Reading of Books and Book shelves in homes

Occasionally TVs telecast interviews with authors, thinkers, VIPs, etc., Invariably the interviewed would have in the background his bookshelves, containing innumerable number of books, many voluminous and bound. Such interviews could be given anywhere, in the studio, in the lawn, in the sitting room, etc., But if the person interviewed is the reading type, then presto, the background of book shelf becomes a must. These people would have achieved higher positions in different walks of life. They may talk humbly. Yet the background is a give away. They want the viewers to know that they are the cerebral type and from there to thinking type. If that is not vanity, then what else is.

I am yet to find a book-shelf in a house which did not have glass doors, i.e., not covered doors obliterating the view of books. And then again most people would have book-shelves in the sitting room. Otherwise, how will the visitors know that the host is a reading type. Forget the fact that most of the books would be fictions. Chances are that few of the serious books on the shelf would not have been read by the owner ( nor any intention of reading). Such books would have been gifted to the owner or he would have purchased the same with the intention of reading at a later date. But hardly that later date materializes. I say that the serious books, particularly religious books, are for advertisement of the host’s tastes in reading and religious bent of mind. Many of the books would have been borrowed ones. People are notorious in not returning borrowed books.

This exhibitionism started long back. There were only few people then with knowledge of English. Those who learnt English wanted people to know that they know English, which at that time set them apart from the ordinary folks. So they started the (book) exhibition business in earnest. At that time even an old Railway Time Table was kept in the bookshelf since it was in English. So also old English magazines. Then paper back novels.

Then there is the human tendency to accumulate. The novels may never be read again. But people are chary of lending books, not to talk of parting with books ( even though some of them may be borrowed ones).

I have been purchasing regularly books and also lending them to friends. In fact I often insist my friends to take some of the books from me. I never ask them to return the books, except a few ones which I may think of reading again later. But I have never felt the loss of the books.

Let me end this write up with a quote from Christopher Morley:

“ I give humble and hearty thanks for the safe return of this book, which having endured the perils of my friend’s book case, and the book cases of my friend’s friends, now returns in reasonably good condition.

I give my humble and hearty thanks that my friend did not see fit to give this book to his young son to scribble what he liked or to exhibit the youngster’s mastery in tearing.

When I lent this book I deemed it to be lost. I was resigned to the bitterness of parting. I never thought to look upon its pages again.

But now that my book has come back to me I rejoice and I am exceedingly glad. I am going to bind it and sit it on the shelf of honour, for the book was lent, and yet returned.
Presently, therefore, I may return some of the books that I myself have borrowed.’