As my readers know, I have a rule: Something has to leave my house, every day, and never come back. And, I have a lot of “somethings” to eliminate from my house. Rule aside, it is hard to let personal possessions go. Really hard.
You probably also know that I have books. Boy! Do I have books!. There are few rooms in my home that don’t have books in them – usually, more than one book. Even after giving away thousands of books (to an Indian Reservation in the Dakotas; to libraries, to individual persons who wanted them). And still, I have books.
Art books. Books about artists (not the same as Art Books). Gardening books that belonged to Larry. Cook books – many cook books went to Liddy who took them, as well as others to people she serves in Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico; she gives them away. College texts that I can’t bear to give away (and that proved a good thing when one of them went to a college student last Christmas for his study. Books about religious figures – one that took me a year to read because I had to really think a long time about each chapter. Bibles and other religious books for Mormons and Muslims. Books for children – lots of children’s books (even though I keep giving some to young friends). And, still, I probably have a couple of thousand books. Which I’m having trouble deciding where their new homes will be. I have children and grand children who may want some of them for their current and future families. But, the others have to go.
I have collections of books: classics, poetry (lots of poetry), books by Jan Brett, by Mem Fox, by Tasha Tudor, by Jan Karon, by Ted Kooser, by Mary Oliver. And, pop-up books with art work by Sabuda, I could go on.
One of my collections was started in London – on Charing Cross Road, actually. There is a really great book about correspondence between Helene Hanff and the staff of the book store at 84 Charing Cross Road (one of my favorite books, in fact). Charing Cross Road has lots and lots of book stores – English book stores. Unfortunately, the book store at 84 Charing Cross Road had been turned into a Pizza Hut, before we were there. It was from a book store on Charing Cross Road that I purchased my first volume of the Collector’s Library; I’ve added more books to that collection from stores in the States. The Collector’s Library books are all a perfect size for holding in the hands for reading and carrying in a purse or in a pocket. They are all unabridged so that, in every small volume, every word in the original text is there. I loved reading these books; but, until recently, I haven’t been able to enjoy them.
Until a little more than a year ago, I had not read a book for several years; macular degeneration had been at work for some time. Ordinary magnifying glasses and lighted magnifying glasses did not help. Neither did large-sheets of magnifying material, meant to cover a page and enlarge print on a book page. I was blessed to learn about an optometrist (recommended by my ophthalmologist) who has patients with macular degeneration, and who has been able to offer assistance to them. So, you can imagine how pleased I was to learn that he could suggest a different tool for me. The tool is not a magnifier, although it has the capability of enlarging print. It is a battery-powered camera and is very effective for reading the printed page. Friend Sara has produced an exquisite book (more about that later), and I was privileged to complete one of the edits of the book. I could not have done that work without using the machine I have identified. Generally, I do not place product names in this blog; however, this machine is so important to people with difficulty reading that I will make an exception, this time. This “miracle machine” is produced by Eschenbach. It is a Visolux [digital] XL FHD. I also do not place the name of a professional with whom I work here, although if you would like name to go with the machine, write to me at the e-mail listed, and I will give you that information. (This professional is in the Denver metropolitan area, but his counterpart can probably be found in other locations.)
Another tool that I use to enlarge print is the Kindle®. Interestingly, this is one of those times that I should never have said “never.” I really like books, so I always said, “I will never have one of those – Kindles®. Today, I am so thankful to have one!
So, I have books – lots of books. And I have devices to help read them. I am content.
Be Safe and Be Well
The Cranky Crone
Thoughtful comments are appreciated.
4 replies on “Books and More Books”
As a beneficiary of your book generosity, I thank you again for the books you gave Willow. Many of her favorites are books you have her. She especially loves Ferdinand, Brown Bear Brown Bear, The House in the Night, and many more! You are a gem. In other news I find myself using readers with large print books. Ugh!
No Ugh! You are still reading. That is a blessing.
The name Tasha Tudor rang a bell in my head but I’m trying to remember why. Maybe I’ll check it out but I DO NOT need any more books. Each year I buy the John Grisham latest and I am Way behind on reading them. The latest book I have read (and finished) is Independent People by Halldor Laxness recommended by a guide during my first trip to Iceland. Four hundred and eighty-two pages of intensive reading. You’d like it because the main character is a poet-sheep farmer.
Tasha Tudor wrote and painted for children. She was a woman who was a little out of her time. She lived in an old, old house in New England, loved Corgis, and painted by a window on a little table. Whenever I asked Larry to build me a studio, he would point out that Tasha Tudor did all of her work by that little window.!