Shelf Esteem is a weekly measure of the books on the shelves of writers, editors, and other word lovers, as told to Emily M. Keeler. This week’s shelf belongs to Catherine Bush, whose most recent novel, Accusation, is being released later this month. Her bookshelves are in her home in Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighbourhood, and are well attended by her standard poodle, Layla. An inviting day bed is sandwiched between two tall bookcases in the study; “a place for traveling writers to stay,” she tells me.
There’s only so much space. My grandfather was a second-hand book collector, he didn’t have a lot of money, but he did love books. There were books everywhere, the bathroom, the hallways. I just tell myself that I can’t let the house be completely overrun by books, but I love the idea of a library. I like a room that’s somewhat enclosed by books. But in order to let more books come in, I’ve had to start getting rid of some.
Here’s a funny secret: This gap is the book I’m going to get next. I’m a huge Javier Marías fan. He meditates a lot on how we judge others, and the political and personal consequences of those judgments. He has a brand new book out. I’ve been sorting my bookshelves so that there’s space, a little room to grow. And I told myself that I have to leave space for the new Marías novel.
Shelf Esteem appears every Tuesday.
