Packing My Library: An Elegy and Ten Digressions

I am packing up my library. This is not a task I had anticipated undertaking anytime soon, but circumstances have conspired to make it necessary. I am moving to a new home, and the new home is smaller than my current one. I do not have room for all of my books.

This realization has come as a shock to me. I have always thought of myself as a book person. I love books. I love the smell of them, the feel of them, the way they look on my shelves. I love the way they transport me to other worlds, introduce me to new ideas, and challenge my assumptions.

I have always assumed that I would have a large library until the day I die. I have always imagined myself surrounded by books, in a house that is filled with the sound of turning pages and the smell of paper and ink.

Packing My Library: An Elegy and Ten Digressions

by Alberto Manguel

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	962 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	155 pages

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But now I am packing up my library, and I am realizing that this dream is not going to be possible. I am not going to be able to take all of my books with me. I am going to have to make some difficult choices.

The Digressions

As I pack up my library, I have found myself thinking about all sorts of things. I have been thinking about the role of books in my life, the meaning of home, and the nature of change.

I have also been thinking about the ten digressions that I have made while packing up my library. These digressions have taken me to all sorts of unexpected places, from the history of the book to the psychology of reading.

I have included these digressions in this essay because I believe that they are an important part of the story of packing up my library. They are a reflection of the way that my mind works, and the way that my thoughts wander when I am confronted with a difficult task.

The Elegy

In addition to the ten digressions, I have also written an elegy for my library. This elegy is a lament for the loss of my books, and a celebration of the memories that I have made with them.

I have written this elegy in the hope that it will help me to come to terms with the loss of my library. I hope that it will help me to appreciate the books that I still have, and to cherish the memories that I have made with them.

Packing up my library has been a difficult task, but it has also been a valuable one. It has helped me to reflect on the role of books in my life, and the meaning of home. It has also helped me to appreciate the books that I still have, and to cherish the memories that I have made with them.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have had a library. I am grateful for the books that have filled my life with joy, knowledge, and inspiration. And I am grateful for the memories that I have made with them.

The Digressions

1. The Importance of Libraries
2. The History of the Book
3. The Psychology of Reading
4. The Role of Books in My Life
5. The Meaning of Home
6. The Nature of Change
7. The Importance of Memory
8. The Power of Words
9. The Value of Books
10. The Future of Libraries

Packing My Library: An Elegy and Ten Digressions

by Alberto Manguel

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	962 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	155 pages

FREE