BOOKS ARE MY FRIENDS

“Oh, I threw out all my old books.  Didn’t even bother giving them to the Op Shop;  I put them out with the rubbish.  I don’t need books now;  I download and read everything I want on my tablet”.   She was heard talking loudly to a group of her friends seated at the local coffee shop.  “I threw out all Robert’s old books as well - was he furious!   We didn’t talk for a week, but that’s alright, we never talk much anyway.  My house is now minimalist which is the latest trend and I’m thrilled.  Robert has started spending much more time out in his shed, which will do him good.”  She guffawed and almost choked over a mouthful of coffee.

I felt sort of sorry for poor old Robert.  He didn’t have much of a say in the whole exercise. so I’m not surprised he’s spending more time out in the shed.  She’d better watch out that he doesn’t pack a bag and leave!  Or was that her intention in the first place, to throw old Robert out with the books?

Her loud reference to throwing out her books did make me wonder though.  Was she just displaying her superiority or was it maybe that she didn’t read much anyway?  

Books have their place in most people’s lives.  When I visit a house that hasn’t a book to be seen, then I immediately start looking closely at the people who live in that house.  For to me, and I’m prejudiced when it comes to books, it’s definitely not a home if it doesn’t have books.  Kids books, grown up books, coffee table books, any sort of book.

Me, I was lucky.  I grew up with books.  We were poor but we enjoyed second-hand, third-hand, sometimes even fifty-hand books.   Handed down from various aunts and cousins even neighbours up the street.

We saved our pocket money - we got threepence a week (equivalent to 2-1/2 cents today - of course they’re no longer Australian currency either) and from that we’d hoard a penny (1/3rd of three pence) in a special little jam-jar.  We’d wait until we’ve saved up to fourpence or sixpence which was the cost of a book from the second hand bookshop run by Mrs Jeffries in Barclay Street, Footscray.  We’d rush to the shop whenever we could, we'd snuggle down under the counter and rummage through the “specials” that she piled there for kids.

My brother and I could read words in books before we even started school.  It was Mum who taught us at the kitchen table.  So we learned to travel the world through the magic of words and chapters in books.  We met the strangest of people and the most important of people around the world.  We read about animals and forests and jungles and countries in far away places of the world.  We read about seafaring adventures.  I read schoolgirl books.  We lost ourselves in fantasies, in fairylands, in all sorts of lands.  As we grew older our taste in books became more adventurous and fiction, non-fiction, autobiographies, and novels began to appear on our bookshelves.   We discovered new authors, new wonders of the world past, present and future.  Our love of books has continued into our early old age.

So I don’t know about that woman who shouted loudly over the crowd at that coffee shop, whether she will be able to say in time that she has breathed the exquisite smell and perfumes of books, that she has delighted in the touch of an old book and gently caressed its leather covers, has opened the page to be surprised and enraptured by photos, drawings or diagrams; has gently touched the page and experienced the eagerness to turn the page.   To find a smile escapes her lips as she enters into the wonderful world that books offer.  

That “loud” and tactless woman will probably enjoy her electronic tablet.  She will undoubtedly enjoy whatever new devices come on the market.   Yet I believe I am and I will be the richer for my travels, for the enjoyment and the knowledge gained from my beloved books.  Some with dust covers, some without.  Some with stains, some without.  Some with pages missing, some without.  Some with no covers at all.   Some dog-eared and tattered.  Yet they are all my friends and are ready to engage with me through the written words contained within, in a comforting and exciting way, whenever I reach for them and open them at the first page.  They give me satisfaction, they give me comfort, and they give me the friendship that I need whenever I seek those things. 

© Rosemary Parry-Brock, Victoria, Australia 

Copyright Rosemary Parry-Brock http://rosemarysnotebook.blogspot.com 

DOLL'S HOUSES

Did you have a doll’s house when you were young? I did and I always wanted to climb in and live in mine. It was so neat and tidy and simple and it had stairs which of course a 1960s bungalow in Melbourne didn’t have.

This week at Rainy Day Books there is a lovely wooden doll house in the window and some special books on setting up and furnishing doll’s houses.

Also a large fold out book that stands up to make a medieval castle complete with knights.

Don’t miss the cutest little cottage night light that looks just like a fairies house.

Some of the books are The Doll’s House Decorator ; the complete guide to do-it-yourself furnishings for dolls and doll’ houses by Vivienne Boulton $15.

Also The doll’ house do-it-yourself book by Venus and Martin Dodge and a lovely copy of Paul Gallico’s The love of seven dolls.

Do come along and enjoy reminiscing about old toys.

MOUNTAINS OF BOOKS

It's that time of the year again.  Melbourne Cup Weekend.   So much going on that it's hard to decide what to go to, and where to visit.

Here's a suggestion for book lovers everywhere.   Get your maps out and plan a visit to Ferny Creek in the Dandenongs.   It's less than an hour east of the CBD.   It's beautiful up here at this tme of the year (in fact it's always beautiful!) and there is so much to do, should you decide to spend the entire weekend in this part of the world.  There are restaurants to drool over and opportunities for great photos around every bend.

Meryll from Rainy Day Books has been busy arranging the Mountains of Books Bookfair at Ferny Creek Recreation Hall opposite the Sherbrooke Forest.  There is ample parking wth playground and picnic facilities on the site.   Free entry, and there's wheelchair access.   Great food is planned for this year's event.

There's be book covering demonstrations and workshops on Saturday (bookings essential by ringing Meryll at 9762 0862) for using recycled books as Christmas Decorations.  

Don't miss out.   Make sure you have a carton or two in the car ready to collect your special book "finds".   There'll be plenty to choose from amongst the thousands of used and out-of-print titles, including an eclectic range of fiction and non-fiction titles and collectibles in genres such as children's books, cookery, art, fashion, Australiana, gardening and militaria.

UP, UP and AWAY!!!

Well this month we are off to outer space at Rainy Day Books.

The window is stunning with silver and black and some lovely bright blue star lights but the books are really interesting.

Reader’s Digest book – "The way to the stars" covers the history of space exploration.

"Who’s who in space" by Michael Cassutt names all the astronauts, pilots and cosmonauts that participated until 1999 with biographies included.

A really interesting small book by Jeff Toghill is called Celestial navigation and this includes sextants and chronometers, estimating positions and tables.

These books would make great Father’s Day gifts and also at the moment there is a new book out by local railway historian, Nick Anchen. This is called Life on the Victorian railways and gives a fascinating insight into the day to day life of men working on the Victorian lines from early days until electrification. $50

IT'S RAINBOWS ALL THE WAY AT RAINY DAY BOOKS THIS WEEK

The window has a colourful display of alternative education books including Steiner and Montessori with books on Buddhism and meditation for children as well.

Steiner education is designed to be a health-giving education, nurturing and balancing the human faculties of thinking, feeling and will.

The prime purpose of Steiner rducation is to support and educate children such that their own innate and unique human qualities may come to greater fulfillment.  Rgus us the task of the educator in each Steiner school.

The Montessori approach fosters children's love of learning and encourages independence by providing an environment of activities and materials which children use at their own pace.  This builds self-confidence, inner discipline, a sense of self-wortj and instils positive social behaviour.  The approach forms the basis for likelong learning.

STACKS of BOOKS

This week at Rainy Day books there are stacks and stacks and stacks of books in the window.

Save on a stack is the theme and you can get 6 books for the price of one. They are sorted into themes or authors and will give you lots of reading to snuggle up with on these cold days.

Wilbur Smith, Dick Frances, Virginia Andrews, Clive Cussler, Joanna Trollope are just some of the authors and they are displayed on amazing vertical bookcases.

 

ARABIAN NIGHTS and ALADDIN'S CAVE

We all need a bit of fantasy and there’s nothing better, as the nights begin to close in, to get tucked up in your favourite chair and read a book, or two, or three.

There are many books that never date - they are as fresh as when they were written.  Any of the Arabian Nights books continue to delight, not only for those who have read the books in the past, but new and younger readers eager to experience the same fascination.

It’s all here at Rainy Day Books.   The present window display gives some idea of the many books that fit into this particular style of fantasy.   Visit soon, choose your own as well as a gift for someone you care about. 

 

MOTHER'S DAY

Mother's Day is a special day, a special time, a special celebration where we say "thank you" for everything she does for us.   Everything that she is to us.   Everything that she means to us.

So this Mother's Day, as well as taking her breakfast, or meeting with the family for lunch or dinner, take time to choose a special gift.   Gifts don't have to have $100 vouchers or hampers you know.  A small trinket will be as well received as a Ferrari!   (Joking, of course!)

However, why not choose a special book for Mum.   A book by a favourite author, a new author even. A beautiful antique-looking photograph album.   A vintage collectible.    A book of any subject that she has a special interest in.   Cookery, Native Wildlife, History, Crafts, Novels, Mystery, Gardening, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, the list goes on and on.

Visit Rainy Day Books and you'll be thrilled with your choices.   You'll also experience a warm welcome.   Children have their own little nook to spend time in while you're choosing a book for your Mum and they in turn can choose something for you.   The best of all worlds.   The world of the printed word and photo.

Meryll also has some absolutely beautiful, one-off, greeting cards created by a local photographer.  Why not get Mum a uniquely different card this Mother's Day.

There's always something "different" to find at Rainy Day Books.    Visit soon.