I’ve been tagged! Yippee! This gives me one more excuse not to write (organize) an update to my reading challenges! Except, I’m not sentimental about books so this might be boring.
Thank you, Belle of the Books, for the invitation to this meme. She’s reading Pillars of the Earth this December and I hope to tackle this next year.
The Rules
1. Tag 3-5 people, so the fun keeps going!
2. Leave a comment at the original post at A Striped Armchair, so that Eva can collect everyone’s answers.
3. If you leave a comment and link back to Eva as the meme’s creator, she will enter you in a book giveaway contest! She has a whole shelf devoted to giveaway books that you’ll be able to choose from, or a bookmooch point if you prefer. [EVA - no need to enter me, even if it's still going on! You study/enjoy your semester break.]
4. Remember that this is all about enjoying books as physical objects, so feel free to describe the exact book you’re talking about, down to that warping from being dropped in the bath water…
5. Make the meme more fun with visuals! Covers of the specific edition you’re talking about, photos of your bookshelves, etc.
And now, tell me about:
The book that’s been on your shelves the longest: First off, I must mention that I’m not a book keeper. My bookshelf pile is only books yet to read and books recently finished that are awaiting to be bookmooched. I have moved so many times, I attempt a simple decluttered life, and with so many books I want to read ’someday’ – I just do not re-read books so why keep them? I would have to say that my Bible, given to me at my confirmation (in 8th grade, Lutheran) is the book that’s been with me the longest. (and, yes, I have read the whole thing. I can say that, right? ‘whole thing’ sounds a little disrespectful. I successfully completed the ‘Read the Bible In A Year’ program in the 90s.)
However, if I had never moved in my life and/or didn’t expect to move again and if I lived in my dream house? You betcha, I’d have a whole wall of books! I’ve always thought the floor to ceiling shelves with the rolling ladder would be really cool…
A book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time, etc.): The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder reminds me of my college years. I was majoring in Engineering and wanted to learn more about the computer industry. (it’s NOT on my shelf… I guess I have to find a book in the house to answer this with? OH! My journals! I have all the journals I’ve written in since childhood – will these count? Which means that one or two of these might be older than my bible… uh oh.)
A book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used bookstore, prize, etc.): Well, just yesterday, at the Old Folks Home I visit (and keep the library tidy), I found this book had just been donated and thought it might be a good humor book for my attempt to read something funny this month: There’s A (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going To Hell by Laurie Notaro. It’s not large print so I ‘borrowed’ it. PLEASE! Has anyone read Notaro??? I couldn’t find any blogger reviews. If you liked her stuff, let me know.
The most recent addition to your shelves: See above answer. (ha – that was easy!)
Book Pile in my 'office'
The book whose loss would traumatize you the most: None. All can be replaced. Well, wait a minute… I have Nobodies by John Bowe checked out from the library and if I lost it, I would have to pay fines! Na, not a big deal. I can replace it & pay the fine gladly. I often give the library a few dollars when I’m late to return a book. I think it is ridiculous that they feel bad asking me for 20 cents when it’s late.
A book that’s been with you to the most places: Probably have to say my bible again. I live in my seventh house now and since 8th grade? I would have moved A LOT…
Book Pile in the guest room
A bonus book that you want to talk about but doesn’t fit into the other questions: I will say I have a few self-helpy books on my shelves that have survived a few moves but I really don’t get much from. I have a few years editions of What Color Is My Parachute, 7 Habits of Effective People, that kind of stuff…
The only 'real' bookshelf that has books...
I won’t tag – I leave it to you to volunteer if you need a post idea! I think everyone I know was done this one?
I’m glad you did this, I love this meme! I forgot to do the question about the book whose loss would traumatize me the most, because I couldn’t think of any. They’re all just things.
Yep, just things. (however, I suspect my husband threw something away that my gma gave me and right now, I’m trying to calm down and forgive him… I’ll probably forget by the time he gets home from work, anyway.)
Don’t ya love that my Course in Miracles is next to my Lutheran Book of Worship? I have a Thich Nhat Hanh somewhere, too. I don’t know; maybe, not really all that remarkable…
That was fun! As to the Laurie Notaro question, I haven’t read her but SuziQ of Blogging My Books just finished one of her books. I think she gave it about a 3/5 or so. She’s in a review group with me and someone else commented that the book made her laugh out loud. It’s certainly worth a try, if you’re looking for something light.
Laugh out loud books are best read in crowded places, don’t you agree?
This is such a cute meme. I have read one Notaro book (Idiot Girl’s Guide or something like that) and I thought it was quite funny. A lot of self-depreciating humor and thoughts on the single life.
I am needing humor and I look forward to starting it later today!
I haven’t done this meme; I might do it tomorrow.
As for Laurie Notaro, I’ve read “We Thought You’d Be Prettier” and thought that it’s quite funny and enjoyable. Some of the essays gave me ideas about how to go about some personal essays I was writing
I received your Nebraska card today!
Thank you!
Yea – not the prettiest card from Neb, I’ll have to find a nicer one!
Consider yourself tagged for this meme!
Someday I hope you have a wall to wall book shelf
I myself wish for that too.
Having so many books on the floor would make me nervous
Your comment reminds of just the other day at the nursing home; I was re-shelving a few books when a resident stopped by to tell me how great it was to live there and wasn’t it great what a wonderful library, etc. and I answered her that I would move in tomorrow if I could. She was surprised, “Oh, I thought you were a new resident!” I am in my early 40s! I hope it was only her poor eyesight and that I don’t really look like an octegenarian.
and about my bookstacks on the floor? I move them and sort them all the time…