Shelfari has always been a place where people come together to talk about their books. A place where you can show off your virtual bookshelf and where communities form around your favorite books and authors. It’s no surprise to us that you can learn a lot about someone by seeing what’s on his or her bookshelf.
Which is why we thought it would be fun to take a look at what’s on the
bookshelves of some of our favorite authors. What books do they
love, or consider to have been particularly enlightening, informative or just
plain fun? What books do they keep?
So we asked one of our all-time favorites, Neil Gaiman, if he’d be willing to give us a peek into his personal library, and he graciously agreed.
Gaiman first gained wide acclaim with his complex and literate 75-issue comic series The Sandman, and has since broadened his scope to write award-winning and bestselling novels (American Gods, Anansi Boys), screenplays (“Beowulf”) and yes, he still continues to write comics. His books Stardust and Coraline were both adapted for the screen and his most recent novel The Graveyard Book was awarded the Newbury Medal and, just last month, a Hugo Award for Best Novel. (See the Shelfari author page for Neil Gaiman for many more details.)
Naturally we’d assumed that someone whose work is filled with references ranging from literary to mythological would have a fairly extensive library but even so, we were a bit unprepared for the scope of what he sent us. In the basement of his house of secrets we find a room that’s wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling with books (along with a scattering of awards, gargoyles and felines). The photo above hints at what’s there, but here are a few close-ups:
Click here for the complete set, and click on any thumbnail to see a high-resolution image (where you can read the titles on the individual books).
One can’t help but look for books in common with our own shelves, or wonder which books were most influential on Gaiman’s own work. With that in mind, we’ve created the Neil Gaiman's Bookshelves group where everyone can chat about these questions or anything else related to Mr. Gaiman’s shelves. Any member of the group can add to the bookshelf so feel free to help build up a virtual equivalent of what’s shown in the photos!
wow,that is a spectacular bookshelves
Posted by: slaiman | September 03, 2009 at 03:44 PM
I want this room and it's contents more than I want life itself!
Posted by: liberate-tutemae.blogspot.com | September 03, 2009 at 03:54 PM
and my husband keeps telling me I have too many books....(wistful sigh...)
Posted by: twitter.com/charlotte52 | September 03, 2009 at 04:04 PM
This is where I want to end up when I die.
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=820613087 | September 03, 2009 at 04:21 PM
Wow...I thought I was looking at a library for a second...COMPLETELY green with envy.
Posted by: Tricia | September 03, 2009 at 04:58 PM
Er...um...I search for words, yes? I have hard time finding words for like this, this is how Americans might...how you say...
HOLY FUCKING CRAP.
Posted by: James Peach | September 03, 2009 at 05:24 PM
I'm so freakin' jealous....seriously. One of my dreams is to have my own library. Ahhh!
Posted by: J.A.Redmerski | September 03, 2009 at 05:43 PM
Yea!! he has Berry Hughart's books: "Bridge of Birds", "Story of the Stone", "Eight Skilled Gentlemen", and "Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox"
Posted by: Charles Kress | September 03, 2009 at 05:45 PM
WOW! Beautiful library, you can sense the pride and love in it.
Posted by: Seelie T. | September 03, 2009 at 05:56 PM
Neil's library makes me feel like I have a small penis. And I don't even have one. I love it!
Right, I need a bigger house to fit more shelves in. My house bursts with a mere 3000 titles. Geeze.
Oh, and lovely work Mr Cassidey, as always.
Posted by: Nico | September 03, 2009 at 07:04 PM
I've had people express envy about my big wall o' bookshelves (http://www.flickr.com/photos/radlein/477860849/in/set-72157594212433960/), but that is just astounding.
Posted by: twitter.com/Radlein | September 03, 2009 at 07:33 PM
WTH..and everything's almost hardbound
Posted by: nissi | September 03, 2009 at 09:18 PM
So, so jealous.
Posted by: Tracy Lucas | September 03, 2009 at 09:53 PM
Wow, I adore that Room. Want to have my private Library, To. ;-)
Posted by: Xaida | September 04, 2009 at 12:32 AM
That is what my tiny library aspires to become.
Posted by: Lianne | September 04, 2009 at 12:36 AM
only one spider robinson paperback?
Posted by: aaron | September 04, 2009 at 02:16 AM
my favorite part "the illustrated marquis de sade" followed by two books on barbie dolls followed by "how to make love to a single woman"
Posted by: aaron | September 04, 2009 at 02:52 AM
has he had time to read all these books? That would make me even more jealous! ;-)
Posted by: mbk | September 04, 2009 at 03:08 AM
This is incredible. But I want to know who dusts all these books?
Posted by: Debbie Glade | September 04, 2009 at 03:49 AM
Apparently he has no fear of water in his basement and for that alone I am envious!
Posted by: Kris | September 04, 2009 at 04:51 AM
I'm currently a library science major, but I'd drop out in a second if Neil asked me to be his personal librarian...for free.
Posted by: Sam | September 04, 2009 at 06:01 AM
OMG! I am so green with envy here! What would I give to have a library like that!
I like how he barely has enough space left for more books there. All the shelves are jam-packed!
Posted by: Patrick | September 04, 2009 at 06:25 AM
I love those chunky shelves - nice work Mr Gaimans carpenter!
Posted by: mbc | September 04, 2009 at 06:35 AM
Drooling....AAAHHH. If only!
Posted by: k kosko | September 04, 2009 at 06:40 AM
I would love to spend a year locked in this room.
Posted by: Jon | September 04, 2009 at 06:53 AM