Six Year Plans and Cornish Books

Tuesday March 25, 2008

This Easter we spent a few days in Cornwall. I own a bungalow there by the sea and – not being one to rush things – I have been doing it up for the last six years. It’s a process that’s been slowed down further by distance and available time; life gets in the way with house moves, new schools, new jobs and the all-important lack of funds. But we’re getting there. Four years ago we passed the important milestone of central heating. Three years ago it was a new bathroom. Either four or three years ago (the memory fades) new carpets. Just recently the further milestone of new windows. And I upgraded from video player to DVD player. The house is now ready for holiday lettings. My daughter sorted some DVDs that would be suitable for guests – DVDs bought for her during the six year renovation period. Baby stuff – in her eyes – including Barbie Fairytopia, Heathcliff (a cartoon cat) and Tom and Jerry (something I though might have more mileage in it). I was no different, downgrading the films Mrs and Mrs Smith, Enduring Love and Sideways.

My choice of books to line the shelves has been odder. Although the intention was to provide a small yet solid library, I’ve realised that the books I’m providing are mostly my rejections or my disappointments. Or inherited books. Some examples from the Cornish book cudboard:

* Crime (Ruth Rendell, Ian Rankin, Fred Vargas and Nicolas Blake). Although I do actually quite like the work of Nicholas Blake (a.ka. Cecil Day-Lewis)

So although my intentions aren’t entirely sound (I’m sharing my book dumping ground rather than books I go around saying people simply must read) it will be interesting to see what people make of it. The worst that can happen is that guests will ignore my books complelely. Or swap them for something worse, like Iain Banks novels.

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