Every first week of the new year I set aside a few days to properly sort through the bulk of my inventory. Many titles I’ve had for almost a decade. Paper cuts to last me a lifetime, long-forgotten ephemera that’s slightly foxing. While other titles themselves have been ever so recently introduced to the shelves. The challenges of maintaining a small library? There aren't many, aside from running out of space! Which is why renting a storage unit often comes into play for those of us who collect obsessively the written word.
The most intriguing part of inventory is not only taking note of how the books have perhaps aged over time, but I tend to also document how the book’s aroma has somewhat transformed. Then of course comes the alphabetizing, and color-coordinating as well —just in case the archive itself is filled to the brim, these “orphaned books” will take their places down past the overgrown Plectranthus barbatus and into my color-coordinated section. In this scenario, there is no specific genre limitation. I like to recommend this sort of methodology for all you archive fiends out there —as the shelf consisting of random titles does tend to be a refreshing exercise for one’s own optimal neurological reset.
Now that February has arrived it’s time to pick out a few books that would be oh so necessary for that mid-winter appetite. Oludamini Ogunnaike's The Book of Clouds was an unexpected find that I picked up recently.
Page 33: “Hide me in your mouth till I’m sweet, like your sugar mountains of teeth. Let me be a breath of your speech, my heart is where your two lips meet. I’m your dream, you’re my memory. Don’t forget me, I beg you please. A river and a tulip tree, lightening and its melody.”
Quite something, don’t you think? Although I had hoped that this edition was a dual-language release, as reciting someone else's poetry in their native language brings about an experience that cannot compare to the english translation. So much is lost through this process, although I will say —working as a translator is one of the most difficult jobs in the literary world. But, many would confess that it's simply the most satisfying work ever.
Next on my list was The Crone's Book of Wisdom by Valerie Worth. To be honest, I was just as intrigued by this tiny book of spells, and mostly for reasons you might come to expect. Ms Worth’s incantations are playful enough to recite with your kids, yet restorative in a way for adults as well. An invaluable companion-read while diving-in to Ogunnaike’s work simultaneously.
Happy word-hunting fellow Venusian!
