Connor Duncan’s Shelfie
I've had a photo of my bookshelf as the wallpaper on my phone for a full year; my golden retriever, white-picket-fence family photo equivalent apparently.
The bookshelf was bought by a roommate/best friend and given to me when he moved to London. My books have been spread across homes, hidden in cardboard boxes, wardrobe storage or stacked along the floor. They now finally reside on the shelf in my small bedroom, less than a foot from my bed. I like to relate it to a fervent book and information lover who needs to be arm's reach from something inspiring at any given moment.
The shelf evolved from housing fake flowers and a retro lunchbox weed stash bookends to what it is now; a messy reflection of my interests, passions and information I wish to impossibly assimilate. (Have any of the previous Shelfie submissions mentioned Tsundoku, the Japanese word to describe unread books on a shelf meant for later consumption?) [Editors’ note: not until now!]
I think the shelf is fueled by an abundance of fascinations, disposable income and self rationalization. I could be blowing money on ridiculous cocktails, gambling apps or mortgaging homes for overpriced LEGO sets.
I should mention I'm probably a certified bibliophile. I have uttered many times to my family, "No more books! Close off my bank account!". I am however yet to rule out the next quarter life crisis hobby; whether that’s crocheting, miniature painting or falling back into video games. Surely books and reading are more timeless and enduring than collecting porcelain elf-like creatures?
Call it want you want; an "anti-library", cluttered, a waste of money, but I know I feel energised by words and stories. And at the end of the day, that's the core of it; how does the power of this thing make us feel alive? From cozy evenings reading picture books about toys that come alive to existential realisations. I live for the things that make me feel alive; or whatever Robin Williams so eloquently said in Dead Poets Society.
Hard to pick your favourites, so… I'll pretend I just chose those on a whim; so effortlessly candid and "in the moment".
The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Probably still my go to book if I had to save one book in the event of a fire. Where it all started really; my Dad was a huge fan of the BBC adaptation and slowly loaned me his original Pan paperbacks. It encompasses so much of my passions; A silly sense of humour set in an outer universe of adventure and complete with hilarious answers to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything.
The Mutt by Rodney Mullen
An underrated, hard to find biography by the humble and unsung hero behind countless inventions for skateboarding. Tucked away in the corner of my Art/Music/Non-Fiction section. This book floored me with Rodney's dedication to the art (sport), his calming openness and evolution across multiple decades. It's more than a piece of wood with four wheels, it's a vehicle through life and all its ups and downs and cracks in the pavement. My inner child and outer adult were soothed and tricked out by this one.
Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die: Punk & Post Punk Graphics 1976-1986
Less of a book and more of an archive of visual posters, album art, zines, memorabilia, a plethora of curated stuff. It stems from my early years jumping from internet blogs to hardcore shows and contradicting the "don't judge a book by its cover" metaphor. But hey- is there anything more copacetic than Joy Division's Unknown Pleasure's wavy lines and how the music actually sounds? It's a capsule in time, an inspiring book that makes the old new and helps me happily fall down the rabbit hole.
Connor Duncan is a creative based in South Australia with a background in acting, graphic design and most recently literature. His project, PERSONalia, seeks to share the love of books, art, films and more. He is currently also working on his debut novel, various short stories, and developing ideas for PERSONalia.
Shelfies is edited by Lavie Tidhar and Jared Shurin.
Join us on Instagram @shelfiesplease.