Some bookish things that’s been happening lately:
- The tall stack of TBRs piled on the bedside table and which was teetering dangerously finally tumbled onto me when I accidentally whacked it during my sleep. Luckily, there were no hardbacks but there was Anna Karenina. I’m thankful it wasn’t War and Peace.
- I’m wondering if it’s possible to get a ‘reading elbow’ which is something similar to a tennis elbow. I’ve noticed that I tend to use my left arm to hold up the book when I’m reading so it’s usually bent at the same angle for a long period. It’s been starting to ache lately. Anybody else experience this?
- I’m shopping for a new bookshelf. I’d rather one with glass doors because the dust drives me crazy. The Billy range from Ikea looks good and their glass door bookshelf is the cheapest on the market so far. Their delivery rate isn’t though since I’m not sure I’ll be able to get some help getting it home. Officeworks still have the bookshelf I’ve been using for the past seven years in stock and I’ve been more than happy with their quality and delivery fees. Added bonus is that I’ll have matching shelves but downside is no glass doors.
- I got my first Bloomsbury Group book – The Brontes Went to Woolworths. I’ve heard the raves from other bloggers about these titles so I got myself a copy to start with.
- I think I’ve had enough of crime/suspense fiction for the moment. I found a copy of Agatha Raisin in my library so I’ll be cracking into that. Savidge Reads has mentioned it a few times and, I have to say, the series looks really enchanting and cute.
- For those in Oz, ABC1 is showing BBCs production of Tess of the D’Ubervilles (2008) tomorrow at 8:30pm. I’m pretty excited since I only saw the preview tonight. The one starring Justine Waddell awhile back wasn’t that bad either.
Mad Bibliophile 
Your first ‘ramble’ made me giggle. Honestly, tumbling books and ‘book elbow’ – who know fiction could be so dangerous!
Haha, us bibliophiles lead a dangerous and thrilling life! 🙂
Haha! I love this post! I’m also wondering about glass enclosed book cases since we have them safely tucked away from my toddler’s reach (this is VERY important for soooo many reasons). At the same time I’m cringing just thinking of buying 5-6 book cases to replace the ones I have. Perhaps someday… I do love Ikea however! Perhaps you should furnish a picture of your collections?
If only they made dust-repellent books. Bookcases are very expensive though and the money can be better spent on books! At the moment, I only have one large main bookcase and a smaller one. The rest of my books are double stacked and all over the place. I hate double stacking because I tend to forget them and it’s difficult picking which books will go at the back. They’re like children!
Here’s a meme I did back in Jan with pics of my shelves. https://madbibliophile.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/musing-monday-17/ . They’re a lot messier now!
Ah … glass-enclosed book cases! You have me salivating! I look forward to seeing what you think of Agatha Raisin. My stepmom recommended this series to me years ago, but I haven’t tried it yet.
I was salivating over the catalogues especially the Ikea ones.
Loved Agatha Raisin! I’m very hooked!
Yes, I have had reading elbow. It started as tennis elbow but reading definitely made it worse. So I would say yes, reading elbow is possible.
I’m glad someone else has experienced this. I didn’t have a tennis elbow beforehand though so I must be really holding the book awkwardly.
I do get aches from holding books, but mostly on my wrists. It doesn’t help that I also force them by working on the computer 8 hours a day, and THEN blogging when I get home
I loved – The Brontes Went to Woolworths – I hope you’ll enjoy them too!
And by “them” I mean “it” 😛
It’s a little sad, isn’t it, that ‘back in the days’ our ancestors did back breaking labour and our generation do wrist breaking labour. :-p I only hold books with one hand by habit but I’ve been trying to interchange.
Haha, I didn’t even realise you mistake!
I don’t have a bend in my arm, or a noticeable pain, because my hands fall asleep when I have them ‘in the air’ too long. Isn’t that weird? So, I usually just rest them on the pillow which holds my book in my lap, a lovely pillow sent to me from Lesley of Lesley’s Book Nook.
I’m glad you weren’t seriously wounded with the leaning tower of books, even if Anna was included in the stack!
That is indeed quite strange! What do you mean when you ‘have them in the air’ for too long? I’m just imagining you walking about with both your hands in the air and looking quite nonchalant. 🙂 I use a pillow too (and what a lovely gift!) but that still causes my arm to stay at an angle for a long time. It’s also because I don’t wear glasses when I’m reading so I tend to hold the book very close to my face.
Oh, the battle scars us bibliophiles carry!
Bookcases! The source of all evil. I’d like one with glass doors as well but haven’t got around to even looking at one. The dust drives me crazy too. Didn’t know IKEA had a glass door bookshelf – have to check it out. Their delivery charges are outrageous though – can’t understand their policy on that.
Regarding Tess of the D’Urbervilles…. I’ve read the book – seen the Polanski version – have an allergy – seem to blow up in rage everytime I think of that book (probably has something to do with the fact that I was made to watch/read/compare in the Uni but ack… I really don’t like it..
Ikea has several. They have specific bookcases with glass doors but they’re quite more expensive (at least they are here) and they also have Billy shelves with the option of attaching glass doors which is more affordable. I guess Ikea must make a commission from the delivery company but they’re so very expensive. I live quite close to the store too but I’m just outside their immediate range.
Did you not like Tess of the D’Urbevilles because of the writing or the story? I’m actually quite angry with it too and poor Tess. I’m so very angry at Angel. I wanted to throw the book across the room when I finished the ending.
Both I guess. It’s been a while though and to revisit my anger at it I’d have to revisit the book. I just know at the time I loathed it mostly because it seemed to drag out without there seeming to be a reason to … the film seemed to be played in slow motion as well (and that way captured the book quite well I guess…) 🙂
Yes, I remember it was all a bit slow. It being dragged out only meant the dragged torment of poor Tess! I haven’t seen the Polanski version but I haven’t been all that keen to see Tess dramatised because reading her sad story was cruel enough.
Hee, your first point made me giggle but only because I’ve been there done that many a time! It’s the price us bibliophiles pay but it’s a sore one.
The Brontes Went to Woolworths is wonderfully inventive albeit a tad confusing to begin with.