It doesn’t matter what your taste is or how much you read, there are some books that are utterly indispensable and complete any bookshelf. On top of that, having a well-managed and maintained bookshelf looks great and provides hours of entertainment. Not only that, it’s cool knowing that a bookshelf immediately shows off your taste to your visitors! Here are a few books that really bring together any shelf and will always be useful.
A good book of poetry to cuddle up with
Whether it be the sonnets of Pablo Neruda or a Norton Poetry anthology, it’s great having something simple and entertaining that you can really dig into anytime with no regrets and no responsibility to read the rest. One of the best things about poetry is the length – whenever you feel the need to read something beautiful, flip to a random page and see what you find!
A dictionary
It’s boring, but often very helpful. There are dozens of Dictionary apps online – not to mention Google itself – so why wouldn’t someone just use those? There’s a certain satisfaction that comes with finding something yourself, but also, you’ll definitely flick across other words you’ve always been curious about as well. It sounds nerdy as hell, but getting lost in a dictionary for a little while can be fun and informative!
An art history book
See an awesome painting and want to know some info about it? Want to just flip through something like a magazine, but want it to be a bit more substantial? Art history books are great not only to see some beautiful art, but also get the context required to really try to understand the masterpieces of the past. Being able to quickly zip through hundreds of years of art in a few minutes gives you a greater appreciation for the ongoing dialogue of art, and also is fun and informative!
Your favourite novel
It doesn’t matter if it’s Twilight or Pride and Prejudice, being able to crack open your favourite story every now and then and just read over the good parts (or even start it all over again!) is a great, nostalgic feeling that will always satisfy. Not only that, but you can lend it to friends and use it as a good conversation starter if need be – books are a great way to share your taste!
Oh, but if it’s Fifty Shades of Grey, hide it when mom comes over.