Post-Library
March 22, 2010 | Books
We’re done! It’s ready. We can use it. Yay!
Going through my books, many of which have been in boxes for years now, is like seeing old friends again. I have always turned to books, and I’ve been collecting them for a few decades now. I’ve hauled them halfway around the world and back.
When we moved to Norway, I sold my car, motorcycle, furniture, collections of trinkets, our house. But I took my books. I think I’ll probably be buried with books. They help tell the story of my life. They help me remember what I’ve been through and what I’ve learned along the way. I have books from places we’ve visited and lived. I laughed when I ran across Dealing with People You Can’t Stand. I should have read that one more than once. But I almost never read a book more than once (not counting children’s books). I’ve read 1984 and Catcher in the Rye twice. That’s it. Maybe once I turn 70 I’ll start reading everything I’ve read again. Until then, I have too many I want to read every day. I always feel like I’m running behind.
I have Kurt Vonnegut to thank for getting me to read authors who are alive. There for a while, I was trying to catch up with authors who kept dying. There would be another obituary, and I’d say, dangit! I haven’t read her/his book yet. So that would be the next book I’d read. And so on until I was only reading dead authors. It was when Vonnegut came to Tallahassee when I was living there that changed all that. I didn’t get to see him (which I still hugely regret), but the thing is I wanted to. I was like George Bailey, “I want to read live authors again!”
Some of the most memorabe gifts I ever got were books. A teacher gave me his boxed set of J. R. R. Tolkien books when he learned what they meant to me. I have yet to read those books myself, but I remember hearing the stories from my father. I had him for a teacher in the fifth and sixth grades, and he read those stories to his students, a little bit at a time. A friend and colleague gave me Mystery Train by Greil Marcus. As I read the book, he’d ask who I was reading about. Then he’d give me a tape with that musician’s album on it. When I was done, not only had I read a great book, I had an amazing collection of music.
You want to impress me with a gift? Give me a book that means something to me. Or to you. Or to both of us.
So tell me.
1) What are five books every good library must have?
2) What are five authors every good reader should read?
3) What is one book you would give as a gift and why?
March 22nd, 2010 at 7:10 am
With just a few exceptions, I typically read detective stuff — Ridley Pearson and Patricia Cornwell. However, two of my favorite, more-recent reads, though, are Michael Ruhlman’s (on Twitter, @ruhlman) “Walk on Water/The Miracle of Saving Children’s Lives” and G. Wayne Miller’s “The Work of Human Hands: Hardy Hendren and Surgical Wonder at Children’s.”
As a gift? Hmm, well, you’ll just have to wait and find out.
KTC
March 22nd, 2010 at 7:30 am
I’m not really following the rules, but I’m just recommending one book. Freedom and Beyond – John Holt.
In college [educational philosophy -1 hr class], I had to do a paper on someone. I chose John Holt. This book changed my perspective on education forever.
March 22nd, 2010 at 7:41 am
Karen, you always make me laugh. Thanks. :)
Will, I love books that can change everything!
March 22nd, 2010 at 7:42 am
Now this is a library! I’m impressed. I often give books as gifts – whatever matches the recipient’s interest or time in life. Most recently, I’ve given and recommended “Still Alice” by Lisa Genova. The specter of Alzheimer’s, let alone early onset Alzheimer’s, is huge. Front and center on my bookshelves are books that rank as the best I’ve read for many different reasons, including “Cold Mountain” and anything by Kaye Gibbons. And of course, my collection of books by – and signed by- Iowa authors.
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:11 am
Why are you the only one in black socks?
I give Mistress Masham’s Repose to all the little people I know, because it is a most excellent book. Your kids would like it, and you should get it for them.
Walk on Water is an excellent book – I, however, read it when I was 37 weeks pregnant and it TERRIFIED me.
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:44 am
Carol, Iowa has some of the best authors, doesn’t it? Now I just need to get more of them signed. :)
Maggie, I KNEW it. I knew someone would notice my socks! Not much chance I’ll ever be 37 weeks’ pregnant again, so I’ll have to see what this Walk on Water is all about. The other one sounds fun too. Thanks!
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Maggie, are you talking about the same book Karen mentioned?
Karen, I still can’t read about NICUs or the doctors & nurses who work in them, but maybe I could handle this one. Maybe?
March 22nd, 2010 at 5:28 pm
I tend to give cookbooks as gifts (also what I love to get). I’m a huge Barbara Kingsolver fan too. I’ve been reliving my childhood through books and love that my son is on the road to reading the classics like Sounder, The Borrowers, and Red Badge of Courage.
Ah, books. There’s nothing better.
March 23rd, 2010 at 8:47 pm
What a legacy you are giving to your children. Books are important to you. They are important to your family. Kudos.
March 23rd, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Ilina, I have a thing for cookbooks too. I have my old standby that I’ve had for 25 years. It’s frayed on the edges, scribbled notes fill the margins and splattered sauces stain the pages. My husband’s bestemor’s cookbooks are on my shelves as well as a variety of old books I’ve picked up at estate sales and new ones I’m working my way through. Yes, books (and cookbooks). Nothing better. :)
March 27th, 2010 at 3:31 am
1) What are five books every good library must have?
“Slaughterhouse-Five” – Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
“The Poisonwood Bible” – Barbara Kingsolver
“Fight Club” – Chuck Palahniuk
“The Handmaid’s Tale” – Margaret Atwood
“Middlesex” – Jeffrey Eugenides
2) What are five authors every good reader should read?
This will be somewhat redundant, but:
Vonnegut
Palahniuk (not so much the newer stuff)
Eugenides
Sedaris
Didion
3) What is one book you would give as a gift and why?
Either “Fight Club” just because the writing is so good or “Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules” which is a collection of mind blowing short stories or excerpts that was put together by David Sedaris.
March 28th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Awesome list, Sarah! I still need to learn how to pronounce Palahniuk, Eugenides and Didion. I can’t believe I waited so long to read Barbara Kingsolver.
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