Tuesday, April 28, 2009

mmmm.....


I would like to live in a library, one that still had children's hours and card catalogs. When my eyes grew weary from reading in the dark I would open a book (the plastic would make the crinkle noise at its spine!) and stick my nose inside and just inhale. Have you ever thought about all the knowledge that is binded and stacked in a single small town library? I guess that is why I get greedy about books. I feel I must consume all of their answers and their questions too before I run out of time! So you see it's a very urgent situation and one must strategize. I'm tackling first whatever classics I've somehow missed (you wouldn't believe how many there are!) but my next plan is to learn everyone's favorite book of all time. Please do share with me whatever you think is the best of the best....or perhaps simply those which you hold closest to your heart. Feed me, I'm hungry.

11 comments:

in another lifetime said...

surprise Nadia! This is my one and only piece of red furniture. I named it the Nadia bookcase after I started reading your blog:)

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

I could never go back and read all the classic work I've missed ... or didn't enjoy when I was studying them in school. Our home library is floor to ceiling, and I have so many books inherited from my mother and others. I admire you for your post today!! When I don't have to trudge to work, hopefully I'll still have my eyesight, :-), I hope to spend many hours reading for the pure enjoyment.

kendalee said...

Oh I understand this Sheila... so many books, so much to learn and enjoy, so little time!

One of the most moving, haunting and beautifully written books I've ever read is The Bone People by Keri Hulme. It is the book I wish I could have written. Quite unconventional use of language, because she is a poet first, but it is one of the most evocative things I've ever experienced in print.

lime said...

oh i am so glad i came back. this post is dear to me...when i grow up i'd love to be a children's librarian.

as for my favorite book...antoine de st. exupery's "the little prince." it's just a beautiful and meaningful bit of wisdom about the search for a friend cloaked in a children's book.

Eddie Bluelights said...

Primarily came over because I saw your very kind comment on Cherry's post. We love her to bits (our lttle group). See you noted our comments as well. Just wanted to introduce myself, Eddie and to say you will be surprised to see a fella relate his favourite book: Pride and Prejudice, by a mile!
Best wishes Eddie

What About The Girl? said...

Sheila, I also have one and only piece of red furniture that might go with your bookshelf!
The books you read are in the same genre as mine (but that's not surprising, is it? ;-)
There are many classic books I have yet to read.
Sometimes I just love smelling the pages of the books. It comforts me.
This gives me an idea. I will also post a picture of my bookshelf one day.
Hugs!

Unknown said...

This reminds me of my post from earlier this year with photos of my bookshelf and my post on meringues two days ago. I know that anxiety you are talking about!

The very first trip I made to town when I got to Letterkenny was to get a library membership. It felt so old fashioned and so good to do that. I proudly walked out with my two books!

I would not be able to list one book in particular as each book that I have read has met my need and my questions and my life journey at that particular point in time and so perhaps I should take a few photos of my entire bookshelf for you and then you will see where I bide my time but I must add that our genres are very similar.

I finished a book that has really fed my soul last night. It was one of those that has kept me awake because I simply cannot put it down! It is called "The Three Letter Plague" by Johnny Steinberg. It is the poignant journey of three men, as seen through the eyes of one man. Eac of them tackles AIDS and HIV from a different perspective. It has stretched me. It has questioned me. It has demanded my fullest attention. It has awakened me.

And then there is one book that has never failed me. I have always found wisdom, life giving substance, wit, joy, pain and pleasure in its pages and that is the Bible. No one book has been able to cater for every aspect of who I am in the way the Bible has.

in another lifetime said...

Wow, great feedback guys, thank you so much!! Claire, can you post a link to the bookshelf posting you are referring to? I'm working on The House of Seven Gables but when I'm done with that I'm going to jump to one of your recommendations!!

onesilentwinter said...

to list is difficult- let me really think about it!

Unknown said...

I have SO many favorites but my all-time favorite is Love in the Time of Cholera.
And, btw, I love the way library books smell. We have a huge collection but we'd love a whole room dedicated to books one day. :)

What About The Girl? said...

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
I was dusting my bookshelf today:-)