I am sharing this, though I know I am always the last one to learn of things, so you may already know about it!
Thanks to my love of Jessica Goranson's style (and the fact that I follow her on Instagram), I read this morning that her store, Holiday, was being featured in this month's issue of Matchbook Magazine.
"What the hey?" I asked myself, as I am want to do at 6:00 am before the first cafe au lait...
Well whaddayaknow?
This little online magazine has been around since 2012.
Since I've been around since 1963, I was surprised I had yet to trip over it on the web. It never ceases to amaze me how big the web is, especially since I mainly read the news, visit some bloggy friends, and some writer sites and that's it. I am obviously not the adventurous type!
Sub-titled A Field Guide to a Charmed Life, the magazine reminds me of Lonny and other online incarnations, but is quite delightful!
There are daily updates between issues. One that has intrigued me called On is about what's on someone's On My Bookshelf. Hmmm - I may steal this for my own blog!
I am always squinting when I see someone's bookshelf, wondering what they like to read and what they like to keep!
As a lover and keeper of books, this borders on voyeuristic, if truth be told.
And speaking of books, I am sorry I have been quiet of late. I was working on edits, and trying to complete NaNoWriMo, which I can happily say I achieved, having written 58,000 words in 28 days, the equivalent of a first draft. I dread reading it later, but that's for another day!
In the meantime, I am reading three books right now:
Wolf Hall, which I have owned for 2 years and am just now getting to. Sigh. GSL, put the wind in my sails and good for him, as this is amazing!
The Magician's Elephant, a wonderful children's book
And The Organized Mind. This is a tougher slog, but interesting.
As someone who doesn't have an organized mind, this is a challenge!
I also read the book Dani recommended:
This one (well they all do really) deserves its own post, but I believe Dani is doing one, so will leave it to her! I have not begun the process yet - I think December, unless you are moving and unpacking like our Dani is - is not a good time to undertake yet another thing.
I will say one thing - Marie Kondo thinks I won't have many books when that's done. I say: NO.WAY.IN.HELL.MARIE.
But I may be wrong. But since nothing delights me more than books, I remain skeptical. However, perhaps I won't have 1000+ books at the end... That might not be a bad thing... ;-)
Another snowstorm today and I am off to do more revisions! Have the most loveliest of wednesdays and take care of yourselves! More to come!
xoxo wendy
Wendy I think you're right about the NoWayInHellMarie because your books give you so much joy, that's the criteria. It is helping me get rid of so much stuff. Is it a necessary thing and/or does it give joy? Nope: chuck it, very easy.
ReplyDeleteWhen I will have time to write another post is beyond me, just swamped here but I took some photos today as I know you're anxious to see the new range and the reno so far. It's looking good and will be ready for your next visit. Stay warm!
Yippee! If I could just get a book deal, I would be there with bells on! Move over, littlest rascal, Wendy's back!
DeleteI'm with you, W! Mindboggling how many books I have. I do try to cull them periodically, but some categories are crazy. Food/cookbooks/essays on food--ginormous. Gardening/organics--shelves and shelves. I even have a few book on keeping books in the home. Old Maine books. Certain fiction authors. Everything Wendell Berry ever wrote. "sigh"
ReplyDeleteI do try and pass along the newest ones to my sister-in-law, who is a voracious reader as well, but it is hard. I know I can get rid of some of course and I do need to. Some just give me so much comfort - my old trixie belden books for example. The one thing I do now is that if it is a light read I will just buy on the kindle, which is a new place for hoarding!
DeleteWell done with your writing!!! Hilary mantel is genius. She also did a book about a channeler and it was hilarious, people take her too seriously.
ReplyDeleteI love what I am reading already Naomi! Will have to look for that channeller book!
DeleteBOOKING IT Major props on NaNoWriMo WMM! And with you on "no way in hell" especially cookbooks, travel and histories, plus coffee table books although most of mine are in boxes. I do carefully admire many other libraries from the stack or nook to the bedside and the full-on shelf room. However, is it silly to say it also creeps me a little, parsing people by their books, or back in the day it was album covers? Some of tome-iest people I know (as in seriously textbooks) blow off steam with Seuss or mass market sci-fi. Just kind of hate the thought of something else in our lives being "curated" for inspection, iykwim.
ReplyDeleteHi GF, long time no see! Hope you are well!
DeleteWhere have you been Freshy?!?! You need to look in on us at The Den sometime.
DeleteGF, So funny - I read in every genre, and especially kids and young adult novels these days, that I love it when people question me - gives me a chance to talk them up! I always wonder about the hoity toothy books, but then I realized some people have hoity toity taste, just not me!
DeletePatricia, GSL Ta for the greetings! just deep down the mineshaft. But have been "blurking" in my usual spots. Wendy, books are "fairy dust." (And my main bookcase needs a dusting!)
DeleteHi Wendy, I've been thinking of you whenever I've seen the weather forecast for NB (for some reason we always watch the CTV Atlantic news at 5 pm), seems like you've had several blasts of snow.
ReplyDeleteI ordered the tidying book for my Christmas, but I must admit that I've started reading it already. It's charming. I'm just reading it through, but I've watched some youtube videos about the book and have already sorted out our drawers - can't believe what a difference that has made!
I did re-fold my socks! I didn't think about checking out YouTube - great idea!
DeleteGood for you Wendy! You are an inspiration with your diligence and isn't HM a genius?!?! I'll next be getting her collection of short stories just out and the NY Times previewed 'The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher' in its entirety and it's brilliant!!!! I'm eve a Maggie T fan and it dealt with politics but in a way that feels real and not preachy...just being in the hands of a genius is thrilling!
ReplyDeleteOh more to add to the list! Thanks for the recommendations!
DeleteGood for you on completing the NaNoWriMo and getting going on Wolf Hall. I I saw that Mantel made it again this year in NYT's Top 2014 books. Am curious to know what your best read was for this year? I'm coming up empty, nothing really stood out for me this year. Last year was packed with goodies --- Goldfinch, Life after Life, Signature of All Things and The Interestings.
ReplyDelete{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252
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\outl0\strokewidth0 \strokec2 I loved all the light we cannot see. That, and The Orenda have stayed with me all year. I hear Elizabeth is missing is amazing and I am going to nab that over the next week or two.}
I've ordered that tidying book for my sister for Christmas - she is SUCH a hoarder. Well, having just finished (almost) clearing all the crap that had accumulated in our library/ sitting room to make way for the new furniture and having shelved all my books on the new shelves I can say it is a very easy thing to chuck stuff when you are faced with rehoming each and every bit of junk somewhere logical. The logical place for a lot of it was the charity shop or the bin. But I have spent literally HOURS sorting through and doing that. It has been a mammoth undertaking. But so worth it - we have such a charming room now and I know it's going to be my special room to escape from family life in (as opposed to my dressing room which was my preferred hiding spot until now). I have kept almost all my books. Most on the shelves are mine, and I loved unpacking them and remembering reading them (and some are vague memories, so I might go back and reread them). I feel books give personality to a home, and I have to admit I judge people that have no books in their home at all. I wonder what they do with their spare time. I've also noticed that most people gravitate toward a full bookcase to look over what you've read.
ReplyDeleteYou are brave! Not sure what I would think if someone gave me a book on tidying! Is she the sort to accept that with gratitude or make you buy her an bottle of wine as well? I am very nervous in a house without books. I have them everywhere, sprinkled like fairy dust, because they make me so happy!
DeleteDon't feel uncomfortable! Many of us have just gone over fully to e-books and have pared down the physical books to the ones we absolutely cannot bear to be parted with. Nowadays I have very few hard copy books and do everything on my iPad. And honestly I read a lot more books now than I did before because of the wonders of instant gratifications via ebook.
DeleteGood luck with the revisions! That's a gorgeous magazine. Will have to check it out. I've moved so much that I've had to shed books but there are those eternal keepers (like, a whole basement full still!) And don't get me started on coffee table books. It's a problem as I pile them up to form side tables and then justify keeping them since they are furniture!
ReplyDeleteI think after all your moves, you deserve a medal! I love a coffee table book as well and am alwYs switching mine out!
DeleteI love Matchbook and especially the little bits like facts you didn't know about a historical figure and their style reimagined for the modern age. Last month was Julia Morgan.I always like the choices.
ReplyDeleteGood book suggestions. I need a good one now. Keep sharing yours. I also want to hear Dani's review on the tidying up thing. The Organized Mind seems like one I could use! x Kim
I can't wait to read more issues - I find it quite neat! The historical figure style makeover sounds fun!
DeleteI love the idea of "What's on my Bookshelf" as part of your blog! I admire the idea of tidying and organizing, but I know I'll never get there.
ReplyDeleteThanks Barb! I'll have to clean them up first!
DeleteCongrats on your writing! Fantastic job!
ReplyDeleteI have read on simplifying/decluterring and I have been in the process for a long time now. The amount of possession in decreasing, but every year I got lost in the process and stop tackling things... I still don't get back to the beginning, but I don't seem to see the "end" of it... Waiting really for Dani's post.
I think the categories concept versus rooms is the way to go, though in truth I spent 2 days cleaning my office out using her principles and 8 bags (!) later, it is amazing!
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ReplyDeleteGood for you for listening to your gut and keeping some clutter. The obsessive push toward decluttering can be a form of OCPD. moderation in all things . . .
ReplyDeleteThanks Anon. I like some clutter - because I love things! But I do have an awful creeping clutter issue, so have to watch it!
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