Welcome to Litsy!

I loved this. Manguel writes about being a reader in ways that are so relatable, even though I‘m pretty sure his reading is much more erudite than my own! Starting with reflections on setting up his own library, Manguel uses each chapter to examine a different aspect of libraries—the library as myth, as order, as space, as imagination, and so on. He brings together historical tidbits about personal and national libraries with his own reflections⤵️

“I have no feeling of guilt regarding the books I have not read and perhaps will never read; I know that my books have unlimited patience. They will wait for me till the end of my days.”

“…multinational companies have ensured that, on the one hand, users will not protest against being turned into consumers, since they are supposedly "in control" of cyberspace; and that, on the other hand, they will be prevented from learning anything profound, whether about themselves, their immediate surroundings or the rest of the world. Commenting in 2004 on the usefulness of the Web as a creative tool, the celebrated American comic-strip ⤵️

“There is an unbridgeable chasm between the book that tradition has declared a classic and the book (the same book) that we have made ours through instinct, emotion and understanding: suffered through it, rejoiced in it, translated it into our experience and… essentially become its first discoverers…”

🤖 Finished System Collapse yesterday, completing my Murderbot re-read
⚔️ Started Guards! Guards! for #OokBOokClub
🐶 Beautiful Joe is ongoing for #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMAdjacent
📚 I‘ve been parceling out an essay per day of The Library at Night, which is my May #BookSpin and also a pick for my #50x50 challenge

“We don't read books in the same way sitting inside a circle or inside a square, in a room with a low ceiling or in one with high rafters. And the mental atmosphere we create in the act of reading, the imaginary space we construct when we lose ourselves in the pages of a book, is confirmed or refuted by the physical space of the library, and is affected by the distance of the shelves, the crowding or paucity of books, ⤵️

“…for readers like myself, there are no ‘last‘ purchases this side of the grave.”

“We can roam the bloated stacks of the Library of Alexandria, where all imagination and knowledge are assembled; we can recognize in its destruction the warning that all we gather will be lost, but also that much of it can be collected again; we can learn from its splendid ambition that what was one man's experience can become, through the alchemy of words, the experience of all, and how that experience, distilled once again into words, ⤵️

“Old or new, the only sign I always try to rid my books of (usually with little success) is the price-sticker that malignant booksellers attach to the backs. These evil white scabs rip off with difficulty, leaving leprous wounds and traces of slime to which adhere the dust and fluff of ages, making me wish for a special gummy hell to which the inventor of these stickers would be condemned.”

#BookSpin and #DoubleSpin for May! I‘m really excited about The Library at Night. It‘s been on my TBR for years, and my husband bought me a copy maybe a year ago at Christmas. It‘s on my #50x50 list and its time has come! My DoubleSpin landed on the same category as April‘s BookSpin (1950s—70s for #192025), which I still haven‘t read—I think it‘s a sign 😆 So I‘ll pick two of those three above, and one will be for April and one for May!

My birthday is tomorrow, which means my #50x50 reading challenge kicks off tomorrow! I‘m planning to read 50 books from my TBR before my 50th birthday (which is in 2028). I‘m planning to start with one of these:

Raybearer—30: gifted w/in last 5 years
Bird by Bird—9: about writing
Anam Cara—44: related to my vocation
The Library at Night—7: about books/reading

If you‘d like to join in, the link to the StoryGraph challenge is in the comments. ⤵️

On BoingBoing this morning, a reminder that Library Extension will tell you in any of the libraries you have access to has copies of the books you're looking at. Has access to thousands of libraries in Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
https://boingboing.net/2024/08/18/download-this-extension-if-you-love-books.html

#BookMoods Day 30: #SetInAPlaceYouLove - the library!!!

❤️📚❤️📚❤️📚
Went to see Robert LaPage‘s The Library At Night exhibit in Toronto today.

Both the book and the exhibit are must dos for library lovers.

This year I've been reading many books about books or books about libraries. This one is one of my favorites. It is so exceptionally thoughtful and rich.

1) I used to borrow DVDs prior to my DVD membership with Netflix (old school). There are a couple of libraries I frequent with an impressive movie collection. I also borrowed CDs when I had a long commute years ago prior to signing up for Spotify & discovering member supported The Bridge.
2) Never. Unless it's my first time in a library. I basically grew up in a library & prior to Covid would frequent the library 2-3 times per week
@TheSpineView

Definitely #TeamBorges here...

This is what happens when you read a book about books...

I've always loved books with commentary on the fonts used.

A booknerd‘s Friday night. Dusting a section of the library and listening to tunes. When you get to the end, you start again. 📖❤️🤓 As Robert Johnson sings, “I believe I‘ll dust my books...”, er, or something like that.

Essays about the power of the books/libraries from the author‘s intimate point of view, from his personal library to the broader aspect and meaning of the libraries through the history. Interesting topic, very informative, but some parts are too dry ...

#Booked2019 #NightOrientedTitle @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

#Nonfiction2019 #SomethingWithPictures @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Inspired by the tagged book I decided to bring some order on my chaotic shelves ... I‘m half a way through my books and I already regretting my decision ...🤯

Day off

1️⃣ Physically, none. My uni library is useless to me except for its digital content. And very sadly, my local library's hours are really bad for me.
2️⃣ None at the moment, but I download digital academic articles every second day.
3️⃣ In my life? Every format at least once.
4️⃣ No, see №2.
5️⃣ None at the moment. Will likely make a bunch or interlibrary loan request this summer, however.
6️⃣ None, see №5.

Bookmail

“The various qualities of my readings seem to permeate my every muscle, so that, when I finally decide to turn off the library light, I carry into my sleep the voices and the movements of the book I‘ve just closed.”

#QuotsyNov18 Day 30: Because new #Title(s) tantalize like no other.

Day 26: #alliance

#quotsynov18
@TK-421

#QuotsyNov18 Day 18: As a child, I didn‘t consider becoming a #Librarian ever. Now, it is all I think about. :)

📚

Today I went to an exhibition with @alessandrafn . And I have no words to explain how incredible "The Library at Night" is, based on Alberto Manguel's book. It has a replica of the author's own library and an unbelievable virtual reality session! I hope you also have the opportunity to experience it!
#library

Congratulations on 1,001 followers @BarbaraBB It's definitely well deserved! Alberto Manguel very well might be my favorite literary critic. No other living writer has more thoroughly explored the meaning of, & the ethics of, "the art of reading." All three volumes, while different, have been constant companions for years. I really can't say enough great things about them.
#spotlightgiveaway

A fun staircase inside the Albright Memorial Library in Scranton, PA

#riotgrams
#librarylove

My newly painted and reorganized library created on my upstairs landing- still have items to add but cozy and I have added a sonos speaker for music as well.

#7favesin7days Day 3

1. At least once a week
2. Trinity College Library or Bodleian
3. Currently none. I‘m trying to read books on my shelves.
4. Sadly, I don‘t think I had one as a kid. 🤔 I have one from high school. I think my mom just put my books on her card.

1️⃣ Have not in many many months, and since I'm still on medical leave, haven't been to my uni library in months either.
2️⃣ I'd like to see Beinecke again. British Lib too.
3️⃣ None.
4️⃣ I was 6 and I was pissed because I'd wanted one since I was four!
#trivialthursday @GarthRanzz

"Ultimately, the number of books always exeeds the space they are granted."
Alberto Manguel The Library at Night
#albertomanguel #thelibraryatnight

A fabulous book!

Such an interesting & true concept!

Such interesting topics but, perhaps ironically, I found that it was too broad-ranging for me and lacked curation!

So beautiful. How many books have you dreamed up and then let dissipate on the breeze?

This might be the most beautiful table of contents that I've ever seen. So far, the essays are stunning, as well!

Why do I love sitting amongst my books so much?

Many of us have read this, but I wanted to add my admiration and accolades, and to share this passage from the conclusion which I plan to print and hang up

My 5 author picks for my #5fordinner
Julio Cortázar
Alberto Manguel
Winston Churchill
Stephen King
Virginia Woolf

Let me know yours!

Partial #libraryhaul . Not even sure where to start!! #SFPL

Manguel writes elegantly and memorably on a broad range of library topics. Starting with the construction of his personal library in the Loire valley, he considers the myriad facets and histories of libraries both personal and public. Published in 2006, his opinions on digital books evolved to being more inclusive from earlier books like "A Reader on Reading." An indispensable book about books, one that will reward rereading.