Tuesday 25 August 2009

The Grey Shelf


I retained the grey shelf in my book collection to share with you this week during our Persephone Reading Challenge. Some of the Persephones shown above will feature themselves when I blog about them, either as ones I have previously read and loved or ones that I will be reading, at some point this week. Those books to the left of the slim volume of The Victorian Chaise-longue -which interestingly is so slight that it foregoes the Persephone logo- are the ones unread, including Miss Buncle's Book that lies along the top. I also have another grey Persephone currently on my bedside table, the Classics on another shelf, and other editions of Persephone titles shelved elsewhere. I love the uniform refinement of these books on a shelf of their own.

How do you shelve your Persephone Books? I considered ordering them in number and at first shelved them randomly, but then settled on dividing those read and to-be-read titles. I am already struggling for space so I foresee a reorganisination of my bookshelves in the near future (especially as forthcoming Persephones will be published on October 22nd). I envisage one day having an entire bookcase devoted to Persephone Books.


23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh how bizarre I just gave your Persephone Week a little plug and mentioned how the books just make you want to have your own Persephone shelf and then here comes this blog. It looks as good as I imagined it would!

Unknown said...

Great shelf! Are you planning to buy all the new Persephone books as they are released?

It is an expensive habit as I rarely see them second hand.

Paperback Reader said...

Bizarre indeed, Simon! Thanks for the plug and I'll be off to read your post momentarily.
They do look lovely indeed; I love my Persephone shelf :).

Thanks, Jackie. I still have a lot to buy but I am desperately coveting two of the three forthcoming titles in October (the new Whipple and Laski) so I'll be adding those to the collection as quickly as possible.

Finding them secondhand is a rare find indeed and they are definitely a luxury item. I like buying them in trios to make the 10% saving but more often or not I buy one at a time as a treat to myself. They also make for handy hints at Christmas and birthdays ;).

verity said...

It is an expensive habit indeed.

I have mine in number order, although they are divided into read, unread, and classics first!

Paperback Reader said...

That would be the librarian in you, Verity!

Anonymous said...

Looks stunning.

Just mentioned on a couple of blogs that I haven't read any Persephone books at all, and it looks like I'm missing out on a whole new fantastic world.

I'm definitely going to try and check out some of these books... I'm quite intrigued and tempted - and your shelf, methinks, was the moment I decided to give in!

Paperback Reader said...

anothercookie, happy to oblige! They are little gems and maybe you'll sample them, fall in love, and join is during our next Persephone Reading Week. I hope so :).

Steph said...

It's a beautiful looking shelf, and definitely shows your pride in the investment you've made in your collection. I'd love to have my own Persephone shelf one day!

Paperback Reader said...

Steph, thank you! I hope you do havr one just like it one day :).

Stacy said...

Well the silver one was my favorite...now I am not so sure:)

Ana S. said...

An entire bookcase of Persephones sounds wonderful! So, have you been wearing grey this week? ;)

Paperback Reader said...

Book Psmith, it has definite similarities with the silver -one colour, imprint, uniform appearance- but they are Persephones and they may just win out...

Ana, it is a dream but I'm on my way, at least. I have been wearing grey! A favourite v-neck, long-sleeved, comfy grey top yesterday and a floral grey smock-top today :).

verity said...

You can all see my Persephone shelf tomorrow. I'm actually wearing a grey cardigan today; I forgot that I actually do have quite a bit of grey. Might stick to silver accessories tomorrow though...

Paperback Reader said...

Your Persephone shelf is going to be so much more impressive than mine! Hee. I think I'll wear grey for the week.

Bloomsbury Bell said...

I absolutely love the grey area on my bookshelf! I sit and look at it and imagine a time when I have all of them in a bespoke bookcase!

Paperback Reader said...

Naomi, they are so pretty that it is difficult not to admire them continually!

verity said...

Just counted - I have thirty four! I also discovered that I have 6 grey cardigans, and two grey jumpers - I thought I had no grey clothes, I was very wrong!

Paperback Reader said...

Thirty four is a fabulous amount! Not long to go for a full collection (okay, over double, but still...) I have 20- 15 greys and 5 classics plus another 3 in other editions.
You really do love your cardigans!

Mark David said...

Very elegant :)

verity said...

I have some other editions too. Obviously I love cardigans - I'm a librarian!

claire said...

Now, Claire, this is my favourite of all your shelves! I'm not sure yet how to shelve my Persephones as there're only two, but I'm guessing it'll be the same, alphabetically by order and mixed in with all my other books. Maybe, when we move to a bigger house and I get more shelves, I might just have one like yours. :)

claire said...

I meant alphabetically by author!

Paperback Reader said...

Thank you, Mark David, elegant is what I was going for! Or what Persephone achieved... either way.

Verity, true!

Claire, maybe one day... I do see some more Persephones in your future ;).