I am currently reading the New Testament, Redeeming Love (a retelling of the book of Hosea set in the California Gold Rush), the Search for WondLa (I love Tony DiTerlizzi’s illustrations!), Xenozoic, and The Bloody Crown of Conan (the Barbarian). I never could read just one book at a time.
What book would I give away? I find it difficult. I’m a book-hoarder. I frequently get two copies of books so that I can give one and keep one. But each book I read has a sort of tactile memory for me: I can remember what I was feeling and events of my life when I was reading just by picking it up, and find passages just by the memory of how it felt in my hands. Books--physical books--are a powerful thing.
You never cease to amaze and thrill me. The little libraries are an amazing outpost of humanity. I love finding treasures. I love collecting cookbooks - too many actually. so I always leave a bag of cookbooks in my car to leave. I would love to find one of your postcards. I also make leather bookmarks and leave those as well. Maybe when I publish my first book, I'll start leaving them.
I'm reading the book of Daniel in the Bible and Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth. The ink line drawings are exquisite- so expressive, but so minimal. The paintings are also lovely. Your question rankings me to look in my bookcase to see what books I can give away. There is a free little library on my street.
I had a surplus of British and Australian editions of some of my own novels. Early in the pandemic shutdown, I was doing the kind of home reorganization project that many of us did when we were trapped inside with all our clutter. I started taking one on my walk every day and leaving it on one of the many little free libraries in my neighborhood. At first it was a little sad to see that no one had taken it when I returned :) but I got over that. The shutdown lasted longer than any of us could have anticipated, and eventually I managed to unload all of those extra editions.
I'm currently reading The Professor and The Madman by Simon Winchester, it's a fascinating story about the creation of the Oxford English dictionary. As far as books for little free libraries I try to leave as many as I can once I'm done reading them, unless there's a particular reason I want to keep a book like referencing or rereading in the future or if someone specific comes to mind while reading that I'd want to give the book to. I try my best to get my books used so I have minimal attachment at least financially specifically so I can pass them on to others once I'm done. I'm lucky to live in an area that has a lot of little free libraries around but I've yet to see any art libraries, I love your idea of leaving postcards as a bookmark for someone that would certainly be a treat to find.
I love those as well. I usually give book that brought a positive change in my life or made me feel strong emotions. I usually don't read my books twice, or if I do I get an eBook Format of the book, so I give out the hard copy for someone else to enjoy. I love the idea of leaving art as well so I might start doing this too 😊 thank you for sharing such an inspirational post
We have a little free library in front of our house and we painted it with the same colors of our house. It’s fun to see what arrives and what overstays it’s welcome (the Jehovah’s Witness pamphlets tend to hang around lol). My father-in-law built it for my stepdaughter’s birthday a few years back. I love it and have read a bunch of books I otherwise wouldn’t have because of it.
I totally enjoy your generous thoughts and actions as an artist and a person ! I love that in this consumer driven world little libraries surface enhancing community and neighbour hoods . I love “big “libraries too for all the same reasons - borrowing beautiful books for free and other treasures with trust and a simple card
Looking at your drawing of the library - you are very skilled at cutting out the noise from the scene in front of you. I get really overwhelmed by the details even when I try to draw simple objects in front of me, so I greatly admire this skill in others.
I am currently reading the New Testament, Redeeming Love (a retelling of the book of Hosea set in the California Gold Rush), the Search for WondLa (I love Tony DiTerlizzi’s illustrations!), Xenozoic, and The Bloody Crown of Conan (the Barbarian). I never could read just one book at a time.
What book would I give away? I find it difficult. I’m a book-hoarder. I frequently get two copies of books so that I can give one and keep one. But each book I read has a sort of tactile memory for me: I can remember what I was feeling and events of my life when I was reading just by picking it up, and find passages just by the memory of how it felt in my hands. Books--physical books--are a powerful thing.
That's a great idea! I love the way folks can "pass it on!'
We can bless others in many, many ways.
You never cease to amaze and thrill me. The little libraries are an amazing outpost of humanity. I love finding treasures. I love collecting cookbooks - too many actually. so I always leave a bag of cookbooks in my car to leave. I would love to find one of your postcards. I also make leather bookmarks and leave those as well. Maybe when I publish my first book, I'll start leaving them.
I'm reading the book of Daniel in the Bible and Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth. The ink line drawings are exquisite- so expressive, but so minimal. The paintings are also lovely. Your question rankings me to look in my bookcase to see what books I can give away. There is a free little library on my street.
There is no hesitation with my choice of a book to leave behind.
The Selected Poems, Lauris Edmond.
- ‘Tree Surgeon’ especially: cuts me up every time.
I had a surplus of British and Australian editions of some of my own novels. Early in the pandemic shutdown, I was doing the kind of home reorganization project that many of us did when we were trapped inside with all our clutter. I started taking one on my walk every day and leaving it on one of the many little free libraries in my neighborhood. At first it was a little sad to see that no one had taken it when I returned :) but I got over that. The shutdown lasted longer than any of us could have anticipated, and eventually I managed to unload all of those extra editions.
I'm currently reading The Professor and The Madman by Simon Winchester, it's a fascinating story about the creation of the Oxford English dictionary. As far as books for little free libraries I try to leave as many as I can once I'm done reading them, unless there's a particular reason I want to keep a book like referencing or rereading in the future or if someone specific comes to mind while reading that I'd want to give the book to. I try my best to get my books used so I have minimal attachment at least financially specifically so I can pass them on to others once I'm done. I'm lucky to live in an area that has a lot of little free libraries around but I've yet to see any art libraries, I love your idea of leaving postcards as a bookmark for someone that would certainly be a treat to find.
I love those as well. I usually give book that brought a positive change in my life or made me feel strong emotions. I usually don't read my books twice, or if I do I get an eBook Format of the book, so I give out the hard copy for someone else to enjoy. I love the idea of leaving art as well so I might start doing this too 😊 thank you for sharing such an inspirational post
That’s a fantastic idea.I will do the same as sometimes I spot them when on holidays and have no spare book on me .
We have a little free library in front of our house and we painted it with the same colors of our house. It’s fun to see what arrives and what overstays it’s welcome (the Jehovah’s Witness pamphlets tend to hang around lol). My father-in-law built it for my stepdaughter’s birthday a few years back. I love it and have read a bunch of books I otherwise wouldn’t have because of it.
I totally enjoy your generous thoughts and actions as an artist and a person ! I love that in this consumer driven world little libraries surface enhancing community and neighbour hoods . I love “big “libraries too for all the same reasons - borrowing beautiful books for free and other treasures with trust and a simple card
Looking at your drawing of the library - you are very skilled at cutting out the noise from the scene in front of you. I get really overwhelmed by the details even when I try to draw simple objects in front of me, so I greatly admire this skill in others.