Judging a Book by its Cover

                                    Kitchen Books I: Pickles, Preserves, Spices and Terrines


The old adage tells us not to judge a book by its cover. Now, we know this was meant as a metaphor for not being deceived by appearances, but I wonder how many of us are literally, and frequently, taken in by the cover of a book or glossy magazine. Only to be disappointed to varying degrees when we finally sit down and open it up for a good read.

                                         Kitchen Books II: Baking and Breadmaking

                                                               Kitchen Books III: General Cookery Books

                                Kitchen  Books III - t'other side of door. (which I should have shut, aesthetically speaking!)

Buying on Amazon is a two-edged sword, as you have to balance the cheaper price with being unable to thoroughly scan the contents before purchase, as you would in the bookshop. (And I'm not even getting into the argument about the decline of the local booksop.) I'm pretty careful with books, I have to say, but have still been caught out on occasion by a promising cover and description which doesn't deliver the goods.  Magazines, though are a regular disappointment - perhaps I should lower my expectations! These days publishers are very hip to the value of a bit of 'eye candy' on the front cover, and I am frequently seduced by the colour, style and design of a magazine - generally a textile/craft or home decor title. I buy fewer than I used to, as, like you, I'm watching where my pennies are going; but I find time after time that there is a disparity between style and content.

                         Living Room Books. Yes, there's another shelf underneath, which you can't see.

                                        Part of my Textile Book Collection in the Sewing Room. Erm....still to face de-cluttering...

Having said that, when you've pared your outgoings down to essentials AGAIN, and denied yourself yet another treat for the taste-buds on account of health/beauty (!), the cost of a magazine, for those of us lucky enough to be able to afford it, seems a small price to pay.  I should curb my expectations a little, and enjoy my little visual, guilt-free treat. Do you have the same experience? Or are you more judicious in your buying habits?

                           The very tiny (and very tidy, now!) Porch. I had to stand outside to take this one!

 J's collection of fishing books in the inglenook

The photographs in this post relate  to the various book piles in our cottage. I think the only bookless rooms are the bathroom and the downstairs loo, I've even squeezed shelves onto the landing and in the tiny porch. Actually I'm quite proud of the porch, as when we re-painted it earlier this year  I culled so many books, we got rid of  two shelves entirely. It was very difficult, as I make friends with my books, and some of them had been around a long time. But go they did, from porch, sewing room, living room, kitchen, bedrooms - J took FOUR boxes, each the size of a small chest of drawers, to the recycling centre. 

books in the spare bedroom...............

.........books on the landing..........

....books on the beam in our bedroom........

I felt quite light-headed when they'd gone, and actually I haven't missed one of them. All part of the grand, on-going de-clutter which has been happening here for the last 4 months. And judging by some other bloggers - notably Lucy over at attic24 - we are all at it, clearing away our 

shelves of doom and other shameful household blackspots .

  

                                                                          

                                                ........and finally, books above our bed.

 I did take a photo of the small collection in the tiniest bedroom - now the computer/dressing room (because it has a wardrobe in it!)  but there was too much husband in the way and I was in a hurry!
So you see, this small pile is all that remains of the vast library which threatened to overtake our small home! These are the Ones That Got Away, for one reason or another.  Neither J nor I are daft enough to have imposed a moratorium on further purchases, however, so I'm sure at some point we are going to have to re-cull. Just not yet!

Now then, if all goes well, the next post will be a little different, as I may be having a Guest Blogger. Yes! Get me! In fact, there may be two of them, two very old friends of mine from up on the North Norfolk coast. They live in an Old Rectory in a small village, and, if you have been quilting about in Norfolk for a few years, you very well may remember them..............

Bye for now - Lynne.