For some reason today, I had a craving to get down from my shelf the Quran that I bought in college and read a little of it.
Then, while Sweetie and I were out on errands, I stopped in the library and hit a book jackpot. Someone, it seems, had finished up their course-work, pruned their collection or maybe just died, for five delicious books of similar theme were piled amidst the usual romance-novel drivel in the used-book sale section.
The last time that happened, I took home a wonderful selection of out-of-print WWII era books.
This time, it was of a match to my morning activities, namely, books on the Middle East and Islam.
They were: "Covering Islam," by Edward Said;
"Reading Loli*a in Tehran," by Azar Nafisi;
"The Multiple Identities of the Middle East," by Bernard Lewis;
"Iran: Historic and Cultural Persia," by Helen Loveday;
and most delicious-looking of all, "A History of the Arab Peoples," by Albert Hourani.
Sweetie groaned. "Where are you going to put them?" She said. She always says that. She is married to a book junkie who has been known to tear the car apart in search of a nickel or dime to get his "fix."
I paid just $2.50 for the whole collection. Of course I have no room for them. Of course I have no time to read them. Of course, even if I had time, if I stick to my personal reading program, it would be about ten years before I will read them. But I am happy just to have them close to me, snuggled in with all my other books, safe from rain, safe from the caprice of people who don't love books.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Muslim musings
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7 comments:
Your last line said it all for me as well ECD. I too have many books on philosophy waiting to be read along with the many that already have...and some art books, and poetry books. I know how you feel about their priceless value.
Janice, it is as if the greatest minds of all time are gathered in my humble home, ready for a conversation whenever I choose to initiate it. Socrates, Hemingway, Hawking, Dickenson, Shakespeare, Sagan, Marquez, etc.
Good for you for reading and learning about Islam. It's such an influential part of our world - and nearing the first religion. I'd love to read about your discoveries!
Hello ECD!
From one fellow book junkie to another... there is no fighting the need for a fix, yes?
I have piles of books that I lovingly use as an nightstand until I can get to them. There is comfort in knowing they are close at hand for The End of Book Days... heehee
Reading Lolita in Tehran is an excellent read! That book did break away from its renegade life as furniture.
:-D
Have a wonderful day,
Me
You used my favorite word "snuggly" or "snuggled". I remember the first book series I ever owned and it was "The Little House on the Prairie" collection. As a little girl I myself would snuggle up to read them~
Ha, I am the same way... not quite as bad as I used to be, but, between books, journals, and papers, I have made my mark on the world. Interesting reading material you acquired there, do share as you can, 'kay? take care and happy hunting...
You're preaching to the choir. I can always justify buying a book, even if I have no disposable funds on hand and would feel deeply guilty if I spent money on clothing, a lipstick, or anything else non-essential.
And like you, we have long since run out of places to keep the books which find their way here in an endless procession. Just looking at the spines comforts me, even if I lack the time to read them at the moment. Their day will come, and when it does, I'll be ready.
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