It started when an old friend from Uni. posted a ‘Shelfie’ on his FB page. Instead of a Selfie of himself – a pic. of one of his bookshelves – which I reckon can tell us as much about a person as a Selfie does.
I think it’s a great idea as it means folk can snoop at each other’s books. I’m always interested in what people read – some might be interested in what me & Mike read – so I’ve been posting my own Shelfies on my FB page.
Robinson R.R.’s comment on one pic. was……’Lots of Trollopes!’ I resisted the temptation to give a ribald response, but his comment got me considering my row of Trollopes ( behave!) and I realised that I’m not likely to read the ‘Palliser’ novels again. I will probably read the ‘Barchester Chronicles’ again, as there’s something solid about the world they describe which I find soothing. But the ‘Palliser’ novels? – mostly Politics. In fact I had a go at re-reading ‘Phineas Finn’ a few months ago and realised that Politics looms so large in life at the moment that I didn’t want to read about people conniving, betraying, manoeuvring etc etc., so I didn’t continue with it.
I’m now wondering if there will ever be a point at which I would choose to read about how dreadful people and politicians can be – I don’t see that time coming soon.
Planty Pal – Plantagenet Palliser – is a good sort – who, for reasons best known to himself, goes into Politics in a big way and ends up being Prime Minister. This is a position in which a good sort can do good – and Planty Pal does his best. However, I don’t think I want to have to wade through the dodgy sorts to walk in the garden with Planty Pal again.
So – I cleared out the ’Palliser’ novels – Mike has no inclination to read them – and they can go to the charity shop to edify someone who likes that sorta thing.
There’s also ‘The Way We Live Now’ which is Trollope’s assessment of how mercenary society in Britain had become in his time – again -echoes come through to the times we’re living in.
Trollope writes exceptionally well – but I don’t necessarily want to read what he’s writing about in the ‘Palliser’ novels and ‘The Way We Live Now’ – there’s enough of that stuff going on around me.
One thing really does lead to another – Ralph’s comment set me on this train of thought, which has led to my changing the contents of that Shelfie…..
Bookshelves, like gardens, aren’t static.
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