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.
2 comments:
I value myself as a part-time-reader. I don't read very fast as I have to go back and read each paragraph over. I get distracted easily so I read late at night between 12pm and 2am. It usually takes me several weeks to finish one book.
My favorite author is Nevada Barr, therefore, my favorite book is "Track of the Cat".
I enjoyed reading your Blog and hope others will find it as interesting as I have.
Thanks Mary Jo. See, I know who you are;)
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