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What does your bookshelf tell about you?
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Meg
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Oct 01, 2008 10:36AM
I just read this from reading group guides and thought I would pose the question here: Look at your own bookshelves sometime and see what story they tell about you. Do you like that story? If not, how would you edit your shelves to tell a story of you that you would be happy with?
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Ooooo! I like this! Have to give this some thought!!!
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I suppose if anything I would like to have more educational books on my shelf. Books that are strictly learning books because that is the next phase I want to explore within myself. I want to go to school, I am hungry to learn...stuff.
MIne says:"Buy local"
"Reads with friends"
since the ones I display on my bookshelves are the collectiosn from local authors or the ones I have read in my book club of real life buddies.... I guess I have no mind of my own :)
"Loves books featuring the lives of women."
I love this question! I think my book shelf defines the person that I want to be -- a nice combination of the literary me and the pop-culture me. I was an English major in college and my books definitely reflex that. But I love fun, easy reads, and my book shelves are FULL of those kinds of books! I don't tend to keep the cheesiest of the cheesy books that I sometimes read, so that element is not reflected (thankfully)...
Well I have a few bookshelves. One is devoted to my father and grandparents (all deceased), the books were theirs and it is very special to me. The other books shelves are important novels to me that remain so over the years. I am weeding out the ones that were just quick reads and exchanging them on paperbackswap. It is funny because I go on kicks and read certain genres, so if you look at my book shelves you will see that: oh that is when Meg was in her existential stage, that was when Meg was in her self-help stage.
Meg I think that is the coolest idea....a bookshelf for your father and grandparents. I would love to do that and think I will :) Thanks!I'm also laughing over how you said your bookshelf reflects your "phases" in life because mine does too! I've got my astrology books and my existential books and my psychology books. You can defintely see my diversified personality in my bookcases. It ranges from romance (but not of the Harlequin variety---more Nora Roberts) to my serial killer books. In between would be my paper doll books and my fave classics....my books on Marilyn Monroe....and then there is an entire bookcase dedicated to every single Danielle Steel and James Patterson book written by them. LOL
mine just shows my obsession for Nicholas Sparks (I own all of his books) and my obsession for chick lit! I only keep the books I think are worth reading again someday - and trade in all the others - so my shelves are always rotating. what does that say about me??
I rarely keep books after I read them. I think trading them in and getting new ones is more satisfing. I typically keep books that I feel can't be replaced, but if it's fiction typically it's out the door after I read it.I'd say the books I've read tell people that I like to read things about other women my age and love stories. I'm not into mysteries usually. And I like a good bio once in awhile.
I think mine says that I read everything! I love to learn and am into food, politics and knitting.
Hmmm...we have *a lot* of bookshelves and bookcases. How do I pick one to show what it says about me? There's the one in the kitchen devoted to my husband's cookbooks, the one in the dining room devoted to pretty stuff and the beautiful looking books & series, and then the other three are so jumbled because my husband unpacked them when we moved. Makes me crazy...
But, if I ever get it to the top of my priority list, I will organize them into my young adult books, contemporary fiction, and classic literature. I don't know what that says about me, though.
We've got a lot of bookcases too! (And I've got serial killer books too Holli! HAHA! Wonder what THAT says about us?! Ever read "The Taboo Scarf" and Other Tales of Therapy by George Weinberg? or Sybil?)
This is actually going to make me purge more of my shelves! I've got SO MANY unread books that I've had for YEARS! (What does THAT say about me?!?!)
I've got a 'self-help' shelf of books that I've never read! (I still collect them at times for some reason though I learned a LONG time ago that answers aren't in these books - perhaps a few suggestions or ways to look at situations differently, but not the ultimate life fixing answers!)
I've got a few 'all time favorites' shelves - these are books I'll never part with! (The titles are here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...- )
I've got one shelf in the living room that I change up seasonally ~ right now there are books about Halloween, Autumn, witchcraft, spookey stories & what not along with scarey movies on there!
One entire bookcase in the living room on the left side of the mantle is my 'To be read' bookcase! Right now, I honestly can't tell you what's on there besides a couple of Harry Potter's and "The History of God." (Again, what does this say about me?!)
There's the rack on the back of the bedroom door with a lot of our paperbacks ~ this is where all of my Maya Angelou's are in addition to Anne Rice, Stephen King, James Paterson, "To Kill a Mocking Bird" & "Night", "The Thorn Birds", Star Wars, Thomas Harris, "Goodbye Mr Chips", "Jaws", "The AmityVille Horror", "The Exorcist" & "Legion", my Greek Mythology and "Women & Fiction" books are. (I've read all but The Thorn Birds, Amityville and Legion).
I've also got gardening books all over the place as I do so love to garden!
The shelf here on the computer desk is filled with writing books and journals.
I've got a book on top of my Wizard of Oz books that I read growing up called "My Mother Gave Me The Moon" ~ a book that I bought for my daughter 2 years ago though she passed away 9 & a half years ago.
I love fiction and non. Not big at all on mysteries, nope do not like 'em!!!
I've gone on far too much here! What do ya'll think - what do my books say about me?! I sure can't tell right now! (I think the huge amount of unread books says a lot!)
Well I think my bookshelf shows that I read lots of types of fiction. Non-fiction not so much. I'm an equal opportunity kind of gal when it comes to fiction! :)
I just took a look at my bookshelves, and right now they tell the story of a woman who loved classic literature until she gave birth to three incredibly active children. And so, she spent the next 10 years of her life reading books to them until she was delirious--in between going on walks with them, wagon, child back pack and snacks in tow. Anything she read for herself had to do with parenting.
It tells the story of a woman who loves languages, world culture, travel.
If I could edit my shelves to tell a story that I would be happy with, I would include books about food, and all the recipe books that I've read like novels over the years.
And I'd add books on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue--a condition I used to think belonged in the realm of hypochondriacs and whiners...until my twin sister and I both got it. It's real, so I would have that on my bookshelf, too, because it's changed my life...which does have it's hidden blessings.
Off topic here: Karey, I don't have fibromyalgia, but I have chronic fatigue & illnesses as well as widespread pain from Psoriatic Arthritis (an RA/auto immune diease arthritis) and Ankylosing Spondilitis (arthisits in my spine), so if you ever need someone who can not only sympathize, but empathize as well, feel free to message me!
I love the idea of a seasonal book shelf. That is awesome! I am not as organized with my to be read pile and my to go to paperbackswap pile. They are in stacks on the floor.
Mine shows my obsession for love (Nicholas Sparks), books about women (Chick lit),wanting to still have my time to be young (Twilight series), and a little mystery in life (James Patterson)I have a wide range
My bookshelf is mainly made up of memoirs and factual books :P
Karey my aunt has fibromyalgia and she really struggles with it. On top of that she has Meniere's disease so I really feel bad for her and what she goes through. She did figure out that all the wine she was self-medicating with was making both things worse so when she stopped that she lost weight AND felt better!! LOL She's very upbeat and positive about everything she is going through which really helps her get through it all.
Holli & all, what you say about your aunt reminds me of my dad. He had a degenerative lung disease for 25 years and was so ongoing with life. He never smoked or was involved in anything that might manifest a lung disease. Once I asked him, "Dad, do you ever say, 'Why me'?" And he said, "No, I'm more likely to think why NOT me?" Whenever I'm feeling like complaining about something, I try to remember him. I miss him terribly (he died 1 1/2 years ago), but when I feel his strength, I feel he's with me.
And he is with you Kate. I truly believe that because I feel my grandpa with me at the times I need him. He died 15 years ago this month and was the best father I had in my life. Thank god for him!!
read (82)currently-reading (2)
to-read (49)
books-i-own (36)
fiction (30)
jodi-picoult (16)
christian-fiction (14)
memiors (14)
beauty-related (12)
classics (10)
humor (7)
organization (6)
gender-studies (6)
want-to-own (5)
to-reread (5)
childrens (4)
historical-fiction (4)
religion (4)
reference (3)
marriage (2)
entertaining (2)
2008-07 (13)
2008-08 (12)
2008-09 (9)
2008-10 (1)
Those are my shelves. I would guess they say I'm interested in girly things (beauty, entertaining), I like Jodi Picoult, am a Christian, and read non-fiction slightly less than fiction.
Teri, I find that if I get rid of stuff that just takes up room that I have a lot more space for new things. I hate clutter and having bookself after bookself in my apartment is just too much. I need room for all of my other addictions (cake decorating stuff and beads)!
If this is about my my bookshelf at goodreads, you could say, I´m trying to do more than I can in a lifetime, ;)! There are almost 4,000 books that I want to read. But if this is about my bookshelf at home, I´d say it mirrows my whole life and how my interests changed in the past 20 years or so. There´s mystery, bios,fantasy, lovestories and much more. I still have the "Hanni & Nanni" books from my first years as a book-a-holic and a few others with which I could nerver part even it´s my habit to move every 5th year in a new appartment!
My gosh mine says that I am addicted to reading. If its words in print I just might read it!! Most of my books tend to lean towards the classics (British mainly but I have some from other places), romance the quirker the better, historical value books, travel books and a smattering of other things. But I would think it is what I wish my life would be...organized, romantic, and so full of life all of the time...not to mention cooking & smart...well a bit perfect..which I am no where to being! But its to what I aspire to be...happy & well rounded!
It says that I need to read more often instead of playing games and watching anime.
I think my book shelf show that I have varied tastes, and that I was an English major. I have a few mysteries, lots of chick lit, tons of leftovers from my English courses in college. It also shows that I have a hard time parting with books. I joined Bookmooch this year as a way to save $$ on books, because I had been on a book buying binge for the past year. I treasure all of my books, even ones I don't really like. But I'm getting past it... although if I really love a book, I won't get rid of it ever.
My book shelf would show that I'm into a little bit of everything. I love urban lit,chick lit,what I call "sista girl" fiction, erotica, young adult books like Harry Potter, and christian fiction. Lately I've been getting rid of all my books on Book Mooch. The only books I keep are autographed copies.
My shelves show that I like to read a little of everything. Certain genres I like to read when I need to escape. Fantasy has a large section which is funny because I never read this genre until I pregnant with my first child 12 years ago. I would have a hard time sleeping, my husband talked me into reading his books, and I have been hooked on them since.
L I used to read Robert Jordan....fascinating books in the fantasy genre. I stopped though.....broke up with the guy who got me hooked on them!! LOL
Holli - Do you mean the Wheel of Time series? My nephew's been trying to get me to read them for years. For some reason, the cover has turned me off (I know bad, bad me for judging a book by its cover. Damn me!)
Yes that IS what I'm talking about!! I got to Book 5 or 6 and then stopped reading them. They really are good :)
Oh, my bookshelves also show which authors I truly enjoy, because when I like an author, I want to read everything he/she has written.
I’m with Kristen and Teri in that I don’t keep books after I’ve read them either. The only exception I make are for books that I know I’ll reread or for books that got to me in such a way that it would be painful to see them go (which is very rare). I always have a stack of books that are on their way out the door, whether that means giving a book away or trading it in, it doesn’t matter.That being said, if somebody did decide to analyze my personality from the books I *do* own, they’d probably say, “that chick is impulsive (what was she thinking when she bought that lot of 300 dirty paperback books on ebay?), eclectic (why is that bodice ripper shelved next to Great Expectations?) and really, really anal (when she likes an author, she obviously makes it her job to buy every book they’ve ever published).”
Mine says:1) I'm completely disorganised and messy(books in piles, dust, ripped covers...)
2) I'm quite eclectic (Stephen King lies back to back with Garcia Lorca)
3) I'm a teacher (loads of 'classical'literature)
4) I read international literature
5) I can read in Italian, English and Spanish
6) I tend to splurge on books (so many books, so little time!! Gosh!!!)
7) I read, re-read and re-re-read my books
I am cheap and go to the library because I don't really have books on my shelf. However, the ones I do have show I was an elementary teacher because they are kids books. Plus I am a mom and love to read to my 6 month old :)
