ''library'' (which I call my small collection of books, in absurd grandiosity, stuffed for the most part into two small bookcases, under my bed and in drawers) pales into insignificance - I must remember that my tutors are eminent scholars, and the books they own have been built up over a lifetime of earnest study - not like a rustic and untutored Hobbit you see.
A significant portion of the books that I own (especially on Theology) I would gladly throw away (if I did not think that this were an abuse - plus I can't be bothered taking them to charity shops or anything), some because I just don't want them anymore; some because I wonder that I was dull enough to buy them in the first place (such as my copy of ''Contemporary Catholic Theology'' - what was I thinking? - although this book does include a chapter by Fr Robert Murray, SJ on the Scriptures - Robert Murray being an old friend of J.R.R Tolkien - I think he is still at Farm Street, although I may be mistaken), some because I am not interested in the subject matter anymore; some because they are old, unwanted presents; one because of most of the above, plus it is the first (expensive) volume of a very large series (The Glory of the Lord by Hans Urs von Balthasar - again, what was I thinking?) which, in all honesty, I don't want.
Yesterday afternoon, I spent about an hour in the Library going through the Corpus Christianorum (Series Latina obviously - I did glance at the Greek series, but I cannot read Greek - being half a Classicist, and a very inept one. If I am ever bitter about anything, it is my education, or lack thereof - when Tolkien was 12 years old, he was fluent in Latin and Greek, and here I am...well don't let us get into that again!) looking for some stuff by St Hilary of Poitiers. I'd like to own the complete series one day (I don't know how many books there are, or even if it is complete yet, but the Latin series alone filled a complete bay), as well as a few other things (such as an original Octavarium Romanum, a pre-1884 Missale Romanum (Altar size - I do in fact own an 1862 priest's travelling Missal, but it's not a very handsome tome), a complete pre-1911 Breviarum Romanum, a Lewis & Short (I keep meaning to buy one, but it is rather difficult juggling my small income between other commitments sometimes), a first edition Redbook of Westmarch, the Summa Theologica in Latin (I already own an English translation), at least one manuscript by Tolkien himself, even the least important letter, a Book of Hours, etc, etc...maybe I should set up a ''wish-list'' in the Sidebar and start asking for donations and gifts, but I may then be accused of emulating certain people...
O to have seen the great Library at Alexandria...
You could always trade your unwanted books with Seminarians. It sometimes yields the most interesting results...
ReplyDeleteSorry to post this non-sequitur on your blog, I hope your readers will not find this objectionable. My name is Andrew McNabb. I am an American writer and the great grand nephew of the great Dominican priest, Fr. Vincent McNabb (d. 1942: prolific writer, lead speaker for the Catholic Evidence Guild at Hyde Park, Distributist and close friend of Chesterton and Belloc.) I am the author of a short story collection, The Body of This, that many are considering "Catholic" literature. Joseph Pearce, in his cover blurb, describes the book as “as radically transforming as viniculture, transforming the water of everyday experience into the wine of life.” In Standpoint Magazine (July/August,) Piers Paul Read referred to the book as “exquisite.”
ReplyDeleteThe book is important because, as can be seen in the variety of outlets where it has been reviewed, it has found a home with both a Catholic and a secular audience. There is not much writing these days that can make that claim. Sadly, Catholic or Christian writing has largely been reduced to the syrupy, the sentimental. More about me and the book (with links to reviews—including the review in the current issue of New Blackfriars Review) can be found at http://www.andrew-mcnabb.com/ and, importantly, can be purchased here.
My publisher is small and the promotional budget is modest. Whatever resources the publisher was willing to put toward the book have been expended in the States. I know that the book can find an audience in the U.K. Please help me to spread the word. Thank you! And if you do manage to find the time to post—please include the Amazon U.K. link! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-This-Stories-Andrew-McNabb/dp/1934866059/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246142696&sr=1-1
Many blessings!
For more info about me and The Body of This, please visit http://www.andrew-mcnabb.com/
I never ever get rid of a book I've read. It marks a station on my journey, and even if it ends up being something I wouldn't want to read again, I like to see it there imprisoned and unable to misguide anybody else!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to have an attic like the one in Fahrenheit 451 -- only without the firemen. And I'm well on my way to getting there.
ReplyDelete