Ellie Lieberman's Blog: Dusty Shelves - Posts Tagged "hitchhiker-s-guide-to-the-galaxy"

The Story Of the Book

Barbara Liebermanwrote, “The story of the book enhanced the story within it.” Never have I received a book the way John’s sister received Comedy Divine in To Miss The Stars, but I understand the sentiments behind the quote well.

I have blogged before about my grandmother’s copies of Anne of Green Gables. Though, the story behind these books haven’t faced quite the same adventure, they are special to me. The story may seem short and simple to anyone else. To me, it is just as important to the story itself. She passed on not only her love for Lucy Maud Montgomery’s work and the doll and other related items, but, something I treasure the most in her copies is her signature. Seeing her name and penmanship.

For me, books are always a great gift. Last Christmas, I received Perks of Being A Wallflower from my brother. The message on the inside made the gift and story even more meaningful for me. It was his copy, which was special in and of itself. However, what the book meant to him made it mean more to me.

This is very similar to The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which I’m currently reading. It came as a recommendation from my boyfriend and it’s his copy I’m borrowing. For as much as I’m enjoying the story itself, it becomes even more special because it’s his and he loves the book.

Books tend to be tied to people and memories for me. And as much as these elements and the stories the people I love bring to these books, the story of why an author wrote the book enhances it just as much. I have always loved learning about the story behind the story.

Evangeline Duran Fuentes, author of Cry on Hallow's Eve, is a storyteller through and through. For as much as I adore her books, I absolutely love how the stories came about. In the back of her book, she includes a little information about the urban legend her story is inspired by. Knowing she was told this story as a child by her father and this was her own twist on it, enhances it in a way only Barb Lieberman could put words to.

Now, in the age of technology, authors themselves are more accessible in ways they had never been before. We can receive this information more readily and I do think it makes a difference in our appreciation for the story.
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