books

My Books are Never so Happy as When they are all Together

/ Benn Bell / 4 Comments

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I have moved recently and whenever I move I am always fretting over how much stuff I have. Not the least of which is a rather large collection of books. My library as it were. I have been hauling this collection of books around the country with me for some 50 years. Every time I make a move I try to winnow it down to a core number, but giving away books is a little like giving away children. It is an agony.

I discovered Christopher Hitchens

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had a similar problem as he described in his essay, Prisoner of Shelves: “I try to cull them out but the closer I get to the center the harder it is to cull. I can’t throw out a book that has been with me for years and is like an old friend. Or a book that has been written by an acquaintance or who knows when I will need a reference to a subject however obscure. I never lend my books, I am compulsive about not letting them out of my sight.”

I feel the same way. In fact I composed this little ditty to describe my feelings:

Neither a lender nor a borrower be
For borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry
With this in mind then, if you still want to borrow
I’ll expect the book back by tomorrow.

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When I moved from Trenton to Louisville three years ago I gave away literally 20 cases of books and downsized five bookcases. It gets harder each time. I just moved from a three bedroom house to a two bedroom apartment and once again find myself downsizing. At least now they are all together and they couldn’t be happier.

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Library Science

/ Benn Bell / 3 Comments

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Neither a borrower nor a lender be

For loan oft loses itself and friend

And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry

With this in mind then

If you still want to borrow

I’ll expect the book back by tomorrow.

Allow Me to Introduce Myself

/ Benn Bell / 6 Comments

Hello readers. I am posting today an introduction. I am doing so as part of a Blogging 101 exercise but also as a way of actually introducing myself and getting to know you better. I am new to blogging but have always been interested in writing.

I am here because I love to write and I seek an audience. I want to improve my writing and hone my blogging skills. I will be writing about a variety of topics that interest me and I hope will interest you too.

I will be writing about culture, both pop and otherwise, art, photography, books, movies, current events, politics, philosophy and religion. I am particularly interested in Eastern Religions such as Buddhism.  Over time I may narrow my focus or create separate blogs, but for now I will contain everything  in one place.

I want to connect with people of like minded interests who have exciting ideas to share. I hope to find an audience and a readership that will continue to grow. I have already posted a number if pieces and I invite you to take a look at them. Feedback and comments are welcome.