Getting a peek of an avid reader’s bookshelf is one of life’s simple pleasures. If you’ve ever shown up at a house party and gone straight to the host’s bookshelf, you know how satisfying it is to snoop through other readers’ libraries. The editors of Room love reading (obviously), and we’re giving you a glimpse of our shelves and sharing how we get the most out of our sacred reading time.
Here’s a look at Cara Lang‘s personal stacks:
What makes a great reading space?
Somewhere comfortable to sit or lie out and soft light. I love to read in bed, it’s my favourite spot for reading, thinking, writing…
A view is nice too, so that when you look up from your book there’s something calming like the sea or the sky in front of your eyes (ideally something blue).
Do you like to organize or display your books in a particular way?
For the above picture, I tidied up my books. Normally, they are in heaps all over my apartment (especially next to the bed, I don’t have a side table so they tend to accumulate in a precarious pile). Are heaps and piles a system of organization?
I’ve also included a peek under my desk to showcase my normal method of display:
What are your reading rituals?
A cup of tea on a tray next to me in bed, windows and blinds open, covers pulled up right to my nose. I like to have a pen in hand to underline the parts I like best. Sometimes, if I’m organized, I’ll have my notebook next to me so I can copy out interesting sentences or ideas, or to capture those moments of inspiration that the best books provide. I love to have the windows open when I’m reading. In the winter I’ll leave the window open and wear a thin pair of gloves (normally I prefer mittens, but it’s too difficult to turn the page with mittens).
