never judge a book

and all that jazz
.

but I could hardly resist, could I. . .

take off the text, remove the stone-skimming children and that might well be my perfect image of the sea and the sky (the photo wraps around on the back of the book, where it is equally as beautiful)

I've probably (p)rattled on about this book before, haven't I? so do stop me if I'm repeating myself. . .

I first knew I wanted to learn how to bind books when I came across The Bookbinder reading a copy of this book: he had been asked to design a fine-binding for it, and was seeking inspiration

every year the shortlisted Mann Booker Prize authors receive a copy of their book which has been bound by one of the country's top bookbinders - in 2005 The Bookbinder joked that he might put his life savings on The Sea to win, as it was a bit of an outsider (he should have done: it did); he later received a thank you letter from John Banville, who wrote how much he loved the fine-binding. . .

today I bought the paperback with the points I've built up on my bookshop loyalty card

I like loyalty cards (especially coffee shop ones, which I keep for the days when I have no money for luxuries like a coffee from a coffee shop), altho I'd actually prefer it if everything was slightly cheaper in the first place such that shops didn't have to go to the pretence of "giving" you something "for free" that you've effectively paid for already

I don't write about politics, but the current state of the economy and the suggested solution of Those That Be to con us all into believing we can just keep spending and it will all be alright in the end worries me somewhat

credit-fuelled consumerism is very over-rated, and quite dangerous, IMHO* (like a badly behaved dog, it can jump out unexpectedly and bite you where it hurts)

there can be such as thing as too much choice, IMHO* (choice is something to be savoured and relished and appreciated and respected and desired and deserved, not expected or demanded or assumed) (a little like a nut roast on the 25th December)

but, like I said, I don't write about politics

I stick to the superficial girly stuff,
like the colour of sunlight thru clouds
at the end of the day

(-:

6 comments:

Mel said...

Oh, I do so miss the bookbinding with all the bits and pieces and efforts it took to make it all fall together.
Is that silly? I hope not.

Yaknow, I don't own a single credit card. *looks around*

You didn't hear me say that. LOL

And we did have the most gorgeous sunset this evening.....

I, Like The View said...

no, that's not silly

it was fascinating, and I enjoyed it so very much

design and art, old fashioned techincal skills using solid basic equipment that's been around for centuries. . .

it was inspiring, it was an education

was being the operative word

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

...

how wonderful to have a good sunset!

(I only have the one card which I clear every month, no store cards; I feel quite smug sometimes, but it's more about being sensible and living within beyond my means)

I, Like The View said...

(but - boy, oh boy - do I have plenty of loyalty cards!!)

I, Like The View said...

I meant financial means, of course

emotional ones are proving ever maxed out

but I have the rest of my life to clear that debt

don't I

Greg said...

If the colour of sunlight through clouds at the end of the day is "superficial" and "girly" then I, myself am superfificial and girly and pleased to be so!

Anonymous said...

I'm totally with you on the credit fuelled thing. Those cards scare me - I didn't get one till I was fifty (and only because I was hiring a car and they wouldn't take cash or debit) and even now, the monthly statement makes my little heart beat faster with anxiety!
We used to call credit the 'never never'. Never relax maybe?
Sunlight and clouds are all about life! Not at all superficial :)