30,000 books

I'm a bit of a Jeopardy! addict, and today's episode made me envious. It had nothing to do with the actual competition, but with the contestant interview portion of the show. The returning champion revealed that there were more than 30,000 books in her household when she was growing up. You read that right, 30,0000, at one time.

Instead of having nightmarish images of how crowded the house must have been, I'm imagining a lovely library with floor-to-ceiling shelves and all the time in the world to read.

Technically, I know I don't need three or four bookshelves filled with books. But emotionally, I can't let them go. I'm not a book borrower. No libraries for me. I have to own them. I'm not one of those "careful" book owners, either. I think dog ears are a sign that a book is well loved and well read. I sometimes underline or highlight favorite passages. And I read over and over again, so a battered cover isn't uncommon.

My sister surrendered her largest bookshelf during her move, so I've been rearranging some of my books in their new home and finding several I want to read again. "The Northbury Papers," of all things, caught my eye, as did some early Francine Rivers. I'm reminded again that I need to be more careful about loaning books. I have two copies of "The Last Sin-Eater." I'd loaned it and had to read it again before I got it back. I once had two complete sets of  The Mark of the Lion series because someone returned them after having them for years. I finally gave the second set away.

The oldest book on that particular shelf is a copy of "The One I Knew Best Of All," or something like that, from 1891. It's a first edition by Frances Hodgson Burnett, of "The Secret Garden" fame, only not so famous. It's not in great shape, but I cherish it anyway. There's a certificate pasted in the front where it was presented to a woman on her graduation of a New Orleans seminary. Inside, I also found a card that accompanied an order of roses. I love to imagine the story behind that book.

Do you like old books that spark the imagination? Are you a borrower or a lender? What's the latest addition to your shelves? Your favorite book? Tell all, please.

Why Blog?

I come to the blogging world reluctantly. As I type this, I have three books beside my computer: "Let Them Eat Cake" by Sandra Byrd, which makes me hungry while making me laugh; "Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint" by Nancy Kress, which I ought to be reading so I can figure out how to write from a man's point of view; and "Plot & Structure" by james Scott Bell, which I ought to be reading because every writer should read it.

In addition to the book pile, there's the old work in progress, which I fear to name just in case a person who will be judging my contest entry should stumble upon it. After September, we'll discuss that more.

For now, I have one other comment. I went to see my nephew's school play Friday. Now, normally I love my nephew's plays. He's a talented kid, and he surrounds himself with talented people. But I have to say, "Once on This Island" struck me as a tad weird. And thanks to low budgets, when my nephew was supposed to be driving a white car, he had to run around the stage dressed in white holding a steering wheel. Which was better than the night scene when he ran around the stage holding "headlights" that were pointed toward the sides. He also played quite the, well, player, taking a peasant girl as his mistress. Tell me, when did it become OK for high school plays to have mistresses? Listen to me, I'm old-fashioned at 36.

OK, now I want to know what you're reading and why. If you have a favorite play, feel free to share that, too.

Now, if only someone finds my blog....