An Introduction to My Library

As my first post as a book blogger, I thought it would be fitting to introduce to my library. I have been collecting books since I was a little girl, and my collection is the result of years of voracious reading. I love discovering and adopting books, wherever I may find them: tame and shiny books waiting in Barnes & Noble, books that have wandered into used bookstores, books lost in dusty thrift shops, forgotten in attics, left on buses, or wondering what they're doing on display in furniture stores.

most of my fiction section

Of course, the content of my library is based on what I read. I have literary tastes for intelligent, well written books. My top genres would be Historical Fiction, Classics, and Literary Fiction. From there, my reading branches out to many other topics. HF (historical fiction) leads to history, history leads to biographies, and biographies may take me to the rainforests of Brazil or to a medical research lab. You never know.

Basically, I read anything worth reading.

more fiction

  I own 2,817 books. I make lots of lists about my library, and keep meticulous track of things... So you can expect more thrilling numbers and statistics  to follow. Don't worry, I'll keep them brief.


I buy books that I am interested in, of course, and keep books that I've enjoyed. I like having knowledge close at hand - so, I try to collect a variety of non-fiction books on a wide array of subjects. I weed out fiction that I read and dislike, but I'm more lenient with my non-fiction. Even if, say, a particular biography didn't win me over, I'll probably still keep it. Same with classics.
I'm a fan of neglected, obscure books. Worn, scribbled in, pre-ISBN copies that I've never heard of are treasure.

Non-Fiction section. Double shelved and crowded

More double shelved non-fiction

 I dabble in antiquarian, collectible books, too. I have quite a lot of first editions and books from the 1800's, some from the 1700's, and one from the 1500's. Some of my older books are quite valuable, others are worth something only to me.

The name for my blog is in honor of Jorge Luis Borges, and can be used as a nod to Umberto Eco as well. I used to say that I would never find an absolute favorite book or author, but that was before I read Borges. Thanks to him, my world of reading is forever changed.

Living in Miami (not exactly a go-to place for intellectuals and readers) hasn't provided me with many any book-friends. I love when fellow book-lovers explore and appreciate my shelves, but those instances are few and far between. I want to be able to discuss what books I'm reading, buying, thinking about, and coveting with other book lovers who actually know what I'm talking about, not people in coffee shops who glance at me askance and edge away as I share my impassioned book-ramblings.

I am hoping to find book-friends, bring to light under-appreciated books, give my take on some books everyone is talking about, discover new reads, learn new things, and enjoy myself in book-blogging.

Still more fiction. It will inevitably always be under invasion from my boyfriend's computers / current project

Review: The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

Title: The Uncommon Reader
Author: Alan Bennett
Genre: General Fiction
Publisher: Picador
Published: 2008
Pages: 120

Rating: 6 out of 10

Queen Elizabeth II of England borrows a book from a traveling library she stumbles upon just to be polite. She has never read all that much, and has never read beyond what people normally do. However, this obligatorily borrowed book becomes the first of many as the Queen develops an insatiable need for reading material. As she makes her way through mysteries to thrillers to literature to classics, the Queen becomes an avid bookworm.

This was an endearing novella. The Queen, who I do not know much about, was a lovely character here. Though I can't say how realistic a picture it was, the fictional Queen Elizabeth II was a great main character to take us through her story.

I love books that are about books, though I feel that it is often hard to make them interesting, as a writer can't really write a plot just from saying "she read a book about this, and then a book about that..."
However, this one has a very nice plot structure and even pacing.

Though the Queen feels she has discovered the greatest joy in life, no one else around her seems to share her views. Their exasperation at her new hobby, and their schemes to try and get her to cease reading, were clever and funny.
The Queen's library sounded magical - I'm jealous!

The entire book was, for the most part, lightly written, but underneath it was something deeper and more serious. The Queen's eventual views and decisions on writing were an excellent way to end the book, because while we are happy for the Queen's reading, it is also somewhat true that it is perhaps not exactly fitting. She is a monarch, and she has a duty to her country, not simply to herself. It seemed, I thought, to be a contradiction that could not possibly have a satisfying ending.

In the very last paragraph, the author adds in a twist, leaving the reader to wonder just as they close the book what the Queen was about to say next. We'll never know, as Bennett leaves us to assume the ending for ourselves. It was a witty, amusing end to a very witty and amusing book.

A bit trivial and cutesy, but great light reading.