Little Miss Library

Since graduating from university, I don't recall ever once going back to the library.  In my experience in the Philippines, the library is used mainly to conduct serious research (meaning, the information cannot be found online or the data has to come from a very reliable source), usually of the historical sort.  It wasn't a place people tended to visit for fun.

So when my husband took me to the Washington Township Public Library, I was shocked to find that it was actually, well, cool.

There was a whole wall of DVDs (regular and Blu-Ray), a room for children's books that doubled as a reading/play area, numerous displays of magazines, and rows and rows of books from teen fiction to adult fiction to cookbooks to design books to textbooks to graphic novels and so much more.  There were comfy sofas, tables, quiet nooks, computers, and wi-fi.  And their books and movies are as updated as they can get.  It's like going to Barnes & Noble (or Fully Booked), except you get to take home and read the book (or see the movie) for free! (Technically, it's paid for by taxes, but you know what I mean).

Thanks to the library, I can read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Before Ever After (Thanks for the rave, L!) before deciding if it's worthy of a spot in our little book nook.

However, I could not resist going to my current favorite place in the world and purchasing the one novel that I had long been waiting for -- it was love at first sight, and I had to have it.  Plus, I had a coupon for it -- thus, true love!

Images from Barnes & Noble.

Books and shoes

I have a good number of books that I had to leave in the Philippines.  While I adore each of my reads, right now, I'm really missing my Laura Weisberger "shoe" series: Fun and fabulous both inside and out.

Image taken from Alpha Reader

Fiercely royal covers

I've never been an avid fan of Lord of the Rings.  Sure, I've seen the movies and thought Legolas (i.e. Orlando Bloom with long blond hair) was kinda hot.  But that was how far as it went.  It never even crossed my mind to attempt to read the books.

So why am I now into the Song of Ice and Fire series: a collection that is reminiscent of the grandeur of the LOTR; authored by a certain George R. R. Martin -- believed to be following the footsteps of the legendary J.R.R. Tolkien?

It's a like affair (love is too strong a word) sparked by our dear aunt who got us hooked on HBO's gripping series based on the novels.  The spectacular cliffhanger of a first season had just ended, and is set to be back in 2012.

My husband and I just couldn't wait to find out what happens.  So we thought of buying the first four books in paperback (If it lives up to the hype, we'll probably buy the whole collection in hardback).  The deciding factor for me? The covers - especially when grouped together - looked pretty damn cool.

Photos taken from Google images

Cover to Cover

They say one should never judge a book by its cover.  Well, I do.  I know the story within is what matters.  But I don't see why the beauty inside shouldn't be reflected outside.

I'm probably not alone in this twisted way of selecting books.  And the people at the publishing company, Penguin Group (USA),  probably thought the same thing.  Hence, the birth of the Penguin Classics: The same great novels in gorgeous new threads designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith. Introduced in late 2010, with others released in early 2011.  And it looks like there may be more to come.

Hopefully, these cool classics will someday find their way into the little book nook in our bedroom.  Anyone taking hints today?

Images taken from Amazon.com and US.Penguingroup.com.

What's your ideal bookshelf?

I adore books. Although technology now allows us to read the latest masterpieces in sheet-thin gadgets like the Nook, iPad, or Kindle, I still like the romance of actually turning the page, running my fingers across the words, and feeling the paper in my hands.


I have such a fond memory of books. I still remember when my Mom bought me my very first Sweet Valley Kids book: Elizabeth's Super-Selling Lemonade. It was in National Bookstore at the Greenhills Shopping Center in the Philippines, back when it still looked dingy and run-down (now, it's upscale and fabulous). And it was the beginning of many trips to the bookstore (I swear, I collected almost the entire Sweet Valley Kids and Twins series) and my love affair with reading -- and consequently, writing.


There's so much to be said about a person based on his or her choice of books. Because reading is such a personal solitary journey, and no one can force you to take up an adventure you don't want to get into.


Jane Mount was what got me started on thinking about books today. She is an artist who I stumbled upon on a visit to one of my favorite sites, 20x200. Her current project is called the "Ideal Bookshelf," where (to paraphrase) she "paints people's favorite books, books that changed their lives, books that made them who they are."


Here are some of her -- and other people's -- "ideal bookshelves:"

Jane Mount's favorite books from her childhood

Jane Mount's interpretation of the "super-ideal" shelf of cookbooks

Fashion icon, Robert Verdi's "ideal bookshelf" by Jane Mount

Famed blogger Tina Roth Eisenberg's favorite kids' books, by Jane Mount

Jane Mount's "ideal" young adult books collection

If you look closely, you can see the work that went into recreating the details in each book spine. Even how the books were arranged is a big part of the artwork. More importantly, it makes you think about what you would put in your "ideal bookshelf."


Read more about Jane Mount and her works here.

From the pages of a book -- literally

Of course, David Stark had to take it to a WHOLE new level.  Why settle for stationery when you can turn paper into an entire installation???


I'd actually come across this recent work of David's a few weeks ago, but all this talk about paper helped me remember -- and remember to blog about it this time.


Inspired by books and fairy tales, this is a celebration of the characters that bring life to a special someone's story: “Life is made up of a series of stories. You are an important part of mine.” 

See more photos from and read the full story about the event here.  Also check out an earlier paper installation concept by the same designer, the purely paper flower shoppe.