Inspired by Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Books and Paper
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Books have been an indispensable part of my life – and my life story – since the days of Dick and Jane. The classic first grade learn-how-to-read “Primer” of the 1950s.
After I learned to read, there was no stopping me. A flashlight under the covers at night until I finished a chapter…or two.
Books and stories were often my escape hatch from real life. The Scholastic Book Club in grammar school supplied countless thin paperback story books that multiplied on my shelves at home. Hardcover Nancy Drew mysteries soon followed.
I was fascinated by the biographies of “famous people” at the school library. Of course I believed they were all true depictions of historically significant Americans. However, thinking back, I realize that women and non-white “famous people” were drastically underrepresented. Hopefully that is changing.
As I went through high school, I discovered paperback novels. The thicker the better. In college, I was a member of the Doubleday Book Club for several years – a mail order monthly deal. Later…the actual Book of the Month Club. Vacations always included long stops browsing at local bookstores.
A few books from my childhood survived the drastic downsizing-of-hundreds-of-books that took place 3 years ago when we sold our home. Letting go of books was probably the most difficult “letting go” I ever did.
Despite the massive book purging, I still needed to buy a bookshelf for condo life. There were just too many books I had to keep! They are shelved two deep. In no particular order. After taking the photo for this challenge, I realized I should organize them by subject or author or something. They represent my life stages…all jumbled together.
Scaling down the sheer volume when we moved forced some tough decisions. It is interesting to notice which ones made the cut. They used to be spread out all over the house in different places. Now all in one room…crammed together as if competing for an important spot.
I have read most of them, but there are many I look forward to starting. The anticipation is still exciting.
The only book I have bought since we moved here was Becoming by Michelle Obama.
Otherwise I visit the local library.
one letter UP ~ diary 2.0 
I remember reading in the car when on vacation as a child. Seemed a book was always in hand…and still is!
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Great memories! (I would have been reading in the car too, except for the high risk of getting car sick…). 🙂
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Definitely not a good idea!
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Agreed!
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What a wonderful entry for this week’s book and paper theme. Thanks for playing along 😀
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Glad you like it 😊
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I am in the midst of purging all my paper books (well, except those I can’t bear to part with). All of my reading now is on my Kindle app. Limitless room for books!
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Good luck with that – not easy! 🙂
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A woman after my own heart! We have shared tastes in reading I see, right down to Janet Evanovich!
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Wonderful! 😊
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I’m a book lover too – and when my kids were little, I made sure they were encouraged to order books from the Scholastic Book Club. Book purging is the toughest for me too. One year, instead of parting with them I created art with them by sorting them by color on the shelves. It was a lovely rainbow. Then I ran out of space and had to purge them and my daughter bought me a Kindle. Every book I read on it I wish that I had the real deal in my hands. I enjoyed your post – and that photo – a classic look and one my youngest wears often (minus the glasses)! xx
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Thank you! Book lovers everywhere have a hard time parting with books…and hoping other book lovers end up with the results of their downsizing. I don’t have a Kindle, but understand how it would help the excess book situation. 🙂
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LOL – yes, hope your kids are saving special bookcase room for them. PS my youngest who took many books from me has now told me she’s either donating them or if I want them back, she’ll bring ’em all to me next visit. Guess I better clean the bookshelves again!
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Ha! Well, my daughter already owns at least twice as many books as I do. So she may be more open to inheriting mine. Time will tell!
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I’m a huge fan of the library. Do you use Goodreads or any other site like that to keep track of what you are reading or what you want to read?
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I am familiar with Goodreads (my daughter uses it), but I don’t use it for myself. It’s a good idea though, as I will sometimes ask myself the question: Have I read that already? 🙂 Thanks!
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