World Book Day and the joy of browsing
Stella Sims
It’s World Book Day, a time to revel in the glory of storytelling, imagination, and a celebration of all things literary. I love browsing bookshelves – libraries, second-hand bookshops, other people’s collections. You can’t judge a book by its cover, but you can learn a lot about a person by the books they choose to read or keep. Step through my front door and the first thing you’re faced with is a set of shelves stretching from floor to ceiling, filled fit to bursting with recipe books and books about food. This shelf announces: ‘this person is obsessed with cooking and eating’ and yes, indeed I am!
Similarly, QDT’s bookshelf reflects themes we’re passionate about and things we like. But these aren’t just for us to read: it’s a mini library open to visitors at QDT and Harriett’s Press, where anyone can browse, read or borrow a book. We’re even working on a stamp system, like a proper library! Browsing here, you’ll find books about creativity, laundry, care, art, community, empowerment and feminism, amongst others. Donations of interesting books are also welcome.
My experience of the QDT bookshelf has got me thinking about how we choose things to read and discover new things. In an age dominated by online shopping, where algorithms push us constantly towards things we already like, browsing real bookshelves and randomly selecting a book is liberating and magical. There’s such beauty in having your attention caught by something you might never have heard of. You have no idea where a book might take you until you pick it up. That’s why I also love libraries where you can explore their shelves freely according to your own fancy, or be captivated by something that catches your eye from the carefully curated displays made by friendly librarians. Increasingly under threat from funding cuts, public libraries are such an asset – a place anyone can enter for free, you don’t have to buy anything, and they’ll lend you whatever book you want. It’s a community amenity that exists purely for human curiosity, learning, happiness, escapism, all completely free of charge. It’s extraordinary when you think about it.
The first book I borrowed from QDT was Ella Risbridger’s Midnight Chicken, a book I’d heard of but not added to my own collection.
What a lovely book it is: Ella writes about food and cooking as an essential part of life, survival (in all senses of the word), and pleasure. I enjoyed the comforting and unusual style of the book, as the opening pages announce: “The cooking you will find here is the kind of cooking you can do a little bit drunk. It’s the kind of cooking that is probably better if you’ve got a bottle of wine open, and a hunk of bread to dredge in the sauce. It’s the kind of cooking that will forgive you if you forget about it for a little while, or if you’re less than precise with your weighing and measuring…It’s the kind of cooking that makes everything feel okay.” It’s a good read not just for the kitchen; I read bits of it at bedtime and the recipes are embedded in life stories and anecdotes (both light and dark) that inspired them. It’s a very personal book, but the recipes and advice included are also simple and down to earth, written in a tone that makes you feel like Ella is in the kitchen with you and you’re cooking together.
Another book I found at QDT is more of a curiosity – The Zebra Book of Facts for Girls, first published in 1968.
I’m a bit of a sucker for old domestic manuals (always aimed at housewives, naturally), ‘annuals’ for boys and girls from bygone eras, as well as old recipe books. I find these books a fascinating and alien world, an insight into everyday life as well as the gender stereotypes and norms of days gone by. They can be amusing, scary or sad, depending on your mood, and sometimes remind you that some stereotypes haven’t gone away. There’s a confidence in The Zebra Book of Facts for Girls that there’s something for every girl in these pages: “This is a book of facts – a combination of information on all kinds of subjects and ideas for leisure. Whether you want to know who was Prime Minister in 1783, what is Ohm’s Law, how to crochet or poach an egg, or just what to do on a wet day, this book will provide the answer.” It’s obviously very outdated: there are chapters about ‘The Commonwealth’, history, science, home, needlework (of course!) as well as, charmingly, a chapter called “What shall I do?”. This comprises of two sections entitled “Things to do on a wet day” and “Things to do on a long journey”. Surprisingly, scrolling Instagram or playing Candy Crush on a mobile phone isn’t included.
I’ve really enjoyed discovering these two books thanks to QDT. I’ve learned some new recipes, felt comforted and inspired. I’ve taken a trip back in time and had a bit of a laugh. And it all started with simply browsing a bookshelf. Happy World Book Day!
