Of libraries, bookshelves and literature

It wa rainy today, as it usually does, but I decided to live with it and to have a quick trip to the local library. It is a small one, but there is an interesting choice for its size. I love every aspects of reading, the frequent pilgrimage to the bookstore of course, but also the trip to the library, however modest. Walking around the bookshelves and having a look around is always great fun and you can always find at total random something you will like.

I try to make the most of our local library: I borrow as often and as many as I can. Novels, of course, things I cannot find easily in bookstores, but also books I would not buy otherwise: recipe books, history books which would be too expensive otherwise, comic books, pub guides, essays, etc. Unlike the books I possess, these are guests in my house, they don't define me as much (more on this here), but their presence is welcome.

Coming back from the library, I decided that it was time to give my readership an aperçu of what I read. This blog is called Vraie Fiction, after all. I found on Wendy the Very Good Witch's blog a virtual bookshelf which you can get at Shelfari. I decided to have one for myself. I don't know what I am going to do with it except put it here, where it will at least look nice. Hopefully, it will give influence people to read what I think is worthy of reading. You can already see the virtual bookshelf on your right. I called it "Tolle, lege" ("Take up and read"), from some vision/dream of Saint Augustine. I know, I am not in the habit of quoting a holy man, as I am utterly unholy, but it sums up the general feeling I have towards literature: one should be compelled to read it. Thus my use of the Saint's words. Read those books. They are worth it.