Books in the Belfry: Life lived, literally, under the covers
Cory Doctorow on Boing Boing recently had a post featuring a new storage idea for books. And while this is, as the website Apartment Therapy describes it, an “ingenius book storage idea,” it is also yet another sign that books may no longer be about ideas that fill minds, but are instead becoming just props to fill our space. After all, if you’re going to stick something where there’s normally only spider webs or insulation, then it must not be a big part of your life.
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I’m not so sure. As someone who has far more books than bookshelves, I think I recognize the desperation of “Now where the hell am I going to put these? I’ve got it! On the ceiling!”
Keep those books somewhere that would add aesthetic value to one’s dwelling. This distinctive feature of print books still can’t be replaced by electronic books.
Agree that books, too often, have become design objects. For years, people have bought books by the foot after all. “Want mostly reds, or forrest green?” The idea that you’d want to read rather than red is lost.
eBooks are for reading. pBooks are for decoration.
Not sure eBooks can’t be used for decoration, too, though. How about those digital pictureframes that were all the rage this Christmas? Maybe instead of (in addition to) my family, I should rotate book covers.
Rob Preece
Publisher, www.BooksForABuck.com
Another name for Print is Dead is IGNORANCE. Check out Susan Jacoby’s new book.