The Smell of Leather - No, Not a Car

I felt a surge of excitement thrill through me. 

I had been invited to this beautiful house to buy books, and as I stepped into the living room, there they were - shelves and shelves of gorgeous leather books.  I don't exactly have a leather fetish, but a shelf of morocco bounds can do to me what a closet of leather shoes can do to a woman of that persuasion.  Mine, I believe, is a more rational obsession.  One can read leather books - they have an intellectual component.  Shoes, well, they may enthrall the owner, but they pinch.

The owner of these books made it clear that while he was moving and needed just some downsizing, he had his favorites, and a marvelous glass cabinet that wanted books to complete its look.  He planned to have shelves in the new condo, and needed the feeling of being surrounded by books even in a smaller room.  I saw no problem.  There was enough for both of us.

A careful appraisal showed me that while many of these beauties had literary merit, many also were what we may call "just another pretty face."  But, hey, don't we know people who are more comfortable with that than anything more challenging.  Unfortunately some sets were incomplete.  Someone had actually read a volume here and there, and may have carried it away instead of re-inserting it in its proper numerical slot. 

Some book dealers call these "furniture books," dismissively.  They are just shelf-fillers, they say scornfully.  I argue, how about the cups and saucers, or decorative dishes that are on bookshelves.  They are not being used for a cup of tea and crumpets.  If you want to decorate, I think a book on a bookshelf is far more appropriate, even more appealing.

Yes, I get customers who come in with a tape measure, and a color scheme in mind, and I'm happy to help them.  Let them experience the warm, glowing feeling of leather books.

And, besides, they are just taking care of the books temporarily.  The books will move again to another shelf in another home eventually.  Maybe sometime, somewhere, someone will even read them.

-- Florence

Comments

[Sara]

I know this is an old post but I became addicted to your writing about an hour ago (after I read the haircut one, which I have forwarded to a few friends who will appreciate it) and I realized I needed to start from the beginning. Can't wait to read more!

Sara