Let's Start at the Very Beginning...

The top shelf is not representative of my usual organization! It's the tallest shelf, so lots of larger books ended up here. Looking at it a bit longer, I guess it is representative of me--decor and craft books I bought and never used, art history, and several beautifully illustrated children's books. Cari loved the Dinotopia books, and the original was signed by the author, who thoughtfully drew a banner atop her name when she pointed out he'd misspelled it. Three of my favorites: Tuesday by David Weisner, Me First! by Helen Lester, and Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney. I loved sharing these with students when I worked in the elementary school. The World Treasury of Children's Literature was a favorite of mine and Cari's. She memorized the poem, The General Store by Rachel Field, and recited it to Auntie Marie and Auntie Catherine on one of their visits. Auntie Marie told her she was amazing, and Cari responded, "You're ri-dic-ri-ous!" This edition is from The Quality Paperback Book Club, which got hundreds of dollars from me over the years before they went defunct (or merged with The Literary Guild, as I just searched up.) If I had to pick a desert island book from this shelf, The World Treasury would be it, which is probably cheating since it has so many books in it. 

 

Celtic Tales, English Fairy Tales, here representing the hours I spent reading Andrew Lang's Fairy books from the public library. And then a shelf (the first of many) representing my Anglophilia. I know this started when I was a kid, and is something so deeply imbedded in me that I assume a drop of English blood exists in my DNA. Either that or the lack of Irish children's books when I was young sent me to the closest literary neighbor. The three mystery anthologies collectively are a harbinger of the shelves and shelves of mysteries to come! I never finished Peter Ackroyd's book on Shakespeare, but I had an Ackroyd phase when Cari was little and got lost in all of his novels, especially Hawksmoor. (The Thriftbooks barcode label on the English detective stories book will pop up across the shelves to come. I'm a sucker for a cheap used book, although I try not to buy used books from living authors!)

Tackling Shelves and Memories

This is one wall in my library. I work out in here, too, and often look at a shelf thinking, "I really should read that," or "Maybe three copies of this one is enough?" Yesterday while I was working out, I thought a shelf summary would be a way to reflect on the books I own, to inspire me to read some of the unread, to revisit some old friends, and maybe even make room on the shelves for some new ones. (Perhaps the 28 books stacked on the counter next to my desk?) 

I'm starting in this room, with these shelves, but I have several more bookcases around the house. I wish I had done this before we moved when I donated half of the books I owned, thinking we were downsizing--all those Penguin Classics I ruthlessly left behind! But I've filled my shelves again (these old ones, some new ones) and this seems like a project that will help me reflect on the years of reading I've done. I'm going shelf by shelf, and there is some logic to my shelving. Working on this now when it's too hot out, and in the winter when it's too cold, will keep me busy! Memoir by book title, a few lists...I have no ideas yet how I'll structure this, but I am excited to dive in.