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Three Heads Are Better Than One (Or Two): Books We Love To Look At On Our Shelves

5/3/2012

23 Comments

 
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You're walking past your bookshelves (or piles, this is a judgment-free zone) or looking through them for your next read, when you see that book: the one that just looks perfect on your shelf. Maybe it's because that particular book is actually a disguise for suitcases full of memories. Maybe it's because it is a beautiful edition that you saved up to buy or a series that looks awesome lined up on the shelf.  Or maybe it's just a book you've read or look through over and over that makes you happy every time you see it sitting there. Today at The Readventurer, we're talking about the books we just love to see on our shelves. 

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I know that you will all probably expect me to start listing off beautiful, pristine, rare copies of my favorite books, but when I think about the books I love to look at the most, none of those adjectives apply.  This is the first book that comes to mind:

Little Women on the shelf
It’s an older paperback edition that’s water damaged, dirty, and one corner of it has been chewed off.  It turns out that, when it comes to my favorite books to look at, I’m a sentimentalist.  My favorite books to look at have stories beyond the ones within their pages.  They have my stories.

My mom has struggled with depression for my entire life, but when I was fourteen, she went through a period of very deep depression and anxiety.  She stopped being able to fully care for us, and often became overly frightened about things like rare diseases and natural disasters. (Don’t worry, this won’t be all doom and gloom.  This story actually has an eventual happy(ish) ending.  Years later my mom finally got help, became a therapist herself, and now works at a fancy pants rehab facility treating the rich and sometimes famous.)  That summer though, she decided that we were going on a road trip, for reasons unknown and to points unnamed. 
Illustration from Little Women
Did I mention this book is also illustrated?
As a lifelong planner and stability-lover, this was basically my worst nightmare.  We spent hours and days in our beat up old Volkswagen station wagon, going from place to place with no goal in sight.  Our little dog Cody came along in the car and got car sick at least once or twice a day.  I can still remember vividly sitting in the back seat with him and trying desperately to will him not to throw up on me.  When we had money, we stayed in motels.  When we didn’t, we went “camping.”  We drove from Washington State down through Oregon, California, Nevada, and Utah (and then all the way back). 

In a tiny town in Utah, sitting on the front porch of a general store, was a box labeled “free books.”  Inside that box, stuck in between romance novels and westerns, I spotted this copy of Little Women.  I had checked it out years earlier from my school library and had found myself completely bored.  In the middle of that crazy journey, I picked it up eagerly and buried myself in it.  To be honest, I think I expected to be bored once again, but I would have taken anything at that point.  However, I was not bored.  Far from it!  I can still remember sitting on a blanket in the dirt completely absorbed by that certain scene which will live in infamy!  I read it when we were in shitty motels; I read it outside whenever it was light enough; I read it in the car; I kept reading it even after my dog chewed off the bottom right corner.  That book took me away from everything that was going on and delivered me into another world.  I can honestly say that it saved me!  

Thomas Hardy books
In college I re-read Little Women and it didn’t absorb me in the same way.  I’ve never been able to connect with it like I did on that horrible road trip.  Maybe I’m not a true fan of the story, but this book – this particular book with its damaged dirty edges and teeth marks – will always remind me of how I discovered that reading could be an escape.  And I think it's also directly responsible for forging in me a fondness for beat up old versions of my favorite books.  Sometimes when I see them set aside at library book sales and thrift shops, I feel like it’s my duty to rescue them and give them a good home.  These older versions of four of Thomas Hardy’s novels (which are almost falling apart) are some of my favorites to look at.

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Pride and Prejudice and The Babysitters Club
Pride and Prejudice floor plan
I was a goner.
My old version of Pride and Prejudice, with its slightly bending spine, page creases, and library mark-up is my absolute favorite thing to see on my shelf, and that is because it reminds me of my junior high life of crime. Now because I was a minor and I'm sure the statute of limitations has run on my crime, I'll tell you that I may or may not have never returned it to the library. (it may or may not have been due in 1998) But my crime was not even for the sake of reading the book, it was for the love of architecture. You see, junior high Flann was dying to be an architect. She spent hours and hours drawing floor plans, elevation drawings, and no joke, subscribed to Architectural Digest and several upscale real estate magazines. She bought books of floor plans and knew all about different styles of buildings. So when junior high me found out there were floor plan drawings in this version of Pride and Prejudice after checking it out, there's really nothing the library could've done to get me to return it. Slightly bigger than one of my new Babysitter's Club postcards, the book fits perfectly in my hand. Why don't they make more hardback books this size? 
Next up in the random factoids about me section is my absolute love of geography, maps, and completing lists. I recently told The Unread Reader about my list of US National Parks and Monuments and how I keep track of how many I've been to. Well, I love looking at my atlas (not pictured) and this USA bookof great sights to see that one of my sisters bought me. I love the entire sections of travel books which are scattered around my house.

While I was looking at my books (and thinking about my lists), I saw something else that always makes me smile, sitting on top of a pile of Nora Roberts books: a magnetic map of the US. As you can see, tons of states are missing. That's because I (and some of my friends) are sending them to Maja  from The Nocturnal Library and her daughter to assemble on their fridge! They arrive with drawings, candy, fact sheets, postcards, temporary tattoos, or other fun things from that state. (I think her favorites so far have been a scorpion lollipop from Arizona and a sand dollar from Florida) If you have any fun ideas and want to participate, shoot me an email!
USA book
I want to go to there.
A half-empty USA
Quick! Superman! Half of the USA is missing!
The Complete Far Side
A super awesome investment.
Two of the best book sets that have ever been published are The Complete Far Side and The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. This is a fact. (source: my dad) I will forever love both of these cartoons because they are my dad's favorites. Gary Larson made tons of scientific jokes in his cartoons and I used to sit on a spin stool in my dad's laboratory and try to figure out why they were funny while I made necklaces and bracelets out of tiny plastic test tubes. (he cut the cartoons out and hung them on the walls) Now that I'm older and much, much more mature (heh), I think Gary Larson is one of the funniest people of all-time. The Complete Far Side weighs a ton and is surprisingly hardy, especially when you consider how often I look at it. Most of the cartoons are in black and white but there are some color pages interspersed. The book designers put thought into every aspect of the design--it has beautiful covers, the box the two books slide into is heavy enough to withstand a beating, and even the outside of the package and the inner pages of the cover are Far Side-related. The Calvin and Hobbes editions are very similar looking and the reason I love them is much the same, only it is because of my brother's love of the cartoon.  Both sets are an investment considering their price (about $100 each) but in my opinion, they are so worth it. Every time I see them on my shelf, I smile. And more often than not, I get lost in laughter for an hour.

Outside box of the Complete Far Side
Inside cover of The Complete Far Side
Right: One side of the outer case cover. Above: The inner cover of one of the books.
Far Side cartoons
Right: The other side of the outer cover. Above: An example of the layout of the cartoons.
Outside box of the Complete Far Side
I have tens of honorable mentions for this feature topic. I could probably ramble on for hours. But I have to mention two more of my favorites--Graeme Base and Shel Silverstein. When I see their books on my shelves or on ANY shelves, I always stop to take a look. In Base's case, it is for the gorgeous illustrations and in Silverstein's it is a combination of nostalgia, humor, and the poems with corresponding drawings. The picture to the right is a stuffed Carl Kassell head looking at my copy of Falling Up. (NPR, FTW!)
Carl Kasell stuffed head reading Falling Up
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Book shelf
Recognize any of these? I bet you do
Wow, after Catie's and Flannery's personal stories, I don't think I can write anything that doesn't make me sound completely heartless.

Like every reader, I have a lot of sentimental value associated with books, but my sentiments are not attached to the books in their physical form, but rather to the content inside of them. This is why I can't really say that there are specific tomes that I will cherish and keep forever. There are stories that will stay in my memory forever and ever, but not actual, paper books. Those physical books I can acquire again and again.

Maybe my attitude has something to do with the fact that I had to completely rebuild my library after moving to America a few years ago, leaving behind a lot of what was important to me back then and there and discovering what blows my mind now, and maybe my ever-present drive to de-clutter is at fault. Either way, it doesn't really matter. Here are my books that I adore (if you remember, I only keep books that I've read and plan on reading again and again) and love to rearrange and fondle (just like any self-respecting bibliophile, right?).  I always love looking at my bookies, I always want to read them (but then, I have only a limited time to dedicate to reading, so there is always a dilemma - to reread or read something new?), they always bring out the best memories - Mr. Darcy proposing to Elizabeth (both times), Harry Potter finding out he is a wizard, Jericho Barrons being all enigmatic and sexy, Jonah Griggs confessing and ripping my heart out yet again, Jamie Fraser announcing he is a virgin, Katniss looking at her children 15 years later after the deadly Hunger Games, or Georgia Nicolson just talking about her lip gloss and boyfriends. There is truly a whole world of experiences, emotions and people on our shelves, isn't it?

Books
From Russia with love
Books
You don't own these books yet? What's wrong with you?
If I am forced to single out some of my books and say why seeing them makes me happy, I will give just a couple of examples, and please don't think that these are my favorite favorites, choosing those is simply impossible.

The books above to the left, with the font and alphabet you probably don't recognize are basically my first adult fantasies that I truly loved. Both Валькирия (Valkyrie) and Волкодав (Wolfhound) are stories based on Russian folklore and history. First one is about a woman warrior who is in search of a sense of belonging and love. She is stronger than most men (some magic involved), and that puts her in a very precarious position in a patriarchal society of pre-Christian Russia. It is very romantic (she gets the biggest badass BTW - the emotionally scarred widower and the army leader).

Волкодав is a Conan the Barbarian-like fantasy, with the main character who is on a quest to avenge the killing of his family. Less romantic, but not less interesting and absorbing than Валькирия. I love these books, because they remind me of my roots and take me into a time and place in history that I find very compelling.

And, of course, my Laini Taylor books. Laini is such a master storyteller and a master wordsmith and an artist. Even touching her books gives me a sense of magic, wonder and delight. I know that the moment I open her book, I will smile and get shivery from just experiencing her language and her imagination.

There are SO many books I own that give me all sorts of pleasures! Honestly, how do non-readers live without such experiences? My life would have been so empty and boring without books...
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What are your favorite books to see on your shelves? Why do you love them so much? 
23 Comments
Heidi link
5/3/2012 05:13:48 am

Catie, I hear you, my mom suffers from the same affliction and it is just as hard on the family. I think I read Little Women about ten times as a kid starting at ten. I could never figrure out why Jo refused Laurie, always a disappointment to me.
Flan, love your picks, what is it about P&P that makes hearts pitter pat and Calvin and Hobbs and The Far Side awesome.
Tatiana, high five Laini Taylor has vaulted to my fav shelf. She lives her in Portland so you can bet I will be stalking her at her local book signings. Did you want blue hair after reading DOSAB?

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
5/3/2012 05:33:42 am

Heidi, blue hair, of course, but mostly the ability to have my wishes come true:)

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Catie (The Readventurer) link
5/3/2012 07:42:48 am

Thanks for sharing, Heidi. I think there are a lot of us out there and it's always comforting to realize that someone else shares part of your story. I was so shocked when Jo turned down Laurie! But I must admit that it never angered me when she married Professor Bhaer. I kind of liked him! I know, I know.

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VeganYANerds link
5/3/2012 07:07:48 am

Catie - your story was really moving and I'm so glad it had a happy ending, I love that a book was able to get you through a difficult time

Flann - I love that you permanently borrowed a book from your school's library. And I think a list of all the places you want to visit is a cool idea

Tatiana - I would have found it so hard to leave books behind but it's great that you now have a collection of books that you love and re-read

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
5/3/2012 05:37:30 pm

It wasn't my school library, it was my town's:) And I'm pretty sure I did a great acting job so we wouldn't have to pay for it. Though I did volunteer there for a while... ;-)

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Catie (The Readventurer) link
5/3/2012 07:39:48 am

I think this is my favorite 3/2 post that we've done! I loved seeing both of your books and shelves and your stories really got to me! Flann, I could totally picture you in your Dad's lab, reading The Farside. (A lot of my sciencey friends love that one too. My old boss had his cube papered with them and I totally used to zone out looking at them during boring meetings!) Tatiana, I got so sad thinking about you leaving all of your "important" things behind, but it seems like you've emphasized what's really important in your house - the stories themselves. So true! Great posts, you two.

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
5/7/2012 12:26:00 pm

Catie, I loved doing this post as well. Thanks for sharing a part of your history. These posts are a great way to get to know each other AND to let other people get to know us. You're right about the science-loving people always liking Gary Larson's humor.

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Noelle link
5/3/2012 09:47:18 am

Catie thank you for sharing your Little Woman book history. Like Mandee I found it very moving and I can see why you've held onto that original book! That's a lot of memories packed in there. On a more shallow note I'm spazzing at the illustrations! More books should include details like that.

Flann, the moment I read "dad's laboratory" my brain rewrote your childhood into a Wrinkle in Time. Sorry if I accidentally call you Meg now. And a blueprint to Pemberly? Totally worth a juvie record. (I love love love Farside and Calvin too. No comics come close to those for me.)

Tatiana I know what you mean. I've moved about 12 times in the last 10 years and whether it's been across the country or across town I've had to make some hard book decisions. On the one hand I just want to horde all the books in existence. On the other I never want to carry them again haha.

Great post ladies!!

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
5/3/2012 11:04:11 am

Oh, Noelle, I just moved last week, and let me tell you, I with those books just flew from one place to another. It's like transporting bricks:)

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Catie (The Readventurer) link
5/5/2012 08:31:59 am

Aren't they gorgeous? I love it when old tattered books have treasures like that on the inside. I also love that you re-cast Flannery as Megatron! YES!

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Jasprit link
5/3/2012 08:39:47 pm

Catie thank you for sharing such a heartfelt story with us, that's what I love about books, they provide you with perfect chance to escape from the real world even if it is for a short period of time!

Flann when I was younger there were always so many books that I didn't want to return to the library, but my mum always found the places I hid them and returned them for me! One of my favourite books I like seeing on my shelf is George's Marvellous Medicine, it's all battered and ratty but one of my first books I got as a gift, and I'd always secretly wanted to mix up stuff around the house too!

Tatiana I also have so many books on my shelves that I love looking at for the content alone; the Fever series, and books by Meg Cabot and Sophie Kinsella which always left me up when I've had a crappy day!

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
5/3/2012 08:58:33 pm

Jasprit, every time I get a glimpse of Fever books, I always have to read at least some dialog - reading about Mac and Jericho's bickering never fails to put me in a good mood:)

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Maja link
5/4/2012 02:42:26 am

Flann, first of all, that head is seriously creeping me out. It's possible I'll never sleep again!
My scorpion lollipop is a national celebrity! I've finally stopped carrying it around with me everywhere I go. Now it's just for special occasions, hah. Anyway, you forgot my kick-ass miniature rock collection pencil and the beaver Eh?Eh! sent us and the wonderful drawings, stickers and letters Catie and her beautiful daughter put together for Nika. I love you, guys. That is all.

Tatiana, there's nothing I love more than rearranging books on my shelves. They have to be new and beautiful and whoever dares to break the spine on one is my mortal enemy. I too mostly keep the ones I want to reread, but only because my gazillion grammars leave very little space for other books. :)

Catie... I can totally picture you hiding from the world in that battered old paperback. What you had with Little Women, I had with Enid Blython's Five on a Treasure Island (I was a lot younger when I had a needed to hide very badly). In fact, I think the Famous Five (the rest of the series) kept me safe and well hidden for about a year.

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
5/5/2012 05:40:57 am

Maja, broken spines don't bother me, but if the cover is bent or torn or of there is a pot on it, then OH NO! I need a new one:)

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Catie (The Readventurer) link
5/5/2012 08:37:15 am

I wonder if many of us readers have a similar experience of escaping into books. I'm glad you had the Famous Five when you needed them. Do you still have the original books that you read as a child?

We still have a couple of states to send you so expect more letters from Nina! Love you back, Maja. :)

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Maja link
5/5/2012 05:03:41 pm

I'm afraid not. All of my books burned with our house when I left my home town, my Famous Five set included. After that, they were library books.
But I'm totally getting a whole set for Nika as soon as she's old enough. :)

Heidi link
5/5/2012 01:58:45 am

Love this post ladies! Catie's personal story about Little Women was really touching, and I love Flannery's thievery. The book most special to me is my copy of Little Women as well, largely because of a letter my mother wrote to me inside of it. Flan, I totally have books I never returned to various teachers all throughout my schooling, but not even I have had the guts to steal a library book (I received a few threatening letters before returning some though). Alas, however, I fear I align most with Tatiana. I wasn't able to bring my library with me when I moved 3 years ago, and have very few physical ones lying around. I buy mostly e-books these days, and usually try to pass physical copies along to others I know will appreciate them. I only hold on to those I know I'll want to read again.

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
5/7/2012 12:28:07 pm

I totally have a bunch of books from school as well, Heidi. They can't MAKE me give back my copy of A Separate Peace. But honestly, I wonder how much our teachers really care? I mean, your student likes a book so much that they take it? I know I could never be mad about something like that.

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Maggie, Young Adult Anonymous link
5/5/2012 05:11:55 am

Catie, *GROUP HUG* I love that this book found you when it did. And that it gave poor little Cody something to sink his teeth into too. Thanks for sharing! That illustration is gorgeous!!

Flann, I always knew you were a criminal. Theft in the name of architecture! Disbarred, Flannery Costanza! BTW, wasn't a subscription to Architectural Digest super expensive? I love that you're sending Maja actual little pieces of America. BSC!

Tatiana, I want to read those books! Is Valkyrie translated? Tom Cruise totally took over the Google results. Ever since my mom gave away all my Baby Sitter's Club books when I was in junior high, I've become a compulsive book hoarder. It's... a slight problem. And I totally zoomed in on your pic to look at that titles on your shelves. :)

Great post! Tell me more, tell me more...

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
5/5/2012 05:44:32 am

Maggie, unfortunately, there is no translation of it, which is such a pity. This story, I think, has a massive appeal, especially now when historical fantasy is so in vogue. It has a feel of some Juliet Marilier's better books.

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
5/7/2012 12:29:43 pm

No way, dudette! I had to sell magazine subscriptions for school fund drives. (along with the old standbys of wrapping paper and candy and stuff) I always saved up and then got about 5 different magazines in the mail:)

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Anna Scott link
5/5/2012 07:13:16 am

Bloody brilliant post guys! Catie, you Little Woman story, just...beautiful.
Flannery - I LOVE the fact that one of your faves is a Lonely Planet. One of mine is my Lonely Planet Rome City Guide that I took on my honeymoon,
Much love for you lot x

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
5/7/2012 12:31:25 pm

I love the Lonely Planet guides, Anna:) I hope you have notes in the margins of your honeymoon Rome guide and that it is all beat up. I had the best Chinese food of my life in Rome. /random factoid.

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