I moved three times in rapid succession in 2010. I’d finally bought a set of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves for home 1. I placed them in the narrow hallway—the only spot in the small abode that had room for them. I recall that putting out the books on those shelves was an event full of encounters with old friends—the authors and the books themselves.
Then I had to move. I could deal with packing up all of those books in boxes for a moving truck to haul, then carrying boxes up 2 flights of stairs to my new space in home 1. But now I had to do it again. I did it. Whew. Home 2.
Then I had to move again. I thought I didn’t really like digital books, which is funny because I’m “an early adopter.” But standing there in front of the bookshelves with boxes half packed, I vowed on the spot that I would not buy another paper book, and I would sell and give away whatever books I owned that were just gathering dust.
I now have 409 digital books on my phone…which brings me in my story to the book, Thunder & Lightning—Weather, Past, Present, Future.
I don’t recall now where I heard about it. Author & illustrator Lauren Redness is a science storyteller, Artist-in-Residence at the American Museum of Natural History, and teaches at Parsons School of Design. Her illustrations in Thunder & Lightning cover the entire page. The Amazon page displays this disclaimer:
Note: This eBook file contains many richly detailed full-color images and makes use of unconventional page layouts. Because of this, readers will be required to zoom in on each page to read the text and see the finer detail of the artwork.
I bought a used hardcover copy.
And so…I’m thinking about books…paper books, hardcover books, books that sit around and invite: “Pick me up, read me, consider what I tell you, muse a bit, form your own opinions, share what you’re thinking with other people. Discuss.”
I’ve started a series on Instagram tagged #TheReadingTable—featuring books photographed on a table my father crafted in high school. I inherited it recently when my aunt died. It was in her house and her daughter thoughtfully asked me if I wanted it. I’ll write more about The Reading Table on another Friday. It creates the base of my unplugged space in my very plugged-in home.
I’m thinking about the role that old school books can play today in our families…when chosen mindfully, shared, and discussed. I chose the book Thunder & Lightning to help me grow my sense of place. It’s a deep dive into weather. What books are you reading, sharing, and discussing in your homes? Are they old school or digital?
I’d love to hear from you. Email me or leave a comment on Instagram on one of #TheReadingTable posts.
Warmly,
Claudia
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” ~John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra
