Books as Art
I know most of us are focused on books as books, but apparently there are book romantics
out there who see them more as objects of beauty. And I don’t mean just how nice they can look on a bookshelf or a coffee table!
Take a look at this lovely library desk lovingly made entirely of books. Or these amazing bookshelves that turn ordinary books into works of art.
Not into modern art? How about these cool books with traditional images on the fore edges? To see exactly what a fore-edge painting is, check out this link, which includes a video to demonstrate.
And let’s not forget my favorite: miniature books. There’s the standard kind that you use for, say, a doll house or just for fun (they’re really too small to read). And then there’s the miniaturized books done with an artistic flair.
Cute as miniature books are, however, I’m betting my fellow romance lovers will fall for British artist Jeremy May’s “literary jewels”—rings and pendants cut from the compressed pages of a book, fashioned into a piece of jewelry (May laminates the sheets of paper together and finishes them to a high gloss) . . . and then tucked back into the original little excavated space in the tome. Each piece is one-of-a-kind … unique to the book, the pages selected and the jewelry created. (If your girl is an author, diamonds might well no longer be her best friend!)
For me, these are all cool, but then I’m one of those awful people who occasionally use books as coasters. My books get messy and rumpled and creased, which says, to me, that they’re well loved. Other people might feel differently.
So how do you feel? Do you like the idea of making art out of books or turning them into desks or wedding rings? Or is it just about the reading for you? Are you hard on your books or do you coddle them? Or do you opt out of the physical book process completely by using an e-reader? Or, like me, would you miss the physical book were it to disappear?
Sabrina Jeffries is the New York Times bestselling author of the School for Heiresses series and the new Hellions of Halstead Hall series. Her latest book is A Hellion in Her Bed, book 2 of the Hellions series.
Sabrina has an autographed copy of her first Hellions of Halstead Hall book, The Truth About Lord Stoneville and a collectible deck of A Hellion in Her Bed playing cards for one lucky person who joins in the comments!
A Hellion in Her Bed is available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million and IndieBound and Amazon.
October 1st, 2010 at 7:17 am
Enjoyed reading the comments. I treat my books as if I want to keep them forever. i ususally put a fabric cover I made on them so i don’t ruin the covers. I usually eat or drink something as I read so try to keep foodstuffs off of them. I don’t like using books for anything other than what they were intened for.
I have a couple of your books on my keeper shelf. I really enjoy reading your books.
October 1st, 2010 at 8:36 am
I would definitly miss books if they were ever taken over by ebooks.
I totally coddle and spoil my books…hehe!!
When anyone borrows my books, they get ‘the lecture’ and a bookmark.
If I loan out hardcovers, I take the jacket off first before letting it go…and woe to anyone who doesn’t return my books….they are hunted!!!
Valerie
in Germany
October 1st, 2010 at 9:28 am
I have an ebook reader but prefer the actual book. I like holding it and turning the pages. I coddle my books. I have all kinds of bookmarks that keeps from folding the page over. When I lend one out they get the bookmark too. haha one of my friends was making fun of me for it the other day when I gave her a bag of books to read with the bookmarks.
October 1st, 2010 at 9:28 am
I tend to take good care of my books. And cringe at some of the things I have seen people do to books, like dog-earing pages. *shudders*
Would miss print books very much if they were to disappear. I read ebooks, too but they don’t replace the entire pleasure of reading from a print book.
October 1st, 2010 at 11:36 am
I take very good care of my books as I keep way more books than I should. I think if books need to be recycled it’s okay to make art or jewelry out of them. I know the e-reader is the coming thing, but I hate the thought of loosing the print book. I love the feel and smell of print books.
October 1st, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I confess to being very bad with books. I guess it comes from years of reading used and banged up books in my childhood. I do love the idea of using them for art, though!
Joye, I know lots of people who use the fabric covers. But I’d always be losing them! Glad you have some of mine on your keeper shelf!
Valerie, I had to laugh about the “lecture”–my brother’s like that!
RomanceJunkies, yes, bookmarks ARE handy for keeping them pristine. I seem to always be misplacing them, though.
Little Lamb, guess I shouldn’t admit that I’ve been known to dog-ear a page or two (eek!). Don’t do it much anymore, though.
Linda, I know what you mean. I keep way more books than I should, too. They’re overflowing my office!
October 1st, 2010 at 1:45 pm
I think these are a lovely way to restore the beauty in old books. I love my books, but they don’t stay pristine forever. I like my ebook reader too, but I’ve run out of shelf room in my apartment for my books. I’ve had to sell some back and buy digital. I love the idea of recycling them instead of going to waste. I wish the book stores would do that with the books they rip the covers out of instead of trashing them.
October 1st, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Heather, I think some of them do recycle stripped books. But I’m with you–I wish they all did.
October 1st, 2010 at 11:55 pm
i’m very good in taking care of my books. i don’t want my books torn or have stains. they always look like a brand new books even it already one year old.
honestly, i don’t like e-book, more prefer the smell of paper..
October 2nd, 2010 at 4:02 am
I’m kind of a purist where books are concerned. I like them as books, not wedding rings, etc.
Margay
October 2nd, 2010 at 4:08 am
Mariska, I must admit I don’t mind ebooks, EXCEPT that I often read ahead, and I can’t do that as easily with an e-book.
Margay, I don’t know–I think the ring ones are kind of cool. There are some books (old textbooks, for example) that could have a new use in art. That’s how I see it, anyway.
October 2nd, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Hi, and can’t wait for when I can get the newest book!
Me, I definitely am hoping print will be around for as long as possible. There really is no reason not to have both types, if I had any say in the matter. . . which I don’t, so just ignore me. LOL But making stuff out of books. Well, I have to admit, sometimes, some of the things are kind of cool and different, but I don’t know, hate the idea of taking a book and destroying it in any way. I guess if it was one I didn’t like, might not hurt so much. LOL Oh, and I’m one of those that prefer my books looking like they are newish — no spine creasing for me, thank you!!! 
Lois
October 2nd, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Hi Sabrina,
I love the feel of a book in my hands. I’d really feel the loss of a book.
I can’t say I’m overly protective of my books nor am I abusive of them. I read them and return them to the bookshelves or lend them out. I saw an etsy shop where the woman made handbags out of hard cover books. The were amazing.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
October 2nd, 2010 at 11:37 pm
I too have been known to dog-ear a page and have used books as coasters as well. However, I do treat my books with respect for the most part. Books are such a sensory experience for me. I love the slick feel of a new paperback, the vibrant colors of the cover, the smell of the paper and ink! I love walking into a bookstore and looking and touching to my heart’s content. E-books are a good way to read a story, but for me, physical books are the total 3-D experience.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:10 am
Lois, I think that books are one of those things that can exist comfortably in multiple forms, but I guess we’ll see!
Ooh, Carol, do you have a link? I’d like to see the hardback handbags.
Margie, what a great way to put it–”the total 3-D experience”!
October 4th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
I’ve seen some great books turned into art or “recyled” ideas. I do tend to coddle my books – regular dustings and all that lol. I always use bookmarks now when I was younger I used dog ear some. My grandmom always made tiny x’s in the top corner of each page.
I love ebooks actually and have come across a ton of authors/stories that are ebook only. However, with that being said, I equally have an addiction for prints and would be devestated if they ever disappeared.
October 5th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
I think it’s great that books have been used to create functional pieces and art. I would miss them if we all used digital books but I would guess that eventually that will happen.