Friday, February 02, 2007

Celebrate!




February is “Keep Toronto Reading” month hosted by The Toronto Public Library Foundation (and its partners). Lots to see and do at libraries all over the city as Toronto celebrates the joy of reading — meet authors and illustrators, attend readings, book sales and even a Book Lover’s Ball at The Liberty Grand (dine with 60 celebrity authors!). Click on the above link to discover all the goings-on.

For those of you who don’t live in Toronto and are thus reduced to envy at the sheer magnitude and wonder of such a “happening,” I’ve posted some pictures from the For the Soul: Books As Art event. I was initially appalled at the thought of books being destroyed to make such art work until I read the fine print. The students at the Ontario College of Art & Design created these works using discarded library books. (And despite wishing all discards might find a loving home, I know the reality is that many are simply trashed.)

Check out this link to view more images from Altered Books — Artists Reinvent the Book. Strange, wonderful and imaginative art.

I love reading!

God bless my city for celebrating my addiction and for encouraging others to join in such a marvelous pastime.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for visiting my blog.

I love those pictures of the recycled library books, and to think something that is "useless" would turn out so beautiful.

Beth said...

coffee mom: Glad you enjoyed the pictures.
(Weird - just thought of you - about five minutes ago I lathered my hands with lotion...)

Anonymous said...

What a great idea...I've always wondered if there was anything one could do with old books. It's just so difficult to throw them away.

Undercover Mother said...

I adoreadoreadore reading, always have. I even get books on tape (acutally from audibles.com for my iPod) so I can go to sleep catching up on books.

This summer I am going to get my Eldest into the discipline of regular reading. It's been hard! She's a great reader, but lazy in that respect.

Beth said...

trish: Great idea, yes, but there's no way I could be that creative! And there's no way I can just throw them out. I end up taking them to Goodwill or hospitals or giving them away to friends with orders NOT to give them back.

mof3: Saw the pictures of the Ingalls girls on your blog - if your eldest hasn't read those books yet, she's in for a treat. Reading is such a wonderful (lifelong) pastime.

Attila the Mom said...

Wow, those pictures are incredible! It took me a minute to really get a good gander!

Happy reading!

Beth said...

attila: Glad you enjoyed your "gander."
(And if you end up reading this response - H. B'day!)

oreneta said...

I so miss the library...when we were sailing, and now here in Spain, what I wouldn't give for a trip to the library...

Beth said...

oreneta: Honestly, I'd be happy to mail you some books...just say the word! (See my response to Trish's comment.)

Anonymous said...

Isn't it fabulous? Gawd I love this city. And hooray for the Toronto Public Library (cuz well, not only is it a great library, but they pay a lot of our bills since the hubby works there...)

Ok, enough computer! Now I'm gonna go get a cup of tea and back to reading!

Beth said...

patricia: I thought of you when I saw those pictures of books as art.

And, yes - get back to your reading and tea! You're wasting your Super Bowl free Sunday.
I gotta get off the computer, too. My butt hurts.