If a stranger looked at your bookshelf, it would probably tell them?

That I am a very conflicted individual - the books I own entirely consist of religion/philosophy/politics or biology/environmental issues. The two do tie in together, but often the most apparent dialogue between science and religion is conflict.

Or they might think I'm just boring - because I maybe have 2 or 3 novels/fiction. The rest is non-fiction.

What about you?

The same as you, that i have have some odd tastes. Tons of theology (both Muslim and Catholic), political novels and non-fiction (all Socialist or Anarchist), a couple shelves of poetry (Bukowski in particular), and a bunch of art books of classic pinup art and tattoos.

Without me around, they would probably think I am a geek and in high school.
I have all horror and fantasy novels.

That I love drama and the classics. And that I'm interested in CIA and government malfeasance.

Funny, I was just looking at my bookshelf kind of thinking about my collection.

First, they would know I have a kid, because the first shelf is full of children's books. You would also see religious material, dictionaries. fiction, non-fiction, popular books, chick lit, biographies, lots of Oprah book club selections, medical thrillers, sci-fi, a few graphic novels, lots of books that have been made into movies, many trivia books (Uncle John Readers, Book of Lists, Mental Floss), recommendations from EW.

So basically a potpourri, not much horror, romance or political though.

I think they would think I'm trying to escape reality because they would see mostly Horror, Fantasy, and Science fiction.

That I was an English/literature minor, considering all of the classics on the shelves. Cormac McCarthy, Douglas Coupland, and Douglas Adams are the only "contemporary" authors on there.

They would think I need a bigger book shelf.

They would think: "This dude has entirely too many books."

They probably think that we're bookish. Or intelligent with wide-ranging interests. Or intellectual snobs.

One wall of the living room has two library bookcases that are each seven feet high and five feet wide. Most of the other rooms have smaller bookcases.

We don't have many bestseller-type books. We have lots of reference books, art books, classic science fiction, classic horror, and fine literature.

"Wow, big Stephen King fan, huh?"

That we're into a lot of things and need more bookshelves. (Despite having 6 sets of 7' shelves-2 against the wall and 4 back-to-baack sticking out from the wall.) That I'm a scifi addict who enjoys classic humor and is into spy novels, who does origami and likes to travel, fixes things, plays poker and other games, has some interest in languages and physics and philosophy, and who never throws a book away. Add in classical music and literature and poetry if you get into the gf's shelves.

My bookshelf tells people I like cooking...nothing but cookbooks.

Assuming they knew anything about the authors on my shelf, they might think I'm a little disturbed; mostly horror, mysteries and thrillers. And I'd probably also get a comment on my Stephen Kings, since I have a single bookshelf devoted to them.

Better yet, you tell me: My Library

They would bow down and worship me for the book reading god that I am!

I guess it would depend on the type of person looking at my bookshelf. Mine is full of history and biographies but hopefully in a couple months I will have a nice section of classics. I hope they would think that I’m pretty smart (fat chance of that happening) or at the very least be a good partner in Trivia Pursuit.

Judging from your book suggestions in the non-fiction thread, I'd say your book shelf is amazing.

Do you have a blog or complete list of recommended reading?

Same here!

Different rooms would tell different tales:

Main bedroom - SF nut
Dining room - cookery fan
Living room, right hand side - philosophy/religion/science/history/non-fiction afficianado
Living room, left hand side - likes classic/literary fiction

They would think that I'm a low-brow cretin. Almost all paperback thrillers.

1. That I need more space for my books.
2. That I have a BA in English.
3. That I have an MA in English.
4. That I'm an English geek (who else would own a book entitled Artful Sentences?).
5. That I love the classics.

That Iv Possibly Killed people and am a little disturbed...

top shelf is my harry potter books and lord of the rings
below is a row of serial killer biographies and similiar topics...
then rest is a mix of horror and a mix of several genres that iv been reccomended

my other boockcase is dedicated to history books

Thanks, I've only been reading for the last 3 years so it is not that big but I am getting there.

As for my list of recommended reading, I do post in the monthly threads and I am doing the 2008 rank them as you read them. (As well as the 2007 version) I also have a Facebook account that has all my books if you are interested in that.

English geek. I have a two-foot shelf that's filled with dictionaries and books on etymology. The weirdest: "Dictionary of Obsolete English" by RC Trench, the man who first proposed the OED.

They would see mainly the books I haven't read yet. Due to space limitations as I finish a book it goes into storage. With of course a few exceptions. This thread however raises a question, do we have a pics of your bookcase thread around here?

People would think that I am scarey. It is mostly horror.

I am surprised there aren't any "Post pictures of your books" threads.

...they would wonder where I buried all the bodies.

I'm a true crime nut; serial killers,mostly.

Also, tons of horror.

I also have a large collection of film books, the bulk of which are on my favorite filmmakers, biographies, etc.


I'd like to see a post a picture of your collection thread as well.