Friday, June 17, 2005

VIB - Very Important Books

Garnet passed this meme on to me – anyone ever noticed how many of the blog memes center around books?

Total number of books I've owned: To many to count. Right now I think I own less than I ever have. I’ve been in a paring down of things mode. I only keep books that I know I’ll re-read. One time books get passed on. I’d say I have about 500 in my personal collection and 1000+ in my Amazon / E-Bay inventory.

Last book I bought: I buy books almost every day (always looking to add inventory). Last single book I bought for me was The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry. I bought it at the Duluth airport when it became apparent we’d be sitting around waiting for our plane. This is another “history and ficiton” mixed book, the sort of thing the DaVinci Code has popularized, very readable and lots of fun.

Last book I read: Back From The Land: How Young American Went to Nature in the 1970s and Why They Came Back by Eleanor Agnew. History but reads like a novel. Much to my amazement I found some quotes attributed to someone I once worked with, some 25 years ago!

Five books that mean a lot to me: Hard to narrow this down. And books mean different things to me at different points in my life.

The Betsy Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. I read these as a child, have re-read them on a yearly basis ever since. Betsy and The Great World went to Europe with me last summer. No matter what stage of life I’m at, these books always speak to me. And through them I’ve made friends, been places and started my book business.

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. Read this when I was in high school and haven’t read it in years. But it’s the book that made me realize that I could have a career and didn’t need to aspire to a “Leave It to Beaver” sort of life when I grew up.

Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith – I identified with Francie from the first chapter onward. Yet another book I read on a yearly basis. Made me realize I wasn't the only lonely, bookworm out there.

Katherine by Anya Seton. This one, a historical novel set in Plantagenet England awakened my lifelong passion for history.

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (and another of her books, The Secret Garden). I wanted to be Sara Crewe. And it was the beginning of my love affair with all things English.

Which Blogger am I passing this on to? Not sure, it’s made the rounds and I’ve seen it on many of the blogs I frequent. I think I will send it to the first 5 people who post a comment and indicate they are willing to adopt it!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Guusje, I'll have to check out some of the historical novels you mentioned. The Romanov Prophecy sounds like good summer reading.

Gel said...

On Garnet's blog, I saw that he had passed this on to you. :)
I enjoyed reading this, but when do I not enjoy reading?
I loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn from childhood and also read Feminine Mystique .

I have to pass on this meme. I'm two weeks overdue on another meme, but luckily that blogger is not "fining me overdue fees." Plus, I've not written the ending to the "In-Tree-Ging" post of mine that accompanied my painting. Something called mothering and work is affecting extra writing.
Cheers! (I hear my stomach growling; that must be from your delightful dinner post!)

Mamacita (The REAL one) said...

'A Tree Grows In Brooklyn' is one of my favorites; I re-read it every summer! "Joy in the Morning' is another favorite, by the same author.

And I adore everything by Burnett; I named my daughter Sara (with no 'h') after Sara Crewe.

Every time I come to your blog, I want to know you better. I think we'd be friends. Actually, we are, aren't we. . . . .