Lookshelves

The owner of "A Provisional Lookshelf", which was one of the very first Lookshelves, is a very close friend of mine. Tomasz and I edited a small, hand-bound literary journal called Zeugma some years ago. I've watched him bop around the globe trying out countries the way other people try out local restaurants, and he carries his own wonderful, peculiar culture along with him. Apparently, since I've known him, he's also started carrying his books (a not-insubstantial commitment). He recently sent along this note and a picture of his most updated set of "shelves"...

Oi,

I noticed that a bunch of your contributors lament not having their
entire collections handy or unpacked. I just unpacked my book boxes
after rescuing them from storage because I just can't bear being haunted by
the thought of them anymore, even though I'm only in this apartment for
four months. So, a shout out to all those whose books are tucked away,
and may this give them hope:

"And the non-reading of books, you will object, should be characteristic
of collectors?... Suffice it to quote the answer which Anatole France
gave to a philistine who admired his library and then finished with the
standard question, 'And you have read all these books, Monsieur France?'
'Not one-tenth of them. I don't suppose you use your Sèvres fine china
every day?"

- Walter Benjamin, "Unpacking My Library"

T