You'll find me 'lost in the stacks' over at Danielle's blog today, talking about my books and bookshelves, showing pictures of (some of) my embarrassingly large TBR piles and no doubt revealing quantities of dust, too!
My thanks to Danielle for kindly inviting me to be her guest - it was a great pleasure to answer her questions.
What a treat! Your wonderful collection probably puts many a public one to shame. Thanks for sharing it through Danielle's blog.
Posted by: Mary | 02 February 2013 at 11:42 AM
You're welcome, Mary - it was fun!
Posted by: Cornflower | 02 February 2013 at 12:21 PM
Think how much you're saving on heating bills. It must be excellent wall insulation!
(The other Mary!)
Posted by: Mary | 02 February 2013 at 02:15 PM
A perfect excuse to buy more!
Posted by: Cornflower | 02 February 2013 at 02:52 PM
I have to agree with Mary that that was a real treat. How I love snooping about your house and your shelves! How I envy your wonderful glazed double door. And thanks for letting us see those well read children's books. Very glad to see the Ruby Fergusons there.
Posted by: B R Wombat | 02 February 2013 at 05:22 PM
PS I meant also to say I'm glad you mentioned One Fine Day again. I read it on your recommendation and loved it.
Posted by: B R Wombat | 02 February 2013 at 05:23 PM
Being a snoop from way back I loved this visit by blog--thank you so much, both of you.
Posted by: Erika | 02 February 2013 at 05:42 PM
oh my goodness--the penny dropped. Learning your last name I realize that when an elderly cousin of my first husband, both of them no longer living, mailed me his weekend copies of The Scotsman for a couple of years, it was financial articles by your husband that we particularly enjoyed. So please pass on this belated thank you for the pleasure given and the discussions the articles led to.
Posted by: Erika | 02 February 2013 at 06:17 PM
So glad you liked it!
Posted by: Cornflower | 02 February 2013 at 11:02 PM
That's kind of you, Erika!
Posted by: Cornflower | 02 February 2013 at 11:05 PM
Erika, I'm so glad you enjoyed the articles! I'm sure 'proper' writers are used to this, but it does happen occasionally that people I meet mention that they've read them, and it gives me a sort of tingly, slightly embarrassed but really very happy feeling to know that some thoughts in my mind which I've thrown out into the air have actually been of interest to an intelligent human being. Can I indulge in a shameless bit of self-promotion and point out that the articles can be read on the Scotsman's website www.scotsman.com
Posted by: Mr Cornflower | 02 February 2013 at 11:37 PM
Thanks very much Cornflower for so graciously sharing photos of your home and books! :) Why is it we readers feel so much better seeing photos like this and knowing we are in good company (and maybe feeling a little less guilty, too) with our own staggering piles?!
Posted by: Danielle | 03 February 2013 at 02:10 AM
Would you consider adopting me?! I would sit quietly in a corner of your drawing room and you would only know I was there by an occasional rearrangement of your piles...
Posted by: Alison P | 03 February 2013 at 09:00 AM
You can indeed and thus I can read them too!
Posted by: Dark Puss | 03 February 2013 at 09:05 AM
Hmmmmm
Posted by: Dark Puss | 03 February 2013 at 09:06 AM
Thankyou again for inviting me, Danielle; it's lovely to be in the company of kindred spirits!
Posted by: Cornflower | 03 February 2013 at 10:07 AM
Come on over, Alison!
Posted by: Cornflower | 03 February 2013 at 10:07 AM
I agree, Danielle! I feel so much better now! I enjoyed popping over to your blog too. Thanks for sharing your book shelves and book piles with us, Karen! I am so impressed ... why did I ever think I had a lot of books? But it is great to be reminded that there are other book hoarders out there!
Posted by: Deirdre | 03 February 2013 at 10:18 AM
I used to think we had a fairly large number of books, but that was in pre-blogging/reviewing days; now, new ones arrive with every post and the piles really are getting out of hand.
Posted by: Cornflower | 03 February 2013 at 10:37 AM
Think of me as "Mary Over the Pond"...
Posted by: Mary | 03 February 2013 at 12:13 PM
Thank you, Mr Cornflower, for the link..read your August 24th article where you mention "pitiful returns" for investors. Funnily (not) enough, I was gathering my US tax information yesterday and noted that one small savings account I maintain with several thousand dollars for emergencies earned me the princely sum of $1.06 (.67 pound) in interest for the year. Pitiful, indeed!
Posted by: Mary | 03 February 2013 at 12:20 PM
Thank you very much, Mr. Cornflower. I plan to re-read them slowly and am pretty sure that the passage of 2-3 years will have retained their relevancy. I'll also be remembering "Uncle George" and his many kindnesses to me, beginning in the 1960s when I was a very shy young person with English as a second language , flung into huge family gatherings in Scotland.
Posted by: Erika | 03 February 2013 at 12:53 PM
I love that glimpse of golden yellow through the glass door in your entrance hall. With Wodehouse, McCall Smith and crime novels all in a row, I could live in that spot and be very happily entertained. If you would just be so kind as to bring me a cup of tea now and then...
Posted by: Belle | 03 February 2013 at 03:51 PM
Don't spend it all at once, Mary...
Posted by: Mr Cornflower | 03 February 2013 at 05:24 PM
Certainly, Belle.
Posted by: Cornflower | 03 February 2013 at 06:03 PM
I love this series of behind-the-scenes posts. I'm also ridiculously impressed by your bookshelves and the variety of book subjects/genres you've amassed. :)
Posted by: Alex in Leeds | 03 February 2013 at 06:45 PM
I'm very interested in everyone's reactions and in seeing something so familiar through others' eyes! I suppose we do have quite a wide range (there is more than I listed) but it has been collected over many years.
Posted by: Cornflower | 03 February 2013 at 07:55 PM