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The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time
The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time | Keith Houston
76 posts | 18 read | 116 to read
Everybody who has ever read a book will benefit from the way Keith Houston explores the most powerful object of our time. And everybody who has read it will agree that reports of the books death have been greatly exaggerated.Erik Spiekermann, typographer We may love books, but do we know what lies behind them? In The Book, Keith Houston reveals that the paper, ink, thread, glue, and board from which a book is made tell as rich a story as the words on its pagesof civilizations, empires, human ingenuity, and madness. In an invitingly tactile history of this 2,000-year-old medium, Houston follows the development of writing, printing, the art of illustrations, and binding to show how we have moved from cuneiform tablets and papyrus scrolls to the hardcovers and paperbacks of today. Sure to delight book lovers of all stripes with its lush, full-color illustrations, The Book gives us the momentous and surprising history behind humanitys most importantand universalinformation technology.
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Sophronisba
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https://countercraft.substack.com/p/maybe-the-book-doesnt-need-to-disrupted

“Reading is a technology that works. And it works in part by immersing the reader in the text itself. The lack of video / music / pop-up ads / crypto tokens / mini-games aren‘t a problem to be solve. The lack of those thing is the feature. Books are engaging precisely because they lack those things.“

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sarahljensen
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Pickpick

If you're looking for an approachable book on the history of the book and printing technology, then I have a suggestion for you. :)

JamieArc Stacked! I love book history. 4y
29 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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sarahljensen
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Update on Jude: we've got him scheduled for another test. He's happy to be home.

@rubyslippersreads

#catsoflitsy #litsycats

rubyslippersreads He looks a lot like my cat Nicky. Good luck with the test. 😺 4y
28 likes1 comment
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sarahljensen
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Waiting at the veterinarian's office to take Jude in. He's losing weight fast regardless of how much I feed him. He's already had blood work and an x-ray. Hopefully they'll have some other ideas. I can't imagine being without my lil' man.

rubyslippersreads Sending ❤️ for you and Jude. 4y
Lcsmcat I hope everything is ok. 😻 4y
sarahljensen @Lcsmcat Thanks♥️ 4y
Crazeedi I hope it's nothing serious, prayers up!💟 4y
22 likes5 comments
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sarahljensen
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Running hither and yon all day, but I'm going to try to squeeze in a bit more reading before making dinner

#catsoflitsy #litsycat #litsycats

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sarahljensen
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My excellent reading companions :)
#catsoflitsy #litsycats

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sarahljensen
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About a hundred pages into this one, and this is a good time, for sure. Here's a gem: "Egypt's water-soluble ink informed the belief that a scroll washed clean of its contents would grant its secrets to whoever drank the resultant inky liquid."

Moonprismpower Ooh I have this book too! We can talk about it. When I start it of course 4y
sarahljensen @Moonprismpower I'd love that :) 4y
bibliothecarivs Looks like you're drinking the 'inky liquid.' haha 4y
sarahljensen @Bibliothecarivs Ha! Oh, it does :) 4y
28 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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WellReadCatLady
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I was a expecting a detailed, dry, just the facts kind of book, but there is a surprising bit of humor and excitement!

27 likes4 stack adds
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Pedrocamacho
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Pickpick

This book is all about books 😊 From the evolution of their materials (papyrus-> parchment -> paper) to how they are printed (written -> immovable type -> movable type -> lithography) to how they are bound, this book ultimately describes the history and processes that went into constructing “The Book”.

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OrangeMooseReads
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julesG Clever! 5y
gradcat Cool! 😎 5y
45 likes2 comments
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Kimberlone
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For seven days I‘ll post a favorite cover with no explanation.

#7days7covers #Day6

Nute I like it! 5y
49 likes1 comment
review
Palimpsest
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Pickpick

If you love books about books like I do then this book is a must. The feel of the paper alone will make a book-lover giddy. Incredibly well researched this book is divided into four sections discussing the page and how paper was produced, the text from writing to typesetting, illustrations from illuminations to woodcuts and lithographs, to the form and why books are the size and shape they are. Illustrations throughout and labels for book parts ♥️

57 likes6 stack adds
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NotCool

“We bought books at bookshops and garage sales; we borrowed them temporarily from libraries and permanently from our friends” ...I feel judged

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rabbitprincess
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A small but mighty book haul for Xmas 2018. I borrowed the tagged book from the library and decided I needed my own copy to fully appreciate it. Looking forward to the collection of Time Lord verse (Now We Are Six Hundred). The Inconvenient Indian will also be interesting and important.

Tamra I want to read The Inconvenient Indian! 6y
LeahBergen Nice! 👏🏻👏🏻 6y
rabbitprincess @Tamra I need to get Seven Fallen Feathers as well. @LeahBergen I had borrowed The Book from the library but decided I needed my own copy! 6y
39 likes3 comments
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Nute
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Get your vote on!

Banner and Book Image: Goodreads
Application: Textgrams

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Suzze
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My #shelves of books I haven‘t read yet. And I wonder why I can‘t catch up. 🤣#31bookpics

TheSpineView Yours looks small. I am now over the 400 mark for TBR in just physical books. 6y
Suzze @TheSpineView I had to go look. 308 physical books. You win. 🤣 6y
TheSpineView @Suzze I bet there are folks that make us look like amateurs!😋 6y
Nevermore88 Same girl same! 6y
80 likes4 comments
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The.Intentional.Reader
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Happy National Read a Book day!

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Nute
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Still driving my parents around. Still waiting in crowded parking lots. Thanks goodness, still got cell phone battery juice, however, a greater joy is on the horizon, because guess what is right around the corner from the bank. (my current on hold location) Target and Costco...Yay! ‘There be books.‘ I‘m going to get one or two. Skrrrt..Detour ahead! Now I can be Uber Daughter all day long.😃

JazzFeathers Yayyyy!!!!! 6y
Nute @JazzFeathers Mission accomplished! 6y
82 likes2 comments
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Kimberlone
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The other part of my Prime Day splurge. I‘ve had this book in my cart for ages and I couldn‘t resist pulling the trigger on it thanks to the $5 off $20 deal they had running. Cannot wait to dig into this book. The attention to detail and design is impeccable, even the inside looks amazing! #bookmail

28 likes2 stack adds
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Suzze
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I have had this book on my Amazon wish list for awhile now. Although my son usually buys me everything on my wish list, he seems to ignore books! He is an avid reader so I do not understand it. I may just have to get this for myself. #BooksAboutBooks #readingresolutions @Jess7

OrangeMooseReads This is a really interesting book 7y
Emilymdxn I picked that up in a shop recently! It looked so interesting tho I couldn‘t afford it at the time 7y
emilyhaldi Oooohhhh 😍 7y
77 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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rabbitprincess
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Princess Bride reference! 😆

rwmg Your author doesn't seem to be aware that Egyot itself was a Hellenistic kingdom at this stage. 7y
rabbitprincess @rwmg He may have thought that the general reader would be confused by Hellenic vs Hellenistic. But I do think he could have said that parchment was developed "in Greece" and avoided the confusion entirely ? 7y
rwmg But it wasn't. The word parchment derives from Pergamum, in what is now Turkey 7y
rabbitprincess @rwmg Then that is something that should perhaps be brought to the attention of the publisher. 7y
28 likes4 comments
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rabbitprincess
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Most often, our library hold slips are wrapped around the spine of the book. Sometimes they will be wrapped around the page edge side, but they usually extend over the covers and the pages. Today was the first time I'd seen the hold slip wrapped around only the pages! Maybe the librarians didn't want to wreck the cover or spine -- sometimes they rip if the hold slip is too sticky. 🤔

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RebelReader
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This is totally me and my TBR shelves are visible proof of this. I keep trying to control my buying, but unsuccessful 99% of the time. Can you imagine if I didn't use the library??? 😬😬😬

BookMaven407 😂 7y
Tove_Reads Same! 7y
RebelReader @Tove_Reads @BookMaven407 That's why I love Litsy....You all understand this affliction! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 7y
See All 7 Comments
MiraMonroe Yes! So true. 💗 7y
MommyOfTwo 😂 but I still get coffee 7y
TricksyTails 😂🙌 7y
RebelReader @MommyOfTwo I still get the coffee too, but I complain about the cost more than I ever do about the cost of books and believe me they cost me sooooo much more each year. 😂 7y
134 likes7 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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Total 10
5 audio - 2 nonfiction 3 fiction
1 graphic novel
1 non fiction
1 poetry
2 fiction
—\u000—\u000-
3 Female authors - 2 WoC
7 Male authors - 1 Poc

Cinfhen Great month 👍🏻 7y
OrangeMooseReads @Cinfhen thanks, better than last month. 7y
36 likes2 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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Pickpick

This book appealed to my history nerd and my book nerd. A dense well written and well researched book on the history of the book. This covers from papyrus to modern day book making, including details of the making of a hardcover edition of The Book. Really interesting and worth a read.

47 likes3 stack adds
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OrangeMooseReads
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Could have gone the rest of my life not knowing there was a term for this.

AmandaL Yeesh. 7y
[DELETED] 3803335244 Gross! Reminds me of Hocus Pocus spell book 🎃 7y
britt_brooke 😵 7y
28 likes3 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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I‘m being a sh*t mom tonight. I‘m reading a physical book and have my headphones in because I hate people-ing. Not #audiomomming *note: the sh*t mom is a joke

Dolly Been there sooo many times with no book or headphones 7y
OrangeMooseReads @Dolly oh me too. I try to always remember at least a book. Having nothing is really boring and then people talk to you. 7y
Dolly So many avid readers, including myself, are introverts, shy and socially awkward. I wonder what would happen when we're all put in one room? 7y
OrangeMooseReads @Dolly that‘s true. We don‘t seem to be as awkward when we are with our own. We automatically have at least one thing to talk about. 7y
29 likes4 comments
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Sace
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@Josie
1. Around 10. Mostly manga or graphic novels.
2. Short, but I want to become better at reading long books.
3. I usually look to manga or children's books. Or I read magazines.
4. 137/144
5. Sci-fi
6. Traditional? Nothing that you attach to the page (except those cool triangle origami ones.)
7. Probably more than 500
8. I'm weak willed and can't stick to a book diet 😂 I suspect I'm a poor reader.

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OrangeMooseReads
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Asking the tough historical questions

KVanRead 😂😂😂 7y
25 likes1 stack add1 comment
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OrangeMooseReads
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Just over one hundred pages to go and I've lost all interest in reading. Not just this book, but any book.

Jas16 I hate it when that happens 7y
DivineDiana Oh my! 🙁 7y
mrozzz Oh no!! Try a walk with an audiobook? 7y
See All 8 Comments
OrangeMooseReads @mrozzz I just finished an audiobook yesterday, even that took me longer than normal. 7y
mrozzz Hmmm. Maybe it's worth rereading an old favorite? 7y
OrangeMooseReads @mrozzz it might be 7y
mrozzz Hope you get back on track soon 💜 7y
OrangeMooseReads @mrozzz thanks, me too 7y
30 likes8 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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Got to love Kakfa.

readordierachel Checks out 7y
27 likes1 comment
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OrangeMooseReads
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"Gutenberg was not the father of printing so much as its midwife."

Sace ❤️ I love that 7y
BookishFeminist 😂😂 7y
OrangeMooseReads @RestlessFickleBookSlut I thought it was pretty great too 7y
41 likes1 stack add3 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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Isabella hates bookmarks. She believes you should never stop reading. After this picture she promptly ran away with my bookmark.

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MrBook
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Egads! I've been tagged! I've been challenged by the always enjoyable @ssravp to make a #FiveStarPredictions post!

Here are some TBR's I think I'll rate 5 stars: Empire Falls; 1Q84; The Book; All the King's Men; The Doubter's Alamanc; Gödel, Escher, Bach.

I'll #PairWith JW Blue for these anticipated selections. ???

I tag @CouronneDhiver , @Caffienequeen , @JenP , @annahenke , @kylienoele , @Jamesfahyauthor to see what you all have in mind.

IamIamIam Oh no, 1Q84?!?! 🤤 I'll be patient and see how you feel about it... lol 7y
Lcsmcat I'm curious to see your review of Empire Falls. 7y
IamIamIam Richard Russo is incredible, @Lcsmcat!!! I loved Straight Man but Empire Falls is due for a reread! 7y
See All 10 Comments
guinsgirlreads Nice Blue Label in the background! 🍻 🥃 7y
OrangeMooseReads The Book is excellent. History and trivia nerdiness abounds from it. 7y
CouronneDhiver Thanks for thinking of me... I need a couple days to think this one over 🤔 7y
Dragon IQ84 is so good but so weird, enjoy! 🐉 7y
sisilia Have fun with 1Q84 😸 7y
Jamesfahyauthor 1Q84 is tremendously good 👌🏻 7y
BookBabe 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
115 likes1 stack add10 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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Ever notice weird/random things in books after you've been reading them for a bit? I just noticed that the periods in this book are little crosses/plus signs. Sorry the picture isn't great.

34 likes2 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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"By examining how paper from differing batches is distributed throughout the surviving printed Bibles, and by tracking idiosyncrasies of spelling, spacing, and other typographical quirks, experts have concluded that four workers (later six) were engaged in assembling pages, or "composing" them, at once."
Huh, so what does this say about my life in 2017?

julesG Equally enlightening as my quote. 7y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa It says, "don't judge a book by its cover" & "watch the small details because they can change the entire meaning" 7y
29 likes2 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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I'm not a biblical scholar or anything, but it's NOT RevelationS it's Revelation and it drives me nuts when an S is added to it.

Rachbb3 Me too! 7y
23 likes1 comment
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OrangeMooseReads
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This paragraph gave me the warm "you get me" fuzzies.

Sace I had to break my book ban yet again after seeing this. Can't wait to get my copy! 7y
OrangeMooseReads @RestlessFickleBookSlut I've been told I'm an enabler 7y
Sace @OrangeMooseReads you may be but I'm fine with that! 😁 7y
40 likes1 stack add4 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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Up next on #TBRbingo or #tbr2017 .... The Book. A book about the book. It's super booknerd reading! 🤓 (apple needs a super-person emoji or at least a cape).
I point out the dingbat because it makes me giggle, my grandma calls people dingbats.

42 likes1 stack add
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DeeLew
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I will join in on the fun! ?

1. 10-20 hours
2. Print books
3. Mystery and Horror
4. Romance and Westerns
5. Biggest pet peeve is having people talk to me when I'm reading or making a lot of noise. ??
6. I love that I can "travel" to other worlds and experience things that would be way out of my own comfort zone.
7. I buy way more books than I'll ever be able to read.

#LitsyQuestions

GypsyKat Drives me crazy when people talk to me while reading! Well, like when I'm in public. I'll put my book down for the hubs. 👍 7y
38 likes1 comment
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Sarah83
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😍😘

vivastory Reading mania. It's a chronic condition. 7y
Sarah83 @vivastory It is indeed. 7y
RealBooks4ever I confess: I have reading mania. Don't send cure. 7y
See All 8 Comments
MyBookBath 🙋🏻 I definitely suffer from it! And I like every second of the suffering! 7y
Lmstraubie Hi, my name is Lisa and I suffer from reading mania. 🙋 7y
Yanes What???? No way... 7y
Sarah83 @Yanes Yes. I also read this headline in magazine a while ago 7y
49 likes8 comments
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RowReads1
Lcsmcat What a great article! 8y
26 likes1 comment
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RowReads1
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I'm finally getting this again. Yah! #bookmail

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shelf-improvement
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Pickpick

A pretty solid read, though I didn't love it. I'm the kind of girl who went to an exhibition of incunabula while on her honeymoon so it was interesting (and effin' beautiful) but I maybe didn't need a full 75 pages on the history of papyrus ➡ parchment ➡ paper?

Also, my phone suggests 'incunabula' and that makes me feel warm fuzzy things.

36 likes2 stack adds
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shelf-improvement
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How did I not know that the Frankfurt Book Fair has been around this long!?

valeriegeary That's pretty impressive! 😮 8y
LeahBergen I need this book! 8y
26 likes2 comments
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shelf-improvement
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Meanwhile, why did I get this from the library instead of just buying it!? It's so pretty, I want to get it drunk and take it to bed with me.

vivastory Haha 8y
30 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Donna_sBookMinute
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#CoolSpines #RiotGrams
I display three favorite Alcott titles wrapped in colored twine on the "classics" shelf of my fiction bookcase and Angelou's first installment of her autobiography: "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" lying flat in my non-fiction case with her other installments stacked vertically on top. The Angelou is from the Folio Society. #FolioSociety #Classics #Alcott #Angelou #MayaAngelou

SusanInTiburon Pretty and inspiring! Thank you! 8y
42 likes1 comment
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RowReads1
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A couple #bookmarks and postcards that I use as bookmarks. #riotgrams sulamith wulfing

Chachic Mucha! 💖 I remember going to the Mucha Museum in Prague back in 2015. 8y
29 likes1 comment
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kmbezner
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My special space for books about books, reading, language, and literature.

#shelfiesunday

8 likes1 stack add
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WhatStaceyReads
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Reading a book about the history of bookmaking. I'm very nerdy.