So I went through my old paperbacks . . .
So I went through my old paperback, you know, the ones that I’ve been collecting since I was 12, most of them garnered when between the ages of 15 and 18, but written anywhere from 1950 to 1985. I had a brutal hand this time, putting entire beloved series in the “pass on” box, keeping only the first title to remind me of the feeling the work gave me. I slashed my library to perhaps a half of what I had, which was already two-thirds, and two-thirds again, and so on, making the bottom line perhaps a tenth of what I started with ten years ago.
But you know what? I couldn’t do it with the Young Adult titles. I could not put those very first books in the “go” box. They were too much a part of what shaped my thoughts and thinking processes to discard, even though I will never read them again, and they only take up space on my shelf. Legacy, perhaps.
The ones I kept? Let me think. The Narnia books, the first Nine Princes in Amber, A few beloved Andrea Norton, The Zero Stone. (Loved that one) Have Space Suit, Will Travel, Dandelion Wine, Midnight at the Well of Souls. The first three Dragon Singer books, Lloyd Alexander. Larry Niven. Ring World. Ice Rings. Robert Aspirin. (I met him when I was in High School. It was Rad.)
Sort of explains a few things . . .
And the picture? That’s my Author Chow. I have it for breakfast every day. :-)
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At least you got to chose what to give away. When I moved to Canada I ended up leaving almost 3000 books behind. Just couldn't afford to rent a bigger u haul. I left almost every beloved thing behind. I miss my Jo Claytons and my Marion Zimmer Bradleys. Some books you just cant get anymore. But the titles you kept...I LOVE those too!
Ugh. It's always hard to get rid of books. I try and make sure I only buy copies of books I know I'm going to read again but eventually I will have to trim my bookselves too.
i always loved books, but I was an archaeologist and just couldn't hold on to printed copies. The advent of the ebook has revolutionalized my world and been a boon to my soul.
I understand. Over the years I have had to purge many times. I always donate to the local Library. I would estimate that in the course of my reading life I have donated some 5 to 7 thousand books. So sad. I am so glad that with the ebooks that will no longer be necessary. I am sorry you had to lose your books:[. But like you I will never give up the books my mother read to me as a child. It was always such an adventure everytime.
