In Others’ Words: The Story of Books

I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love books, when I didn’t surround myself with them. A few beside my bed, one beside the couch, always one in my hands … I was often chided for reading while I walked, reading while I ate meals … and yes, reading in the bathroom. This last habit was a criminal offense because there were seven people in my family and one bathroom in our house.

Of course, I spent my allowance on books … up until I began spending it on clothes. But even then, I always squandered a fair bit of my money in the bookstore. Yes, I could borrow books from the library, but there was something about owning a book … about a book being mine for keeps.

Once I was married, my husband quickly learned that I kept books. When it came time to do some deep cleaning or spring cleaning — whatever you want to call the kind of cleaning where closets and shelves are ransacked and black trashbags are toted to the local thrift store – the one thing that didn’t get sorted through were the shelves of books. Our kids learned this too. Books are forever purchases in our family.

In Your Words: What’s your story when it comes to books? What’s the first book you remember owning — buying it yourself or receiving as a gift? Are you a keeper of books or can you let them go when you’re sorting through stuff? 

The care and keeping of books #lifequotes
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What's your story when it comes to books? #lifequotes
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