Very moving and lovely to read this morning, so well written - and personally relatable as going through similar in last few years. It's comforting to know these books and stories take new roles in others lives and live on.
Oh Mike. Tears are rolling down my cheeks. I’m vowing here, that at the end of the month I’ll be pledging £ when cashflow improves. I’ve always promised myself to write (for catharsis) about the very profound heartache of emptying the family home a few years ago. I’m a voracious book buyer… and hoarder but soberingly, as an orphan, there will be no one to do the same for me. Thank you for this beautiful, thoughtful and therapeutic piece.
Thank you so much Joanna. I found writing this piece very cathartic. I wasn’t sure about writing it, but Wendy - a fellow substacker - encouraged me to do so. You really should write it. It will help. I am so pleased that you found my post worthwhile to read. I appreciate your comments.
What a beautiful homage to your mom and books, Mike. I struggle with getting rid of things, especially books, but the appearance of Little Free Libraries stationed around the neighborhood has made paring down a bit easier. So sweet that mum's books are the gifts that keep on giving. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Hilary. Paring things back is hard, but I’ve valued how this experience has reduced my dependence on material things. And thank you so much for sharing this.
That's a lovely piece, it was a joy (albeit a tearful joy) to read. I'm so glad Di's books have found new homes and raised vital funds - that's inspired me to plan what the kids might do with my library once I've shuffled off this mortal coil. I have books in almost every room of my house, shelves and shelves of them. Some of them have my signature, some a date of when I acquired them, or a number assigned by a much younger me in an attempt to organise my rapidly growing library. Some have a message from the person who gave me the book. They're not all essential and I do thin the shelves from time to time (and I don't always buy new books to fill the gaps...) but the sight of those shelves, the titles and author names that immediately bring back the contents and the context, the cracked spines, the publisher logos, all that brings me joy. At some point - eg if I have to leave this house - I may need to do a more radical purge (of books and CDs...) but for now, I'm happy to see them all.
Thank you very much Cath. For us, the process of moving has raised the question of what material stuff we actually need, so it was an opportunity to prune back on possessions - but I’m not saying that’s the right move for everyone. It simply suited us at the time. But we’re pleased that it’s raised some money for Oxfam. Next, the vinyl!
As someone whose university project was to outline how my bookshelves were my “autobiography”, who also lost her mum and had to go through her shelves last year, this article struck home. And as a bookseller who works with both pre-owned and new, you are absolutely right. Books and their stories can be shared many times over, new meanings inscribed into them. A couple of weeks ago, I had a visitor in who chose a beautiful preloved book that they were gifting to their literature teacher for inspiring them on their reading journey. Thank you.
Thank you, Jo. I think you have the dream job - giving new life to old books, and creating that most wonderful of spaces - the second hand bookshop. I so appreciate your comments.
I really enjoyed this article Mike. I have accumulated a lot of books, like my mother, and I try not to think about what will happen to them down the line. I am using the public library more to try to contain my excess 😆📖
Thank you Lucy. After sorting out my mum’s books and paring down our own collection I vowed to never buy a book again. I think the vow lasted about 10 minutes. Possibly 5.
That was beautiful Mike and quite moving. I lost my own mum earlier this year and everything you wrote rings true for me. It's not just photographs and ornaments that keeps a part of her alive in our minds.
A wonderful piece of writing Mike. Relatable on so many levels ...dealing with death of a parent ,the aftermath of grief and home clearing ,love of books and our complex relationships with them .
Diana was an amazing lady ,who lived a life and her legacy will go on in you,everyone who shared time with her and of course her books .
Just passing her last home on Blackness, on way to work.
My mother was a librarian, my house is full of books too. I lend them, I lose them, I give them away, but more take their place. My rule is, never hang on to a book you will never read again.
So relatable Mike. What a lovely legacy your mum has left, both with her books and with the money they have raised for a good cause.
I've had many purges of my books, and often find myself regretting getting rid of certain ones, but needs must - you can't keep 'em all! Whilst e-books are not nearly as nice, my Kindle library has saved me from even more purges!
Thank you Jules. Yes, our relationship with books is deep and very complicated! And the digital age brings in another level of complexity - or does it remove one? I’m not sure.
Very moving and lovely to read this morning, so well written - and personally relatable as going through similar in last few years. It's comforting to know these books and stories take new roles in others lives and live on.
Thank you Libby. So good to know that it’s relatable too. It was somewhat cathartic to write it.
Oh Mike. Tears are rolling down my cheeks. I’m vowing here, that at the end of the month I’ll be pledging £ when cashflow improves. I’ve always promised myself to write (for catharsis) about the very profound heartache of emptying the family home a few years ago. I’m a voracious book buyer… and hoarder but soberingly, as an orphan, there will be no one to do the same for me. Thank you for this beautiful, thoughtful and therapeutic piece.
Thank you so much Joanna. I found writing this piece very cathartic. I wasn’t sure about writing it, but Wendy - a fellow substacker - encouraged me to do so. You really should write it. It will help. I am so pleased that you found my post worthwhile to read. I appreciate your comments.
Thank you, I really really shall. X
What a beautiful homage to your mom and books, Mike. I struggle with getting rid of things, especially books, but the appearance of Little Free Libraries stationed around the neighborhood has made paring down a bit easier. So sweet that mum's books are the gifts that keep on giving. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Hilary. Paring things back is hard, but I’ve valued how this experience has reduced my dependence on material things. And thank you so much for sharing this.
lovely
Thank you Cherry
That's a lovely piece, it was a joy (albeit a tearful joy) to read. I'm so glad Di's books have found new homes and raised vital funds - that's inspired me to plan what the kids might do with my library once I've shuffled off this mortal coil. I have books in almost every room of my house, shelves and shelves of them. Some of them have my signature, some a date of when I acquired them, or a number assigned by a much younger me in an attempt to organise my rapidly growing library. Some have a message from the person who gave me the book. They're not all essential and I do thin the shelves from time to time (and I don't always buy new books to fill the gaps...) but the sight of those shelves, the titles and author names that immediately bring back the contents and the context, the cracked spines, the publisher logos, all that brings me joy. At some point - eg if I have to leave this house - I may need to do a more radical purge (of books and CDs...) but for now, I'm happy to see them all.
Thank you very much Cath. For us, the process of moving has raised the question of what material stuff we actually need, so it was an opportunity to prune back on possessions - but I’m not saying that’s the right move for everyone. It simply suited us at the time. But we’re pleased that it’s raised some money for Oxfam. Next, the vinyl!
As someone whose university project was to outline how my bookshelves were my “autobiography”, who also lost her mum and had to go through her shelves last year, this article struck home. And as a bookseller who works with both pre-owned and new, you are absolutely right. Books and their stories can be shared many times over, new meanings inscribed into them. A couple of weeks ago, I had a visitor in who chose a beautiful preloved book that they were gifting to their literature teacher for inspiring them on their reading journey. Thank you.
Thank you, Jo. I think you have the dream job - giving new life to old books, and creating that most wonderful of spaces - the second hand bookshop. I so appreciate your comments.
I really enjoyed this article Mike. I have accumulated a lot of books, like my mother, and I try not to think about what will happen to them down the line. I am using the public library more to try to contain my excess 😆📖
Thank you Lucy. After sorting out my mum’s books and paring down our own collection I vowed to never buy a book again. I think the vow lasted about 10 minutes. Possibly 5.
Oh its a bit of a compulsion 😃
Lovely
Thank you Tamara
That was beautiful Mike and quite moving. I lost my own mum earlier this year and everything you wrote rings true for me. It's not just photographs and ornaments that keeps a part of her alive in our minds.
Thank you Andy. I’m sorry to hear that. It’s hard, isn’t it? For us, having some sense of the afterlife of her books has really helped.
A wonderful piece of writing Mike. Relatable on so many levels ...dealing with death of a parent ,the aftermath of grief and home clearing ,love of books and our complex relationships with them .
Diana was an amazing lady ,who lived a life and her legacy will go on in you,everyone who shared time with her and of course her books .
Just passing her last home on Blackness, on way to work.
Thank you so much Eleanor. And she was so fond of you as a neighbour. I’m just pleased that the couple who bought her home are such lovely people too.
Very beautiful. Mike.
My mother was a librarian, my house is full of books too. I lend them, I lose them, I give them away, but more take their place. My rule is, never hang on to a book you will never read again.
Thank you so much Rosalind. That’s a great rule to stick to!
Such a beautiful, touching piece. You can learn a lot by looking at someone’s bookshelf. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Eva
Beautiful piece Mike - Thanks.
Many thanks Ray
Very relatable and moving piece. Similar here but it was my Dad who kept his books, my Mum read and passed on. I try to be a bit of both.
Thank you Paul.
So relatable Mike. What a lovely legacy your mum has left, both with her books and with the money they have raised for a good cause.
I've had many purges of my books, and often find myself regretting getting rid of certain ones, but needs must - you can't keep 'em all! Whilst e-books are not nearly as nice, my Kindle library has saved me from even more purges!
Thank you Jules. Yes, our relationship with books is deep and very complicated! And the digital age brings in another level of complexity - or does it remove one? I’m not sure.
Beautiful, Mike. Just beautiful.
As always Mark - thank you for your appreciation. Looking forward to your next post.