People, if allowed to conjure what their dream-house would look from inside, would go for ornate furniture, chandeliers, porcelain dishes, crystal glasses, velvet cushions, soft linen and all that’s exquisite. Dreams don’t cost anyway ! However, in a departure from gentile tastes, I’d always dreamt of (but could never manage) a home with a large sized study having a classy, well stacked, chestnut brown, mahogany bookcase extending across right up to the ceiling ! One could say, visit a successful solicitor’s chamber or a CA’s office and such things do exist, why then dream about it ? Ah, for the reason that my bookcase wouldn’t have law, taxation, accountancy journals but for real reading of old classics, fiction, biographies, anthologies of many genres and by great writers !
I’m convinced that despite the digital challenge mounted by e-book forms and an expanding virtual readers’ space more inhabited by the younger generation, the printed form will always remain in vogue for sheer tangibility, its physical access and beauty of ‘feel and touch’. Bedtime stories, playbooks, picture stories, comics were an integral part of our growing up with the book tucked under the pillow. A leather set of famous works by great authors were favourite b’day gifts for kids and old alike (till new apps, gadgets, credit cards took over gifting modes). Yet books keep making comebacks like stars !
Books play a very important role in shaping the lives of human beings, are the storehouse of knowledge and a reflection of the habits of people. Every house must possess a bookcase/bookshelves, for they change the environment of the house, bring positivity and add that ‘touch of class’. Every bookshelf has a different story to tell which depends upon the kinds of books and materials that it stores in it. Books scattered in various places are tough to access when required. Kept in smart bookshelves, arranged, catalogued they look so grand.
However, homes today are small abodes, crammed with stuff with little space for bookshelves leave alone an elaborate bookcase. But let’s not lose hope for these days various space-saving designs and styles are available in the market which one has to browse to meet specific needs. Some people believe in multi-purpose book-shelves for displaying fancy items which is not fair to the books. Real book-lovers ‘Have a book for everything and let every book find a place’ !
Working on Living 