Bookshelf Meme

Eva at A Striped Armchair created a fun meme about the books on our bookshelves.

The book that’s been on your shelves the longest: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, which was a tenth birthday gift.

A book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time, etc.): Beloved by Toni Morrison, which I read for the first time in high school. I always think of my mother, an English teacher who helped me see that reading good literature is delightful, even when challenging. Even though I haven’t loved Beloved as much on subsequent reads, I still think of my mother and that time of discovering literature.

A book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used bookstore, prize, etc.):  Since I started blogging, I’ve won at least a half-dozen books! My first win was a two-for-one: Memoirs of a Geisha and Too Late the Phalarope by Alan Paton from Maw Books Blog. (I still haven’t read either yet, but I’ve been hearing lots of good things about Memoirs of a Geisha, so it may be coming soon!)

The most recent addition to your shelves: I discovered a used and new bookstore this Thanksgiving. It was so much fun choosing books. I bought Gone with the Wind, The Complete Stories of John Cheever, The Fixer by Bernard Malamud, Pale Fire by Nabokov, and Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe, among others. (None were more than $3.)

The book whose loss would traumatize you the most: I don’t think I’m all that attached to the physical books I own, as much as I love them and enjoy owning them. I can get any of them again, if need be. That said, I really like the Everyman’s Pocket Poets editions. I only own one (Wordsworth) but I love the feel of it and I’d be sad to lose it.

A book that’s been with you to the most places: The only book I’ve taken with me to six continents (Africa, Middle East, Europe, Australia, North America and South America) would be the scriptures, I suppose due to limited packing space on most occassions.

A bonus book that you want to talk about but doesn’t fit into the other questions: My favorite book to reread has to be To Kill a Mockingbird. I love that book so much!

Farewell

I have only been blogging for a few months. Nonetheless, Dewey of The Hidden Side of a Leaf has been a great influence on me as I discovered the wonderful book blogging community through the Bookworms Carnival, Weekly Geeks (which I participated in sporadically), and other community building formats.

Unfortunately, Dewey passed away last week. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. Although I never met her in person, I feel a connection to her through the books she shared. Her presence in the book cyber-world will certainly be missed!

A Winner

Dewey’s last post was about the spirit of giving this season and about all the books she intended to give away. While Dewey is no longer able to do so, I’m going to do my part and giveaway some books in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

To begin, the winner of my lightly used copy of The Planets is Amanda!  I’ve sent you an email; please send me an address to send it to.