Over the weekend, I finally pulled a box of books out of storage and unpacked them. This particular box had been in storage for a good two years. I actually forgot which books I'd put in this box and so it was a bit like Christmas when I opened it up. Why? Because these were some of the first books I ever bought. And that makes them special.As I took out each book, I was assaulted with memories - where I was when I read it, the characters, the emotions, etc. Waves of nostalgia washed over me and by the time I finished putting them all on my shelf, I felt like my apartment was finally my home. I just needed to add those books, ones that had been with me for 20 years, to complete things.
To me, those books represent old friends. Just looking at them makes me feel better about life. Sappy, but true.
Do you have those special books that have traveled with you throughout the years, from college to your first home and beyond?
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I do have some old favorites that I've picked up over the years. I also have a small collection of old illustrated novels, Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Alice in Wonderland, to name a few. They are very special, you just don't see books being made like that anymore, with the distinction of those wonderful illustrations!
ReplyDeleteI have kept a few but unfortunately when we moved south, I got rid of a wall of books. But I love Little Women and they are still in my attic in my daughter's box.
ReplyDeleteI read books only once but still keep many to pass around:)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn which I first read when I was 12. It was the book that made me decide to be a writer. Of course, the heroine's name is Francie...
ReplyDeleteI have others, delapidated, and they have been around the world more than once, but I'll never part with them. Home's not home until they're displayed - I so agree, Melissa.
I do have my fav's. And I hang onto them even though they're tattered and somewhat yellowed!
ReplyDeleteI certainly do. I have Jane Eyre, a battered copy of What Katy Did and various others that I can't be without.
ReplyDeleteBooks are one thing I have a lot of. My poor husband had to move more boxes of books than furniture.
ReplyDeleteBut it makes me happy so all is well.
Oh yes. I have my all time favorite Harlequin romance, Man of Power. It's a beaut!
ReplyDeleteOh, I do have books like this! Recently at my mom's house I was looking at all the middle grade books I had in elementary school. Wow! The memories that came flooding back...
ReplyDeleteYes, every book has a story and a memory - I still have all the books I read as a kid. I Love them!
ReplyDeleteI'll never part with my copy of The Once and Future King, even though the cover is tattered. Ditto to my copies of the Just So Stories, Alice in Wonderland, and Pride and Prejudice. They're old friends who have been with me the great majority of my life.
ReplyDeleteYes, you're spot-on. When I moved countries, I took more than 200 kilograms of precious books with me.
ReplyDeleteHere are my books, if you’re interested. :)
ReplyDeleteI’ll give you the link to the INCUNABULA label, but there are plenty more 16,17 and 18th century :) under the right labels.
http://antiqbooks2000.blogspot.com/search/label/15th%20Century%20Incunabula
I also have the library pictures – over 6000 old books :) I think it is worth seeing…
http://antiqbooks2000.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Library
Yes, definitely. I have a box of books from my childhood, but some are out on the bookshelf in our bedroom. I didn't take all of them to university (didn't have enough room to store them), but as soon as I could, I retrieved them from my parents house and they've been with me ever since. Yes, books are definitely like old friends :)
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