The White Album

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Does "The White Album" evoke this:

Or perhaps this:

The former was a monumental stride in music, the first album undertaken by the Beatles after Brian Epstein's death. The latter was a collection of essays commenting on the disjointed, disconnected generation that came of age in the 60's and 70's. I think the enjoyment of both might have been enhanced for some with the addition of a little reefer.

What it does not and should not evoke is this:

Perhaps my problem is that this tableau can only be appreciated if one is stoned. I simply can't imagine any drug that would convince me that "books covered in white paper, each numbered for easy reference" is a good decorating scheme. No. Easy reference is having the original spines facing out, perhaps in order by author's last name, subject or Dewey Decimal number.

Am I the only one who enters a room full of bookshelves and practically salivates? I can't wait to peruse the books. The book collection promises to lay bare the soul of its owner. I actually attended a neighborhood association meeting once because it was at a home that I often walked by and saw huge bookshelves through the window. I only went so I could browse those shelves! If I walked into this room with its stark, homogeneous white, I would feel sad. Sad that books are being used for the primary purpose of decorating rather than reading. Sad that the personality of the book, from the cover art to the broken parts of its spine, is hidden in favor of uniformity. It flies in the face of all that reading is about...freedom to express, freedom to explore, freedom to question.

They might as well have a fireplace with book leaves for kindling!

Di

Comments

[leigh]

There is something so beautifully decadant about built-in shelves...but not with the white-book-thing going on. Reminds me of people hiding porn movies behind plain boxes. I have, in my possession, an old "decorating" book-and I use that word loosely-from Better Homes and Gardens that was published in the 70's. You have never, ever seen such frightful color/pattern/texture combinations in your life. Every now and then I break it out just for the shock value. The above could have been lifted directly from those pages.