I am that person who judges a book by it's cover. I am resisting the conversion to an e-book reader, I'm not sure I'll ever be ready to abandon books for a Kindle.
These books are a case in point. I chose them because they are beautiful. It helps that the subject matter appeals to me, and I adore flicking through them. Information soaks in and next time I spot a new flower or bird in the forest, I can trawl back through my brain and put a name to it.
I remember being totally absorbed in the little Observer books as a child - both my mum and my Nana had lots and I would scan the pictures learning the names for fish, seashells and wild flowers.
Observer books for a time were hugely popular and collectable recently and their prices shot up, with charity shops reserving them for their glass cabinets, with glass-cabinet-appropriate-price-tags.
Now you might see them again back on the regular bookshelves, coming down to a more reasonable price.
The two I have here are battered and tatty, but I don't mind. They remind me of my childhood. Remind me of the long summer holiday I spent collecting and pressing wild flowers and recording them all in a little notebook with field notes, pencil drawings and identifications. I won a headmistress's prize of a £1 book token I recall and was proud as punch.
The Ladybird book of British Birds and their nests is a joy too. It seems to jog distant memories, so perhaps we had this when I was a child? So many birds detailed that I remember being common garden visitors back then, but which you so rarely see nowadays - House Martins; Jays; Wrens and Bullfinches. Where did they all go?
If you're a fan of Ladybird books, check out Ladybird Tuesday over at Being Mrs C.
Did you find any second-hand treasure this week? Grab the badge and link up.
wonderful book collection! I have some of the Ladybird ones and they conjure up happy childhood memories for me too. I'm a bit half and half about Kindle - fine for a novel, but I love looking out for old books, especially if they're illustrated. Can't ever see that changing x
ReplyDeleteI love old books and have a huge collection myself :)
ReplyDeleteI too am a lover of vintage books, children's book are my favorite. The illustrations in these vintage books are so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYou can't beat a book, something the kindle will never match.
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I still haven't read a book on a device, all paper for me, very old fashioned. Have to say I haven't heard of observer books before.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting read, Liz. Lovely to hear about your childhood and how you used the Observer Books to learn about nature. I wonder if I've still got some tucked away somewhere?
ReplyDeleteI love books with colour plate illustrations, they remind me of being a small girl, exploring the book shelves at my Grandparents house x
ReplyDeleteI can almost smell those books. Seems a shame that with the advent of the kindle finding things like this will be on the decline in years to come
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could ever switch to a kindle, I love the feel of a book in my hands
ReplyDeleteFab collection! My Grandad had so many books like that - wish I had paid more attention when I was younger!x
ReplyDeleteI do use a Kindle/iBooks for PDFs and eBooks but things like this I would ALWAYS buy in a physical copy. You can never beat the feeling of a solid, old book in your hands. Just seeing a full bookcase makes me smile. Your books are gorgeous - especially the subject matter.
ReplyDeleteThat Ladybird book is gorgeous! They had some really top notch book illustrators in the early days.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting more interested in birds now that we have a more bird-friendly garden x
We have tons of those little observer books, Adams Dad gave loads to Miss M and she wanders around with them now! Mich x
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to Ladybird Tuesday. I don't need to tell you how much I love Ladybird books and IIRC this particular one was quite special as I think it was possibly the first non-fiction book they did, or something like that. It was definitely featured in the BBC4 programme on Ladybird books that was on over Christmas and I think that was why.
ReplyDeleteAhh, they are gorgeous, and I am totally with you. Digital music I am fine with, but digital books are never going to happen in this house. Too many memories connected with the physical object. And you can't slip things between the pages of a Kindle, can you? xx
ReplyDeleteI don't think I will ever switch to kindle either...my husband loves his though.x
ReplyDeleteI love the books! I am currently on a book buying ban imposed by Mr G.. however..I have snuck a few in over the last week..haah! Will be checking out the Ladybird Tuesday too! x
ReplyDeleteI love all books for where they can take you but books that jog the memories are very special. My daughter is reading tmalory towers the same set i read age 6 shes loving them just as i did. Wonderful
ReplyDeletebeautiful collection of books! and gorgeous styling with the buttercups. i used to love nature themed books as a kid too, in fact spent a couple of summer looking around the meadow outside my mums house with half an eye on the book on common hungarian wild plants in my hand. whenever i get the chance i pick up an old illustrated nature book still on the thrifts... i have a feeling i might become one of those people when i get old, who sits in the garden with a bird book and a pair of binoculars, or like the Hemulin from the moomin stories, staring at plants with a magnifying glass :) thanks for hosting the link-up!
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