Saturday, August 15, 2009

Pictures speak a thousand words...

Blink again, you're in the right place. Truth of the matter was that I was starting to miss the stark simplicity of my all white background and so I went and got it back.

...So if you've been reading my blog/paying attention, you will know that I've had this Harry Potter Fantasy in which I stroll into a Salvation Army/Goodwill store and discover that someone donated their entire collection of Harry Potter novels and yadi yadi yada.
Well, I will say that it didn't quite work out that way. As opposed to making a one time stroll into the Goodwill, it took more like 4 strolls. One one occasion I was lucky enough to snag books 4 and 5 on the same day but every thing else was on some walk in and peruse the book section and hope to get lucky.
Aniwoos like the title of ze post says...pictures speak a thousand words so please allow me update y'all picture style on my HP collection.

As of Aug 15, 2009...I, the Original Mgbeks am the proud owner of books 2-7 of the HP collection. For some reason, book 1 has been very hard to find but I aint fazed. Yes we can baby!
How you like me now???



Decided to include some bonus pics of one of the things on my 'Pride and Joy' list...bookshelf numero uno with some of my favorite books.



Ze bookshelf was originally white but one random summer day I decided to engage in some DIY style activities and painted it a lovely mustard color. I still have an unpainted one which I swore I'd paint this summer but *ahem*, it doesn't seem to be happening.
I'd say that a good 75% of the books in this mix were Goodwill finds with one of the most recent being 'A thousand splendid suns' by Khaled Hosseini. I hope it's as good as the 'Kite Runner'.


And in more book yarns:
I'm looking into building an African Author collection starting with the likes of Elechi Amadi, Chinua Achebe etc etc. As I type, I am expecting to receive my Chimamanda books in the mail any time soon. Yay to that!
My dream of owning a personal library that will make the county's public librarian go cross eyed with envy is coming ooo! LOL.

I hope y'all are having a good weekend so far...

Peace & Love.

60 comments:

Ebony~!* said...

1sttttttttttttttttttttt!

Giagerry said...

hahhhhhhhhhahahhaha
first!!!!

Ebony~!* said...

I never knew I would have this position! :) Good luck on your HP collection. And i envy the DIY shelf.

Giagerry said...

sheeeet!
ebony that was soooooo close!
i wass sposed to b first!
arghhhhh!
after all my page refreshing...all in vain!
lol

mizchif said...

Gosh, u are so organized. See how arranged ur bookshelf is. When i grow up i want to be like you.
I miss having a real, proper bookshelf. All this moving around means i usually have to give away my really good books after reading them :(

Those HP books look good sitting there, like they all came together in a box set or something.

Nice Anon said...

Nice book shelf you have got there sweetie.
I have been reading E Lynn Harris. I love all his books. Been addicted to them in fact. How is your own wkend going? I miss the old template but I like the fashion template lots. Don't change that one ever!

Unknown said...

Men, this your bookshelf is a bit too organised for my taste. LOL! Yes, I'm slobby like that. Stock up on Jonathan Kellerman, abeg. Harry Potter. OOKAYY...

Anonymous said...

Mehn... this bookshelf doesn't fit the image of OM I have in my head o.... Why did you have to 'spoil' everything?

NaijaScorpio said...

I love the contents of ur bookcase. I see u collect shoes. Your piggy bank is too cute. Yeah! I saw the shot glasses up there too. Pretty cool.

Rayo said...

i like ur book shelf. tis so so cute.

Unknown said...

Nice! :) I have the same hopes for DVDs.

Miss Enigma said...

Love the shelf!!!! *sigh* I look forward to the day I'll have my own space and can have my own shelf of books!!!

Nice collection dear!!!

chayomao said...

Good good stuff.
Get back to me on the A thousand splendid suns.
Need a review on that one

Bibi said...

very nice collection. you go girl. i love the Harry Potter books too. i see them all the time at a thrift store close by where i get my books. have you ever tried the twilight books?

Reverence said...

ooh i like the book shelve... makes me want to go paint mine..nyeh to much work..lol

so i was trolling the library website to see whats new and i discovered adaobi nwaubani, the book is called i do not come to you by chance. the reviews i read seemed promising. i will let you know how that turns out.

Trybes said...

Nice book shelf..Think DB hit the nail on the head..Always thought of you as some................................................................


Cheers..

uNWrItten* said...

omg we blogged about the same thing!!!.im reading a thousand splendid suns right now.the book issss good!!!!...and ihave all of chimamanda's books..that babe can write ...so i decided to write my own book..lol

Rene said...

I wish I could keep books like you. All my novels I end up lending someone and forgetting it with them.
Nice bookshelves and gosh! u r so freaking organised like d pics of your closet in your other blog

Anonymous said...

I like the color of your book shelf...*ideasss* You and Harry Potter sef, I just fall asleep reading it..lol.

Good luck with your personal library, you are almost there.

48 said...

That's a very nice color for a bookshelf. Ahhh I loove harry potter. To think I was once a hp hater - till a friend got me started on it. Same thing with the twilight series. I'm totally adding a thousand splendid suns to my list...

Tairebabs said...

Love how organized your book shelf is and the color too. Hmmm....I have never read any of HP books but I always watch the movie. Heard it's not as good though. I am with Tigeress on this one...I collect movies instead though I know I need to read more.

48 said...

That's a very nice color for a bookshelf. Ahhh I loove harry potter. To think I was once a hp hater - till a friend got me started on it. Same thing with the twilight series. I'm totally adding a thousand splendid suns to my list...

BSNC said...

lol@ DB, why did you spoil the image for him now.

YES YOU CAN, your personal library is on its way.

How dey go dey go...

Ama Kyei said...

I will race you to having the most exquisite library ever:) I'm sea green with slight envy as to how you found your HP books (hardcover too!!) at Goodwill. Lovely bookshelf and good luck w/ numero uno HP. P.S. Don't expect to read Thousand Splendid Suns with dry eyes. One of the most beautifully written books, ever. And to help you with your African lit section, after you revel with enjoyment in Chimimanda's books (sp), amazon Sefi Atta-- loves her. enjoy!

Anonymous said...

lol...goodluck on the search for the ist one.

Tomibecca said...

I'm a HP lover myself!!.But would you believe I GAVE my 1,2,and 7 out!! and it was to a boy oh!!sigh..stupid me.lol

Anyway I like how you arranged ur books and everything.I always misplace my books or throw them in some corner when they are done with!!NOT GOOD.Yea u should definitely stock up on them African books.Chinamanda Adichie is so freaking AMAZING.

SOyinka's books can be kind of esoteric sometimes though.

afrocouture said...

lol--how you like me now?

Maybe one day, you will donate some of them to my own library.

aosgrl said...

splendid suns is a great book

webround said...

so u're another member of the organized bookshelf. i don't want to imagine the costs of shipping my books back to naija especially considering the fact that most of them are hardcover...

ever read any Leon Uris book?

Zena said...

I was trying to send a comment through my phone, blogger no gree and I'm number what? I need to improve on my stalker skills mehn!

I also started out with a black background, but when its all said and done, you want simplicity at the end of the day...I like this background better actually

When someone mentions books, I go beserk!!!!! I love books...Which Adichie book did you order? The thing around your neck, or all of them? The Thing Around your neck was hottttt!!! I wish they weren't short stories, Elechi Amadi is mad, try Buch Emecheta as well, Joys of Motherhood(* she mostly writes about universal problems faced by women)Ken Saro Wiawa, Ken Wiwa's autobiography, I really don't like Hele Oyeyemi like that, but her first book was cool, and the newer ones Seffi Atta, and this book I've been dying to read" I do not come to you by chance"

I could go on....read A thousand Splendid Suns QUICK!!!!! I can't believe you haven't read it yet, if you thought Kite runner was good, hold it....u need a box of tissues ( I get emotional when I read books)but the book is........Jesus

You painted it yourself? I applaud you, I would've bribed a friend...I've come to the conclusion I'm not that handy....

Since luck they follow you, do you want to be looking for 2 copies each? you can start over again and help me get them(cheesy smile)

Original Mgbeke said...

Ebony: Yaaay for you. And thanks babe, I hope to snag book #1 soon.

Gee: Yeah, Ebony beat ya. Ha Ha.

MizChif: e no too hard na, or you can pay me to organize for you. I was gonna harrass you to send all your books to moi. LOL

Nicey m: Thanks my dia. I read one or 2 E. Lynn books. He gets a nyeh from me...The weekend was busy and all. No wahala, I won't be changing that other one at all, at all.

Olu: Ban slobbiness. LOL...e gosta be organized na. Anyway I've been accused of being kinda sorta anal about things like that. I see Kellerman books but I've never read any. Will look into it.

Bagucci: LMAO, chei I don mess up oooo. Abeg this one na film trick sha o. :-D

Sting: Thanks ma'am. Just started with the shot glass collection on a very belated tip. And I found the shoes at a thrift store...they were too cute!

Rayo: Thank you ooooo.

Tigeress: Thanks. I attempted a DVD collection and instantly gave up.

UnderCover: Thanks Missy! Your space will come soon enough, and collecting the books won't be too hard either. :-)

Chayoma: I will most definitely do. I plan to start reading it this week.

Bibi: Thanks gial. Long time o! I've never read the Twilight books but I hear you guys talking. That is my next library project.

Revs: You can always pay me, ya know! LOL. Been hearing about this Nwaubani book. I wonder if they have it at my local library...?

Trybes: LOL. Y'all won't kill me with laugh. Like I said to DB, it's filmtrick ooo...I'm the ......... that you think I am. :-D

unWritten: I need to get to reading the book ooo, all these positive reviews. Girl, if you write I will most def read ya book. Get on it. :-)

Rene: The idea of starting up a lib was kinda belated sha, I used to buy and lend/sell/donate. Thanks gial, I try small. Tee hee hee.

Original Mgbeke said...

Taymee: Thanks babe! Ideas indeed, go to Home depot and get you some paint. :-D

48: Thank you! Ok I really do need to get on this Twilight business it seems. How can I be left out?
Seems like the splendid suns is a good read from the reviews on here.

Tairebabs: Thank you ma'am. I've actually never watched the movies. Maybe we'll swap small...I need to watch more movies in my life. well, thank God for red box and $1 rentals.

BSNC: Yes I can oooo. We thank God. My sister e dey go as e dey go o, no wahala for this end.

Qnonherthrone: Ya know what? It's on! The race is on. LOL...I actually have (stolen from my friend) Sefi Attah's 'Everything good will come'. Absolutely love it. Check out your local goodwill, you might get lucky with the HP/library plan.

Leggy: Thanks ooo, will update blogger when i find it.

Mcrazy: *GASP* To a boy? Gerrit backkkk. lol, My mom had a RACK of those African literature. I should ask her to bring some when she comes...the likes of Ngugi wa thoingo and 'em. Trying to remember if I read any Soyinka books sef...
And yes, Chimamanda is freakin AMAZING.

Afrocouture: Ya know, straight up charity work. No wahala babe, I got you! lol

Aosgrl: I can't wait to read it. Thankss.

Webround: Yezzurrr, organized bookshelves rock. You can kuku ship the books to me o jare. LOL
I haven't read any Leon Uris book ooo...'bout to check him out on Amazon right now.

Zena: Babe, I know you are the book woman up in this blogger area. You need to be around more to offer recommendations to me ooo. Oh yeah my mom has them Buchi Emecheta and all...I really need to ask her to send to me oo. I have one of the Sefi Attah 'Everything good will come'...great book. I met Ken Saro Wiwa when I was young o, imagine that.
Aniwoos if you are serious, I will most definitely get 'em for you. I usually go and see them and I'm like awww I already got this. It's no prob, they are dirt cheap too.
Oh and I am expecting the 2 Chimamanda's...PH and HOYS. I do need that thing around your neck in my life though, I've heard great reviews.

Admin said...

Just stopping bye,cheers

LG said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
LG said...

QUES: wats dat pink kinkili shoe doing there??????

Anonymous said...

Mgbeks...Long time. But seriously that "thousand splendid sun" was GOOOOOOOOD!!! I read it in a day....it was worth my 25.99. I tell ya. Gosh I love your bookshelf die men!!!!

Blogoratti said...

Hmmnnn,something shady about that shelf..it's too organized :)
Never been the HP type fan, but i'll go with chimamanda.

Omosi Thisgirl said...

nice blog....you can always look online for the first Harry Potter book, amazon marketplace, craigslist and half.com, that's how I built my collection

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

that is a nice bookshelf with a nice looking collection. Congrats on your HP collection =)

LusciousRon said...

Congarts on getting the collection! That is determination. I like your book shelf. I wish I organised my books like that. Atleast I will know where they are :(

Anonymous said...

1000 Splendid Suns is a GREAT read, you will not be disappointed

Buttercup said...

Shouldn't the 1st one be the easiest to find? :-/ .. I also hope to own a huge ass personal library..my collection consists of mainly M&Bs(lol), Jackie Collins and Danielle Steels..

Odunayo said...

A Thousand Splendid Suns is the TRUTH you'll love it!

Anoda Phase said...

glad u've come a long way in ur HP collection...

u DIY painted that bookshelve? it's so neat...n lovely too...plus, u really r one organized lady...love the pink shoe on the shelve too...lol.

Sisem E. Naidem said...

First time commenting here. Your bookshelf reminds me of Shelfari although I'd chuck the HP books out though. Haven't gotten round to reading one. Maybe when my future children decide to introduce me to them.

My dad had a mega-library of African authors in those days. Reading them was blis but moving those books when we moved house na real wahala so I don't have the courage to start my own collection.

Chimamanda is good though I've read just one of her books sha *covers face in shame*

Oh, and great blog by the way...

neuyogi said...

Congrats on your hunt, you are making headway. I love books and movies but i rarely own them 'cos i hate watching/reading them more than once. What's the point if i already know what's going to happen. That being said, if I was to own any novels of my choice; it wuld be the Harry Potter series and the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlottte Harris.

Anonymous said...

I heard a thousand splendid suns is so good... I never really got into Harry Potter though

Enkay said...

Your shelf does look nice!
So you are more 'girly' than I imagined? *wink*

I've tried to build a library so many times that I've given up - temporarily.

I lend them out and I usually never get them back again.

Unknown said...

I love your bookshelf. It is so organised.
I love Kite Runner too. That Khaled guy is a really good writer.
The first Harry Potter is probbaly hard to find cos its a little older but no worries, you'd find it.

miss.fab said...

I love the little artifacts on your bookshelf! Almost bought A Thousand Splendid Suns yesterday at the airport but I changed my mind cuz it's so much cheaper on Amazon lol.

Do update when you begin your African Authors collection!

Anonymous said...

Original Mgbeke! I've been a longtime reader of your's and to be honest, I'm glad you reverted back to your old blog format. I missed it too! I'm working on my African Author's collection as well. If you haven't bought Chimamanda's new book yet, I def recommend that you get it asap!!!

Aphrodite said...

I so need a bookshelf!

Will u dash me urs O.M?

Geebee said...

Now I’m as jealous as a pauper . . . such books! In your collection. I don’t even have one. I’ve been making do with the movies instead. lol. Now I’ll see if I could get you Book 1 and we’ll exchange for the rest of the collection. How’s that sound? Meanwhile, nice bookshelf and display. This could really pass for an exhibition too.

Kemberly said...

is your bookshelf always so organized? I've never read a harry potter book. I'm kinda glad your blog is back to white because I couldn't read it when it was the other color.

Writefreak said...

Wow...lovely DIY stuff...i should try my hands at something like this...yeah right! lol
I need a new bookshelf too...and yay about African writers, you should be buying mine someday...Amen!
How've you been?

Chomy said...

let me get the bookcase for my shoes tho!!!!when did you become a painter???? is this a new career path....job 283...??lol

hope u r well dear, i am overworked and cranky, (wendy willaims voice) Howwwwwww you doooooing!!???

Olufunke said...

Very nice looking shelf.
You mean you painted this yourself?
I love the colour, its contrasts very well with the lighter wall shade.

Good luck on your dream of a library worth envying.....da coolest razz librarian!

Myne said...

I love your bookshelf and you should se me drooling now...

Anonymous said...

lol...cute bookshelf...and errr..please tell me you've read it at least! lol

I thought my obsession was bad..but you win!!

Neo said...

i loooove HP too, tho i only have book 6 :-(