Christina here. I’ve been reading a lot more than usual recently, not just on my Kindle but also trying to get through my TBR pile of physical books. It was getting ridiculous, although not quite as bad as the mess in this photo. Once I finish one, however, I have to find a space for it on my shelves and despite the fact that I have a LOT of bookshelves, this is getting increasingly difficult. That made me start thinking about what makes a book a keeper? This is probably a topic that’s been discussed before on Word Wenches, but I hope you don’t mind me reviving it?
I’ll confess that just about every book I read is a keeper for me because I find it a terrible wrench to part with any of them. I could probably Marie Kondo just about all my other possessions, but not the books. As long as I don’t actively dislike a novel (or even outright hate it!), I always hang onto it. And if my shelves become too full, the books get stacked sideways first as there always seems to be extra space at the top, or if necessary, double-stacked, although I really don’t like doing that. I want to be able to see at a glance what I’ve got.
I’m trying to be more ruthless these days, and as I’ve grown older, I have learned to predict more or less which books I’m going to love. Those I buy as paperbacks (or sometimes hardbacks), while the ones I’m not sure about I’ll get as ebooks. (Thank goodness for ebooks!) But that still leaves me with an awful lot of books. There might come a time when I’ll have to downsize or I’ll run out of space, and I know that will be painful. I’ve given it some thought though, and if I absolutely had to get rid of most of them, these are the ones that would definitely have to stay:-
All my Georgette Heyers – the first books I ever collected were Heyer’s paperbacks, the 1960s-70s Pan versions. Obviously, her novels have been released many times with lots of different covers, but I particularly liked this series which had matching covers so I started buying them. (I still think these are some of the best, although they can’t compete with the original dust jackets on the first editions). They look great on my shelf and I think I managed to find them all.
During the 1970s I read and loved the books by Victoria Holt, and when I found that in the UK her original hardbacks were fairly cheap, I bought them in a fit of nostalgia. They are now all on my keeper shelf and they’re not going anywhere. Although, to be honest, I doubt I’ll ever reread one as they are too dated now. (Anyone tried this?)
Another favourite was Johanna Lindsey and paperback copies of all her stories have pride of place as I loved them (yes, even with the Fabio covers!), and also early Kathleen Woodiwiss novels.
M M Kaye’s amazing novel The Far Pavilions sparked an abiding love for her stories and I bought them first in paperback and then in hardback. I probably couldn’t make myself part with either, which seems like a waste of space, but still … Anyone else do this – keep several copies of favourite books? It’s not logical, but maybe it doesn’t have to be? We’re bibliophiles, it’s what we do!
Other favourites that would definitely stay are:-
The Brother Cadfael novels by Ellis Peters – I bought one every year until the series was finished and eagerly devoured them. (But is it just me or do you get cross when the publishers change the format halfway through a series? I like them to be uniform, at least in size!)
The novels of Barbara Erskine – from the moment I first read Lady of Hay, I was hooked and have bought every single one since.
All Susanna Kearsley’s books – another author I’ve got both in hardback and paperback and they’re all staying!
All the historical thriller/mystery novels by Steve Berry – they have fabulous covers and I love the combination of ancient treasures and modern-day thrills.
A selection of YA romance novels – following the publication of the Twilight series, I started reading more in this sub-genre and several YA authors’ works now grace my keeper shelf. Marissa Meyer, Sarah Dessen and Melissa Marr aren’t going anywhere.
And books written by friends are automatically keepers too, of course, so I absolutely must have a writing friends’ shelf.
If I still had space left over after that, I would have to go through the rest of my books one by one and apply the following criteria – (1) Did the characters stay in my mind? (2) Can I still remember the thrill of reading this story? (3) Did the ending leave me with a very satisfied smile on my face and that warm, fuzzy feeling that shows you’ve truly loved a book? (4) Did I immediately want to read anything else the author had written? If the answer to any of those questions is no, perhaps the book in question isn’t a true keeper?
Thinking about it, it’s probably crazy to hang onto most of them as I really don’t think I’ll ever re-read them. However, it was always my dream to have a library consisting entirely of the type of stories I love, and the thought of having all these books available just in case appeals to me greatly. In fact, don’t all us booklovers dream of having an old-fashioned library, perhaps like this one? (My all-time favourite is the library at Saltram House in Devon which is just wonderful. See here)
I know I am lucky to have the space to keep my book collection right now, and although this might change in future, I’ll fight tooth and nail to keep as many books as I possibly can. Without them, my home would just feel like an empty house.
What’s on your keeper shelf and what criteria would you apply if you had to cull them? And do you buy mostly paperbacks or ebooks these days?
Collecting beloved books is as good as sparkly treasure to me. When I love a series, I happily reread the whole thing every 5 years or so, taking pleasure in newly discovered layers and connections each time! But I also hoard every title I can find by favorite writers, including standalones. Three such authors are Patricia Rice, Elizabeth Lowell, and JK Rowling incl. her crime novels. Dozens of others too! These are not negotiable. I also love to collect books important to the history of the romance genre, like original first categories by crazy famous names like Nora Roberts.
Collecting beloved books is as good as sparkly treasure to me. When I love a series, I happily reread the whole thing every 5 years or so, taking pleasure in newly discovered layers and connections each time! But I also hoard every title I can find by favorite writers, including standalones. Three such authors are Patricia Rice, Elizabeth Lowell, and JK Rowling incl. her crime novels. Dozens of others too! These are not negotiable. I also love to collect books important to the history of the romance genre, like original first categories by crazy famous names like Nora Roberts.
Collecting beloved books is as good as sparkly treasure to me. When I love a series, I happily reread the whole thing every 5 years or so, taking pleasure in newly discovered layers and connections each time! But I also hoard every title I can find by favorite writers, including standalones. Three such authors are Patricia Rice, Elizabeth Lowell, and JK Rowling incl. her crime novels. Dozens of others too! These are not negotiable. I also love to collect books important to the history of the romance genre, like original first categories by crazy famous names like Nora Roberts.
Collecting beloved books is as good as sparkly treasure to me. When I love a series, I happily reread the whole thing every 5 years or so, taking pleasure in newly discovered layers and connections each time! But I also hoard every title I can find by favorite writers, including standalones. Three such authors are Patricia Rice, Elizabeth Lowell, and JK Rowling incl. her crime novels. Dozens of others too! These are not negotiable. I also love to collect books important to the history of the romance genre, like original first categories by crazy famous names like Nora Roberts.
Collecting beloved books is as good as sparkly treasure to me. When I love a series, I happily reread the whole thing every 5 years or so, taking pleasure in newly discovered layers and connections each time! But I also hoard every title I can find by favorite writers, including standalones. Three such authors are Patricia Rice, Elizabeth Lowell, and JK Rowling incl. her crime novels. Dozens of others too! These are not negotiable. I also love to collect books important to the history of the romance genre, like original first categories by crazy famous names like Nora Roberts.
My original keeper book -and a seminal book in my life-is Mary Stewart’s Madam, will you talk? It’s not the first book of hers that J read-that would be Nine Coaches Waiting. But something about Madam, will you talk captured my imagination and wouldn’t let go. I read and re-read my paperback copy (she was wearing the green frock) so many times that the pages began to fall out. I tried to buy another copy, but was horrified to learn it was out of print! I started scouring used book stores and eventually scored several additional copies. I read the book so many times that I could take someone on a tour of Provence, Avignon, etc. I bought a copy of the Natural History of Selbourne because that was the heroine’s surname. And I’d love to duplicate Richard and Charity’s meal at Chateau Dif. Fortunately or unfortunately, there are many other books on my keeper shelves.
My original keeper book -and a seminal book in my life-is Mary Stewart’s Madam, will you talk? It’s not the first book of hers that J read-that would be Nine Coaches Waiting. But something about Madam, will you talk captured my imagination and wouldn’t let go. I read and re-read my paperback copy (she was wearing the green frock) so many times that the pages began to fall out. I tried to buy another copy, but was horrified to learn it was out of print! I started scouring used book stores and eventually scored several additional copies. I read the book so many times that I could take someone on a tour of Provence, Avignon, etc. I bought a copy of the Natural History of Selbourne because that was the heroine’s surname. And I’d love to duplicate Richard and Charity’s meal at Chateau Dif. Fortunately or unfortunately, there are many other books on my keeper shelves.
My original keeper book -and a seminal book in my life-is Mary Stewart’s Madam, will you talk? It’s not the first book of hers that J read-that would be Nine Coaches Waiting. But something about Madam, will you talk captured my imagination and wouldn’t let go. I read and re-read my paperback copy (she was wearing the green frock) so many times that the pages began to fall out. I tried to buy another copy, but was horrified to learn it was out of print! I started scouring used book stores and eventually scored several additional copies. I read the book so many times that I could take someone on a tour of Provence, Avignon, etc. I bought a copy of the Natural History of Selbourne because that was the heroine’s surname. And I’d love to duplicate Richard and Charity’s meal at Chateau Dif. Fortunately or unfortunately, there are many other books on my keeper shelves.
My original keeper book -and a seminal book in my life-is Mary Stewart’s Madam, will you talk? It’s not the first book of hers that J read-that would be Nine Coaches Waiting. But something about Madam, will you talk captured my imagination and wouldn’t let go. I read and re-read my paperback copy (she was wearing the green frock) so many times that the pages began to fall out. I tried to buy another copy, but was horrified to learn it was out of print! I started scouring used book stores and eventually scored several additional copies. I read the book so many times that I could take someone on a tour of Provence, Avignon, etc. I bought a copy of the Natural History of Selbourne because that was the heroine’s surname. And I’d love to duplicate Richard and Charity’s meal at Chateau Dif. Fortunately or unfortunately, there are many other books on my keeper shelves.
My original keeper book -and a seminal book in my life-is Mary Stewart’s Madam, will you talk? It’s not the first book of hers that J read-that would be Nine Coaches Waiting. But something about Madam, will you talk captured my imagination and wouldn’t let go. I read and re-read my paperback copy (she was wearing the green frock) so many times that the pages began to fall out. I tried to buy another copy, but was horrified to learn it was out of print! I started scouring used book stores and eventually scored several additional copies. I read the book so many times that I could take someone on a tour of Provence, Avignon, etc. I bought a copy of the Natural History of Selbourne because that was the heroine’s surname. And I’d love to duplicate Richard and Charity’s meal at Chateau Dif. Fortunately or unfortunately, there are many other books on my keeper shelves.
I totally agree that books are treasures, Jenny! And what a great idea to collect books that are important to the history of the romance genre – I hadn’t thought of that. I may need to start another shelf …
I totally agree that books are treasures, Jenny! And what a great idea to collect books that are important to the history of the romance genre – I hadn’t thought of that. I may need to start another shelf …
I totally agree that books are treasures, Jenny! And what a great idea to collect books that are important to the history of the romance genre – I hadn’t thought of that. I may need to start another shelf …
I totally agree that books are treasures, Jenny! And what a great idea to collect books that are important to the history of the romance genre – I hadn’t thought of that. I may need to start another shelf …
I totally agree that books are treasures, Jenny! And what a great idea to collect books that are important to the history of the romance genre – I hadn’t thought of that. I may need to start another shelf …
That book must be very precious to you, Binnie – I’m so glad you found another copy! How lovely to have other books that relate to it in various ways as well. There are certain stories like that though that just won’t let go of you. For me it’s Georgette Heyer’s “Cotillion” – I have several different copies of that and reread it often without ever tiring of it.
That book must be very precious to you, Binnie – I’m so glad you found another copy! How lovely to have other books that relate to it in various ways as well. There are certain stories like that though that just won’t let go of you. For me it’s Georgette Heyer’s “Cotillion” – I have several different copies of that and reread it often without ever tiring of it.
That book must be very precious to you, Binnie – I’m so glad you found another copy! How lovely to have other books that relate to it in various ways as well. There are certain stories like that though that just won’t let go of you. For me it’s Georgette Heyer’s “Cotillion” – I have several different copies of that and reread it often without ever tiring of it.
That book must be very precious to you, Binnie – I’m so glad you found another copy! How lovely to have other books that relate to it in various ways as well. There are certain stories like that though that just won’t let go of you. For me it’s Georgette Heyer’s “Cotillion” – I have several different copies of that and reread it often without ever tiring of it.
That book must be very precious to you, Binnie – I’m so glad you found another copy! How lovely to have other books that relate to it in various ways as well. There are certain stories like that though that just won’t let go of you. For me it’s Georgette Heyer’s “Cotillion” – I have several different copies of that and reread it often without ever tiring of it.
The top of my keeper list are my Heyer books. I wouldn’t part with them for anything. There are several other authors I collect. Unfortunately, I traded my Victoria Holts at the used bookstore. I could kick myself for that. Fortunately, I have the space right now to keep all my books. I hope I never have to reduce my collection as they are all old friends.
The top of my keeper list are my Heyer books. I wouldn’t part with them for anything. There are several other authors I collect. Unfortunately, I traded my Victoria Holts at the used bookstore. I could kick myself for that. Fortunately, I have the space right now to keep all my books. I hope I never have to reduce my collection as they are all old friends.
The top of my keeper list are my Heyer books. I wouldn’t part with them for anything. There are several other authors I collect. Unfortunately, I traded my Victoria Holts at the used bookstore. I could kick myself for that. Fortunately, I have the space right now to keep all my books. I hope I never have to reduce my collection as they are all old friends.
The top of my keeper list are my Heyer books. I wouldn’t part with them for anything. There are several other authors I collect. Unfortunately, I traded my Victoria Holts at the used bookstore. I could kick myself for that. Fortunately, I have the space right now to keep all my books. I hope I never have to reduce my collection as they are all old friends.
The top of my keeper list are my Heyer books. I wouldn’t part with them for anything. There are several other authors I collect. Unfortunately, I traded my Victoria Holts at the used bookstore. I could kick myself for that. Fortunately, I have the space right now to keep all my books. I hope I never have to reduce my collection as they are all old friends.
I’m the same, Gail – would never part with my Heyer books either. Perhaps you could find the Holt ones again? It’s so much easier now with the internet. When I first started looking for books I had to use a book collectors’ magazine! A long time ago … 🙂
I’m the same, Gail – would never part with my Heyer books either. Perhaps you could find the Holt ones again? It’s so much easier now with the internet. When I first started looking for books I had to use a book collectors’ magazine! A long time ago … 🙂
I’m the same, Gail – would never part with my Heyer books either. Perhaps you could find the Holt ones again? It’s so much easier now with the internet. When I first started looking for books I had to use a book collectors’ magazine! A long time ago … 🙂
I’m the same, Gail – would never part with my Heyer books either. Perhaps you could find the Holt ones again? It’s so much easier now with the internet. When I first started looking for books I had to use a book collectors’ magazine! A long time ago … 🙂
I’m the same, Gail – would never part with my Heyer books either. Perhaps you could find the Holt ones again? It’s so much easier now with the internet. When I first started looking for books I had to use a book collectors’ magazine! A long time ago … 🙂
Because of my age and desire to downsize, almost everything that I purchase nowadays is in ebook form. I still appreciate being able to physically hold a book, but I have come to appreciate my kindle even more. I have been slowly replacing my favorite hard copies and paperbacks with kindle versions. I then donate them to the library.
I love mysteries and biographies too, but most of my books are historical romance. I admit to being an unapologetic romance junkie.
I love books that are character driven. Thank you Mary Balogh and too many, many, many more to even mention. Humor is important too. Thanks to ebooks I discovered two of my favorite authors who are no longer in print – Barbara Metzger and Joan Smith. Their books make me laugh and laughing makes me feel good. I seem to need that more and more lately.
Because of my age and desire to downsize, almost everything that I purchase nowadays is in ebook form. I still appreciate being able to physically hold a book, but I have come to appreciate my kindle even more. I have been slowly replacing my favorite hard copies and paperbacks with kindle versions. I then donate them to the library.
I love mysteries and biographies too, but most of my books are historical romance. I admit to being an unapologetic romance junkie.
I love books that are character driven. Thank you Mary Balogh and too many, many, many more to even mention. Humor is important too. Thanks to ebooks I discovered two of my favorite authors who are no longer in print – Barbara Metzger and Joan Smith. Their books make me laugh and laughing makes me feel good. I seem to need that more and more lately.
Because of my age and desire to downsize, almost everything that I purchase nowadays is in ebook form. I still appreciate being able to physically hold a book, but I have come to appreciate my kindle even more. I have been slowly replacing my favorite hard copies and paperbacks with kindle versions. I then donate them to the library.
I love mysteries and biographies too, but most of my books are historical romance. I admit to being an unapologetic romance junkie.
I love books that are character driven. Thank you Mary Balogh and too many, many, many more to even mention. Humor is important too. Thanks to ebooks I discovered two of my favorite authors who are no longer in print – Barbara Metzger and Joan Smith. Their books make me laugh and laughing makes me feel good. I seem to need that more and more lately.
Because of my age and desire to downsize, almost everything that I purchase nowadays is in ebook form. I still appreciate being able to physically hold a book, but I have come to appreciate my kindle even more. I have been slowly replacing my favorite hard copies and paperbacks with kindle versions. I then donate them to the library.
I love mysteries and biographies too, but most of my books are historical romance. I admit to being an unapologetic romance junkie.
I love books that are character driven. Thank you Mary Balogh and too many, many, many more to even mention. Humor is important too. Thanks to ebooks I discovered two of my favorite authors who are no longer in print – Barbara Metzger and Joan Smith. Their books make me laugh and laughing makes me feel good. I seem to need that more and more lately.
Because of my age and desire to downsize, almost everything that I purchase nowadays is in ebook form. I still appreciate being able to physically hold a book, but I have come to appreciate my kindle even more. I have been slowly replacing my favorite hard copies and paperbacks with kindle versions. I then donate them to the library.
I love mysteries and biographies too, but most of my books are historical romance. I admit to being an unapologetic romance junkie.
I love books that are character driven. Thank you Mary Balogh and too many, many, many more to even mention. Humor is important too. Thanks to ebooks I discovered two of my favorite authors who are no longer in print – Barbara Metzger and Joan Smith. Their books make me laugh and laughing makes me feel good. I seem to need that more and more lately.
I cherish my keepers for themselves, but a few for the memories of where and when I first read them. These are mostly mysteries that I read on vacation. On a rainy day in Sligo, I took refuge in the library and read Michael Innes’ The Journeying Boy. On a beach in the Virgin Islands where I was camping with my sister, I read John Dickson Carr’s The Unicorn Murders. In a small hotel in the south of France I read Delano Ames’ Corpse Diplomatique.
I don’t even have to reread them All I need to do is remember them and I am transported back through time and space.
I cherish my keepers for themselves, but a few for the memories of where and when I first read them. These are mostly mysteries that I read on vacation. On a rainy day in Sligo, I took refuge in the library and read Michael Innes’ The Journeying Boy. On a beach in the Virgin Islands where I was camping with my sister, I read John Dickson Carr’s The Unicorn Murders. In a small hotel in the south of France I read Delano Ames’ Corpse Diplomatique.
I don’t even have to reread them All I need to do is remember them and I am transported back through time and space.
I cherish my keepers for themselves, but a few for the memories of where and when I first read them. These are mostly mysteries that I read on vacation. On a rainy day in Sligo, I took refuge in the library and read Michael Innes’ The Journeying Boy. On a beach in the Virgin Islands where I was camping with my sister, I read John Dickson Carr’s The Unicorn Murders. In a small hotel in the south of France I read Delano Ames’ Corpse Diplomatique.
I don’t even have to reread them All I need to do is remember them and I am transported back through time and space.
I cherish my keepers for themselves, but a few for the memories of where and when I first read them. These are mostly mysteries that I read on vacation. On a rainy day in Sligo, I took refuge in the library and read Michael Innes’ The Journeying Boy. On a beach in the Virgin Islands where I was camping with my sister, I read John Dickson Carr’s The Unicorn Murders. In a small hotel in the south of France I read Delano Ames’ Corpse Diplomatique.
I don’t even have to reread them All I need to do is remember them and I am transported back through time and space.
I cherish my keepers for themselves, but a few for the memories of where and when I first read them. These are mostly mysteries that I read on vacation. On a rainy day in Sligo, I took refuge in the library and read Michael Innes’ The Journeying Boy. On a beach in the Virgin Islands where I was camping with my sister, I read John Dickson Carr’s The Unicorn Murders. In a small hotel in the south of France I read Delano Ames’ Corpse Diplomatique.
I don’t even have to reread them All I need to do is remember them and I am transported back through time and space.
That’s a great way to do it, Mary, one book at a time! I guess in the future everyone will have virtual libraries rather than physical ones and it definitely saves space. I’m a complete romance junkie as well and even when I’m reading other genres I always look for any sign of a romance, even if it’s just a sub-plot. And humour is very important, I agree!
That’s a great way to do it, Mary, one book at a time! I guess in the future everyone will have virtual libraries rather than physical ones and it definitely saves space. I’m a complete romance junkie as well and even when I’m reading other genres I always look for any sign of a romance, even if it’s just a sub-plot. And humour is very important, I agree!
That’s a great way to do it, Mary, one book at a time! I guess in the future everyone will have virtual libraries rather than physical ones and it definitely saves space. I’m a complete romance junkie as well and even when I’m reading other genres I always look for any sign of a romance, even if it’s just a sub-plot. And humour is very important, I agree!
That’s a great way to do it, Mary, one book at a time! I guess in the future everyone will have virtual libraries rather than physical ones and it definitely saves space. I’m a complete romance junkie as well and even when I’m reading other genres I always look for any sign of a romance, even if it’s just a sub-plot. And humour is very important, I agree!
That’s a great way to do it, Mary, one book at a time! I guess in the future everyone will have virtual libraries rather than physical ones and it definitely saves space. I’m a complete romance junkie as well and even when I’m reading other genres I always look for any sign of a romance, even if it’s just a sub-plot. And humour is very important, I agree!
To echo many of you, the Georgette Heyer’s would be first in line to stay. I have some of her hardbacks (some in large print) that were ex-library copies and have replaced my small paperbacks with the large trade copies. I have all the regency titles and most of the mysteries.
Seconds in line are Mary Balogh and Patricia Veryan with a generous helping of Jo Beverley and Carla Kelly. These last two are still in boxes from my move three years ago. My complete Mary Stewart set is there as well.
I’m still trying to complete my Terry Pratchett collection.
I also ‘keep’ Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs, and Lois McMaster Bujold. These, as well as Grace Burrowes, I automatically buy when they are published.
I also tend to keep a lot of non-fiction on items that interest me- local and Pennsylvania German history, Arabian horses, Lewis and Clark, Thomas Jefferson, Thoreau, and travel. Unfortunately, many of these are still on the TBR pile!
There are a lot of authors I ‘automatically’ read – but the bulk of these I borrow from the library…after all, that’s what they are meant for!
To echo many of you, the Georgette Heyer’s would be first in line to stay. I have some of her hardbacks (some in large print) that were ex-library copies and have replaced my small paperbacks with the large trade copies. I have all the regency titles and most of the mysteries.
Seconds in line are Mary Balogh and Patricia Veryan with a generous helping of Jo Beverley and Carla Kelly. These last two are still in boxes from my move three years ago. My complete Mary Stewart set is there as well.
I’m still trying to complete my Terry Pratchett collection.
I also ‘keep’ Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs, and Lois McMaster Bujold. These, as well as Grace Burrowes, I automatically buy when they are published.
I also tend to keep a lot of non-fiction on items that interest me- local and Pennsylvania German history, Arabian horses, Lewis and Clark, Thomas Jefferson, Thoreau, and travel. Unfortunately, many of these are still on the TBR pile!
There are a lot of authors I ‘automatically’ read – but the bulk of these I borrow from the library…after all, that’s what they are meant for!
To echo many of you, the Georgette Heyer’s would be first in line to stay. I have some of her hardbacks (some in large print) that were ex-library copies and have replaced my small paperbacks with the large trade copies. I have all the regency titles and most of the mysteries.
Seconds in line are Mary Balogh and Patricia Veryan with a generous helping of Jo Beverley and Carla Kelly. These last two are still in boxes from my move three years ago. My complete Mary Stewart set is there as well.
I’m still trying to complete my Terry Pratchett collection.
I also ‘keep’ Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs, and Lois McMaster Bujold. These, as well as Grace Burrowes, I automatically buy when they are published.
I also tend to keep a lot of non-fiction on items that interest me- local and Pennsylvania German history, Arabian horses, Lewis and Clark, Thomas Jefferson, Thoreau, and travel. Unfortunately, many of these are still on the TBR pile!
There are a lot of authors I ‘automatically’ read – but the bulk of these I borrow from the library…after all, that’s what they are meant for!
To echo many of you, the Georgette Heyer’s would be first in line to stay. I have some of her hardbacks (some in large print) that were ex-library copies and have replaced my small paperbacks with the large trade copies. I have all the regency titles and most of the mysteries.
Seconds in line are Mary Balogh and Patricia Veryan with a generous helping of Jo Beverley and Carla Kelly. These last two are still in boxes from my move three years ago. My complete Mary Stewart set is there as well.
I’m still trying to complete my Terry Pratchett collection.
I also ‘keep’ Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs, and Lois McMaster Bujold. These, as well as Grace Burrowes, I automatically buy when they are published.
I also tend to keep a lot of non-fiction on items that interest me- local and Pennsylvania German history, Arabian horses, Lewis and Clark, Thomas Jefferson, Thoreau, and travel. Unfortunately, many of these are still on the TBR pile!
There are a lot of authors I ‘automatically’ read – but the bulk of these I borrow from the library…after all, that’s what they are meant for!
To echo many of you, the Georgette Heyer’s would be first in line to stay. I have some of her hardbacks (some in large print) that were ex-library copies and have replaced my small paperbacks with the large trade copies. I have all the regency titles and most of the mysteries.
Seconds in line are Mary Balogh and Patricia Veryan with a generous helping of Jo Beverley and Carla Kelly. These last two are still in boxes from my move three years ago. My complete Mary Stewart set is there as well.
I’m still trying to complete my Terry Pratchett collection.
I also ‘keep’ Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs, and Lois McMaster Bujold. These, as well as Grace Burrowes, I automatically buy when they are published.
I also tend to keep a lot of non-fiction on items that interest me- local and Pennsylvania German history, Arabian horses, Lewis and Clark, Thomas Jefferson, Thoreau, and travel. Unfortunately, many of these are still on the TBR pile!
There are a lot of authors I ‘automatically’ read – but the bulk of these I borrow from the library…after all, that’s what they are meant for!
Almsost every author mentioned above is on my keeper list. One not mentioned is Theresa Charles. I don’t own all her books, but the ones I DO own are keepers.
The Theresa Charles of first importance to me was published as Happy Now I Go, but the U. S. title was Dark Legacy. I had lots of trouble finding the book on my shelves, since the Happy Now I Go title made sense to me. Finally, I read the paperback to pieces. My used book search found a hardbound copy with the original title. NOW I have no trouble finding the book.
P. S. I don’t believe anyone has mentioned Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, or Patricia Rice as yet.
Almsost every author mentioned above is on my keeper list. One not mentioned is Theresa Charles. I don’t own all her books, but the ones I DO own are keepers.
The Theresa Charles of first importance to me was published as Happy Now I Go, but the U. S. title was Dark Legacy. I had lots of trouble finding the book on my shelves, since the Happy Now I Go title made sense to me. Finally, I read the paperback to pieces. My used book search found a hardbound copy with the original title. NOW I have no trouble finding the book.
P. S. I don’t believe anyone has mentioned Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, or Patricia Rice as yet.
Almsost every author mentioned above is on my keeper list. One not mentioned is Theresa Charles. I don’t own all her books, but the ones I DO own are keepers.
The Theresa Charles of first importance to me was published as Happy Now I Go, but the U. S. title was Dark Legacy. I had lots of trouble finding the book on my shelves, since the Happy Now I Go title made sense to me. Finally, I read the paperback to pieces. My used book search found a hardbound copy with the original title. NOW I have no trouble finding the book.
P. S. I don’t believe anyone has mentioned Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, or Patricia Rice as yet.
Almsost every author mentioned above is on my keeper list. One not mentioned is Theresa Charles. I don’t own all her books, but the ones I DO own are keepers.
The Theresa Charles of first importance to me was published as Happy Now I Go, but the U. S. title was Dark Legacy. I had lots of trouble finding the book on my shelves, since the Happy Now I Go title made sense to me. Finally, I read the paperback to pieces. My used book search found a hardbound copy with the original title. NOW I have no trouble finding the book.
P. S. I don’t believe anyone has mentioned Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, or Patricia Rice as yet.
Almsost every author mentioned above is on my keeper list. One not mentioned is Theresa Charles. I don’t own all her books, but the ones I DO own are keepers.
The Theresa Charles of first importance to me was published as Happy Now I Go, but the U. S. title was Dark Legacy. I had lots of trouble finding the book on my shelves, since the Happy Now I Go title made sense to me. Finally, I read the paperback to pieces. My used book search found a hardbound copy with the original title. NOW I have no trouble finding the book.
P. S. I don’t believe anyone has mentioned Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, or Patricia Rice as yet.
That’s wonderful, Lil! You’re right, I think I can recall exactly where I was when I read certain books and those memories do make them doubly precious. Thank you for mentioning that!
That’s wonderful, Lil! You’re right, I think I can recall exactly where I was when I read certain books and those memories do make them doubly precious. Thank you for mentioning that!
That’s wonderful, Lil! You’re right, I think I can recall exactly where I was when I read certain books and those memories do make them doubly precious. Thank you for mentioning that!
That’s wonderful, Lil! You’re right, I think I can recall exactly where I was when I read certain books and those memories do make them doubly precious. Thank you for mentioning that!
That’s wonderful, Lil! You’re right, I think I can recall exactly where I was when I read certain books and those memories do make them doubly precious. Thank you for mentioning that!
I love the sound of your keeper shelves, Linda – all great books! I don’t tend to borrow much from libraries these days because if I really like a book I end up buying it anyway. And also, with Kindle it’s a lot faster – very lazy of me, I know! I really should go and browse though – there’s nothing better than browsing actual shelves of books.
I love the sound of your keeper shelves, Linda – all great books! I don’t tend to borrow much from libraries these days because if I really like a book I end up buying it anyway. And also, with Kindle it’s a lot faster – very lazy of me, I know! I really should go and browse though – there’s nothing better than browsing actual shelves of books.
I love the sound of your keeper shelves, Linda – all great books! I don’t tend to borrow much from libraries these days because if I really like a book I end up buying it anyway. And also, with Kindle it’s a lot faster – very lazy of me, I know! I really should go and browse though – there’s nothing better than browsing actual shelves of books.
I love the sound of your keeper shelves, Linda – all great books! I don’t tend to borrow much from libraries these days because if I really like a book I end up buying it anyway. And also, with Kindle it’s a lot faster – very lazy of me, I know! I really should go and browse though – there’s nothing better than browsing actual shelves of books.
I love the sound of your keeper shelves, Linda – all great books! I don’t tend to borrow much from libraries these days because if I really like a book I end up buying it anyway. And also, with Kindle it’s a lot faster – very lazy of me, I know! I really should go and browse though – there’s nothing better than browsing actual shelves of books.
How wonderful that you found the book at last, Sue, and in hardback too! I will have to go and look for that one. I was lucky enough to win a whole stack of Jo Beverley’s books in a competition some years back so I have a lot of hers. Might be missing a few though. And of course I have Mary Jo’s and Patricia’s, and the other Wenches’ – they are definite keepers!
How wonderful that you found the book at last, Sue, and in hardback too! I will have to go and look for that one. I was lucky enough to win a whole stack of Jo Beverley’s books in a competition some years back so I have a lot of hers. Might be missing a few though. And of course I have Mary Jo’s and Patricia’s, and the other Wenches’ – they are definite keepers!
How wonderful that you found the book at last, Sue, and in hardback too! I will have to go and look for that one. I was lucky enough to win a whole stack of Jo Beverley’s books in a competition some years back so I have a lot of hers. Might be missing a few though. And of course I have Mary Jo’s and Patricia’s, and the other Wenches’ – they are definite keepers!
How wonderful that you found the book at last, Sue, and in hardback too! I will have to go and look for that one. I was lucky enough to win a whole stack of Jo Beverley’s books in a competition some years back so I have a lot of hers. Might be missing a few though. And of course I have Mary Jo’s and Patricia’s, and the other Wenches’ – they are definite keepers!
How wonderful that you found the book at last, Sue, and in hardback too! I will have to go and look for that one. I was lucky enough to win a whole stack of Jo Beverley’s books in a competition some years back so I have a lot of hers. Might be missing a few though. And of course I have Mary Jo’s and Patricia’s, and the other Wenches’ – they are definite keepers!
I am so glad for digital books. When we moved a number of years ago, I had to downsize so donated most of my books to the local library.However, I can’t ever part with any of Susanna’s Kearsley’s books. They are near and dear to my heart. I have met her and that’s makes every book even more special . Also the books by Ciji Ware. I love Ms. Ware’s writing style and have read all of her books. Now I am also attached to Christiana Courtney after reading several of her books. I like that each of my favorite author’s is from a different country. This gives me an international perpective of writing styles and wording. Having books even in digital is comforting and the stories are near if i wish to reread them. I have reread several. There is also the library which I frequent often. If a book particularly moves me , I can always then buy a copy to keep.
I am so glad for digital books. When we moved a number of years ago, I had to downsize so donated most of my books to the local library.However, I can’t ever part with any of Susanna’s Kearsley’s books. They are near and dear to my heart. I have met her and that’s makes every book even more special . Also the books by Ciji Ware. I love Ms. Ware’s writing style and have read all of her books. Now I am also attached to Christiana Courtney after reading several of her books. I like that each of my favorite author’s is from a different country. This gives me an international perpective of writing styles and wording. Having books even in digital is comforting and the stories are near if i wish to reread them. I have reread several. There is also the library which I frequent often. If a book particularly moves me , I can always then buy a copy to keep.
I am so glad for digital books. When we moved a number of years ago, I had to downsize so donated most of my books to the local library.However, I can’t ever part with any of Susanna’s Kearsley’s books. They are near and dear to my heart. I have met her and that’s makes every book even more special . Also the books by Ciji Ware. I love Ms. Ware’s writing style and have read all of her books. Now I am also attached to Christiana Courtney after reading several of her books. I like that each of my favorite author’s is from a different country. This gives me an international perpective of writing styles and wording. Having books even in digital is comforting and the stories are near if i wish to reread them. I have reread several. There is also the library which I frequent often. If a book particularly moves me , I can always then buy a copy to keep.
I am so glad for digital books. When we moved a number of years ago, I had to downsize so donated most of my books to the local library.However, I can’t ever part with any of Susanna’s Kearsley’s books. They are near and dear to my heart. I have met her and that’s makes every book even more special . Also the books by Ciji Ware. I love Ms. Ware’s writing style and have read all of her books. Now I am also attached to Christiana Courtney after reading several of her books. I like that each of my favorite author’s is from a different country. This gives me an international perpective of writing styles and wording. Having books even in digital is comforting and the stories are near if i wish to reread them. I have reread several. There is also the library which I frequent often. If a book particularly moves me , I can always then buy a copy to keep.
I am so glad for digital books. When we moved a number of years ago, I had to downsize so donated most of my books to the local library.However, I can’t ever part with any of Susanna’s Kearsley’s books. They are near and dear to my heart. I have met her and that’s makes every book even more special . Also the books by Ciji Ware. I love Ms. Ware’s writing style and have read all of her books. Now I am also attached to Christiana Courtney after reading several of her books. I like that each of my favorite author’s is from a different country. This gives me an international perpective of writing styles and wording. Having books even in digital is comforting and the stories are near if i wish to reread them. I have reread several. There is also the library which I frequent often. If a book particularly moves me , I can always then buy a copy to keep.
My keepers, and the first to be chucked out the window to safety in case of fire, are my Georgette Heyers. My first copies were from my best friend, mentor, and next door neighbor from birth. I have collected them all my life and even picked up 3 in London when I visited there. My next keeper is my precious hardcover copy of Annemarie Selinko’s Desiree which I read every other year or so. Other keepers are series: Brother Cadfael, Owen Archer by Candace Robb, Steven Saylor’s Roman mysteries, and Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody books.
My keepers, and the first to be chucked out the window to safety in case of fire, are my Georgette Heyers. My first copies were from my best friend, mentor, and next door neighbor from birth. I have collected them all my life and even picked up 3 in London when I visited there. My next keeper is my precious hardcover copy of Annemarie Selinko’s Desiree which I read every other year or so. Other keepers are series: Brother Cadfael, Owen Archer by Candace Robb, Steven Saylor’s Roman mysteries, and Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody books.
My keepers, and the first to be chucked out the window to safety in case of fire, are my Georgette Heyers. My first copies were from my best friend, mentor, and next door neighbor from birth. I have collected them all my life and even picked up 3 in London when I visited there. My next keeper is my precious hardcover copy of Annemarie Selinko’s Desiree which I read every other year or so. Other keepers are series: Brother Cadfael, Owen Archer by Candace Robb, Steven Saylor’s Roman mysteries, and Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody books.
My keepers, and the first to be chucked out the window to safety in case of fire, are my Georgette Heyers. My first copies were from my best friend, mentor, and next door neighbor from birth. I have collected them all my life and even picked up 3 in London when I visited there. My next keeper is my precious hardcover copy of Annemarie Selinko’s Desiree which I read every other year or so. Other keepers are series: Brother Cadfael, Owen Archer by Candace Robb, Steven Saylor’s Roman mysteries, and Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody books.
My keepers, and the first to be chucked out the window to safety in case of fire, are my Georgette Heyers. My first copies were from my best friend, mentor, and next door neighbor from birth. I have collected them all my life and even picked up 3 in London when I visited there. My next keeper is my precious hardcover copy of Annemarie Selinko’s Desiree which I read every other year or so. Other keepers are series: Brother Cadfael, Owen Archer by Candace Robb, Steven Saylor’s Roman mysteries, and Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody books.
WOW! Y’all love a lot of the same authors and books I do. I have many of Ms Heyer’s books. Wish I could afford all of the rest. I have most of Ms Balogh’s books.
I also have series by authors I love.
I have mysteries, and non-fiction. The books which become my keepers do not necessarily follow any specific pattern or common sense plan.
I thank you for this post, it has made me go upstairs, look at all the book shelves, think about my two kindles and realize I need to start making some choices….but nah that ain’t gonna happen.
Thanks for this lovely post.
I hope everyone is taking care and staying well.
WOW! Y’all love a lot of the same authors and books I do. I have many of Ms Heyer’s books. Wish I could afford all of the rest. I have most of Ms Balogh’s books.
I also have series by authors I love.
I have mysteries, and non-fiction. The books which become my keepers do not necessarily follow any specific pattern or common sense plan.
I thank you for this post, it has made me go upstairs, look at all the book shelves, think about my two kindles and realize I need to start making some choices….but nah that ain’t gonna happen.
Thanks for this lovely post.
I hope everyone is taking care and staying well.
WOW! Y’all love a lot of the same authors and books I do. I have many of Ms Heyer’s books. Wish I could afford all of the rest. I have most of Ms Balogh’s books.
I also have series by authors I love.
I have mysteries, and non-fiction. The books which become my keepers do not necessarily follow any specific pattern or common sense plan.
I thank you for this post, it has made me go upstairs, look at all the book shelves, think about my two kindles and realize I need to start making some choices….but nah that ain’t gonna happen.
Thanks for this lovely post.
I hope everyone is taking care and staying well.
WOW! Y’all love a lot of the same authors and books I do. I have many of Ms Heyer’s books. Wish I could afford all of the rest. I have most of Ms Balogh’s books.
I also have series by authors I love.
I have mysteries, and non-fiction. The books which become my keepers do not necessarily follow any specific pattern or common sense plan.
I thank you for this post, it has made me go upstairs, look at all the book shelves, think about my two kindles and realize I need to start making some choices….but nah that ain’t gonna happen.
Thanks for this lovely post.
I hope everyone is taking care and staying well.
WOW! Y’all love a lot of the same authors and books I do. I have many of Ms Heyer’s books. Wish I could afford all of the rest. I have most of Ms Balogh’s books.
I also have series by authors I love.
I have mysteries, and non-fiction. The books which become my keepers do not necessarily follow any specific pattern or common sense plan.
I thank you for this post, it has made me go upstairs, look at all the book shelves, think about my two kindles and realize I need to start making some choices….but nah that ain’t gonna happen.
Thanks for this lovely post.
I hope everyone is taking care and staying well.
Where to start? I don’t keep everything, but there are some series that I always buy in hardcover and cannot imagine disposing in any way: Donna Leon’s wonderful Guido Brunetti mysteries; Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series; the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear; the Dandy Gilver series from Catriona MacPherson; Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series; and every Dick Francis! I also have a wonderful set of Jane Austen’s works which was a wedding gift from my husband 41 years ago, plus multiple other copies of Pride and Prejudice. My late mother’s complete set of Elswyth Thane novels will never go (talk about dated!). A first edition of “I Capture the Castle” must stay. In paperback, I have all the Ngaio Marsh mysteries, purchased from a secondhand book store in San Diego during a long consulting job stay. Also in paperback: all the Margery Allingham Campion mysteries; multiple sets of Lord Peter Wimsey from Dorothy Sayres. Oh, and my OED will probably be buried with me! And then there are the romances…. I started keeping the romances on my e-reader just about the same time I found the Wenches’ blog, and that’s a very good thing, as I now have collected hundreds of works y’all have written or recommended! An embarrassment of riches! My husband tells people that we don’t need insulation in our old house because we have books!
Where to start? I don’t keep everything, but there are some series that I always buy in hardcover and cannot imagine disposing in any way: Donna Leon’s wonderful Guido Brunetti mysteries; Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series; the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear; the Dandy Gilver series from Catriona MacPherson; Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series; and every Dick Francis! I also have a wonderful set of Jane Austen’s works which was a wedding gift from my husband 41 years ago, plus multiple other copies of Pride and Prejudice. My late mother’s complete set of Elswyth Thane novels will never go (talk about dated!). A first edition of “I Capture the Castle” must stay. In paperback, I have all the Ngaio Marsh mysteries, purchased from a secondhand book store in San Diego during a long consulting job stay. Also in paperback: all the Margery Allingham Campion mysteries; multiple sets of Lord Peter Wimsey from Dorothy Sayres. Oh, and my OED will probably be buried with me! And then there are the romances…. I started keeping the romances on my e-reader just about the same time I found the Wenches’ blog, and that’s a very good thing, as I now have collected hundreds of works y’all have written or recommended! An embarrassment of riches! My husband tells people that we don’t need insulation in our old house because we have books!
Where to start? I don’t keep everything, but there are some series that I always buy in hardcover and cannot imagine disposing in any way: Donna Leon’s wonderful Guido Brunetti mysteries; Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series; the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear; the Dandy Gilver series from Catriona MacPherson; Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series; and every Dick Francis! I also have a wonderful set of Jane Austen’s works which was a wedding gift from my husband 41 years ago, plus multiple other copies of Pride and Prejudice. My late mother’s complete set of Elswyth Thane novels will never go (talk about dated!). A first edition of “I Capture the Castle” must stay. In paperback, I have all the Ngaio Marsh mysteries, purchased from a secondhand book store in San Diego during a long consulting job stay. Also in paperback: all the Margery Allingham Campion mysteries; multiple sets of Lord Peter Wimsey from Dorothy Sayres. Oh, and my OED will probably be buried with me! And then there are the romances…. I started keeping the romances on my e-reader just about the same time I found the Wenches’ blog, and that’s a very good thing, as I now have collected hundreds of works y’all have written or recommended! An embarrassment of riches! My husband tells people that we don’t need insulation in our old house because we have books!
Where to start? I don’t keep everything, but there are some series that I always buy in hardcover and cannot imagine disposing in any way: Donna Leon’s wonderful Guido Brunetti mysteries; Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series; the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear; the Dandy Gilver series from Catriona MacPherson; Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series; and every Dick Francis! I also have a wonderful set of Jane Austen’s works which was a wedding gift from my husband 41 years ago, plus multiple other copies of Pride and Prejudice. My late mother’s complete set of Elswyth Thane novels will never go (talk about dated!). A first edition of “I Capture the Castle” must stay. In paperback, I have all the Ngaio Marsh mysteries, purchased from a secondhand book store in San Diego during a long consulting job stay. Also in paperback: all the Margery Allingham Campion mysteries; multiple sets of Lord Peter Wimsey from Dorothy Sayres. Oh, and my OED will probably be buried with me! And then there are the romances…. I started keeping the romances on my e-reader just about the same time I found the Wenches’ blog, and that’s a very good thing, as I now have collected hundreds of works y’all have written or recommended! An embarrassment of riches! My husband tells people that we don’t need insulation in our old house because we have books!
Where to start? I don’t keep everything, but there are some series that I always buy in hardcover and cannot imagine disposing in any way: Donna Leon’s wonderful Guido Brunetti mysteries; Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series; the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear; the Dandy Gilver series from Catriona MacPherson; Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series; and every Dick Francis! I also have a wonderful set of Jane Austen’s works which was a wedding gift from my husband 41 years ago, plus multiple other copies of Pride and Prejudice. My late mother’s complete set of Elswyth Thane novels will never go (talk about dated!). A first edition of “I Capture the Castle” must stay. In paperback, I have all the Ngaio Marsh mysteries, purchased from a secondhand book store in San Diego during a long consulting job stay. Also in paperback: all the Margery Allingham Campion mysteries; multiple sets of Lord Peter Wimsey from Dorothy Sayres. Oh, and my OED will probably be buried with me! And then there are the romances…. I started keeping the romances on my e-reader just about the same time I found the Wenches’ blog, and that’s a very good thing, as I now have collected hundreds of works y’all have written or recommended! An embarrassment of riches! My husband tells people that we don’t need insulation in our old house because we have books!
Thank you very much, MaryJane – I’m so pleased and honored you have my books on your keeper shelf! I too love Susanna Kearsley’s and you are so right, it makes it very special when you have met an author in real life. Great to have an international perspective – the styles in each country are always slightly different, aren’t they!
Thank you very much, MaryJane – I’m so pleased and honored you have my books on your keeper shelf! I too love Susanna Kearsley’s and you are so right, it makes it very special when you have met an author in real life. Great to have an international perspective – the styles in each country are always slightly different, aren’t they!
Thank you very much, MaryJane – I’m so pleased and honored you have my books on your keeper shelf! I too love Susanna Kearsley’s and you are so right, it makes it very special when you have met an author in real life. Great to have an international perspective – the styles in each country are always slightly different, aren’t they!
Thank you very much, MaryJane – I’m so pleased and honored you have my books on your keeper shelf! I too love Susanna Kearsley’s and you are so right, it makes it very special when you have met an author in real life. Great to have an international perspective – the styles in each country are always slightly different, aren’t they!
Thank you very much, MaryJane – I’m so pleased and honored you have my books on your keeper shelf! I too love Susanna Kearsley’s and you are so right, it makes it very special when you have met an author in real life. Great to have an international perspective – the styles in each country are always slightly different, aren’t they!
Georgette Heyer seems to be the favourite by far with almost everyone here – but it is well-deserved as she was such an amazing author. Your other choices sound great too, Deborah, and right up my street!
Georgette Heyer seems to be the favourite by far with almost everyone here – but it is well-deserved as she was such an amazing author. Your other choices sound great too, Deborah, and right up my street!
Georgette Heyer seems to be the favourite by far with almost everyone here – but it is well-deserved as she was such an amazing author. Your other choices sound great too, Deborah, and right up my street!
Georgette Heyer seems to be the favourite by far with almost everyone here – but it is well-deserved as she was such an amazing author. Your other choices sound great too, Deborah, and right up my street!
Georgette Heyer seems to be the favourite by far with almost everyone here – but it is well-deserved as she was such an amazing author. Your other choices sound great too, Deborah, and right up my street!
Thank you, Annette, glad you enjoyed it! I do the same from time to time – go and look at my shelves and think I ought to get rid of some, but like you said, not going to happen except in the direst of circumstances! You take care too!
Thank you, Annette, glad you enjoyed it! I do the same from time to time – go and look at my shelves and think I ought to get rid of some, but like you said, not going to happen except in the direst of circumstances! You take care too!
Thank you, Annette, glad you enjoyed it! I do the same from time to time – go and look at my shelves and think I ought to get rid of some, but like you said, not going to happen except in the direst of circumstances! You take care too!
Thank you, Annette, glad you enjoyed it! I do the same from time to time – go and look at my shelves and think I ought to get rid of some, but like you said, not going to happen except in the direst of circumstances! You take care too!
Thank you, Annette, glad you enjoyed it! I do the same from time to time – go and look at my shelves and think I ought to get rid of some, but like you said, not going to happen except in the direst of circumstances! You take care too!
It sounds like you have an amazing collection, Constance! There is something very special with hardcover books, isn’t there – I try to buy hardovers of my favourite authors too. They take up more space but look wonderful on the shelves! I agree though – there are so many great books around it’s lucky we have e-readers too!
It sounds like you have an amazing collection, Constance! There is something very special with hardcover books, isn’t there – I try to buy hardovers of my favourite authors too. They take up more space but look wonderful on the shelves! I agree though – there are so many great books around it’s lucky we have e-readers too!
It sounds like you have an amazing collection, Constance! There is something very special with hardcover books, isn’t there – I try to buy hardovers of my favourite authors too. They take up more space but look wonderful on the shelves! I agree though – there are so many great books around it’s lucky we have e-readers too!
It sounds like you have an amazing collection, Constance! There is something very special with hardcover books, isn’t there – I try to buy hardovers of my favourite authors too. They take up more space but look wonderful on the shelves! I agree though – there are so many great books around it’s lucky we have e-readers too!
It sounds like you have an amazing collection, Constance! There is something very special with hardcover books, isn’t there – I try to buy hardovers of my favourite authors too. They take up more space but look wonderful on the shelves! I agree though – there are so many great books around it’s lucky we have e-readers too!
Stuck at home with nothing much to do, I have been going through my bookcases and keeper boxes and thinning things out. I’ve been finding new homes for a lot of old regencies.
Nowadays I’m a little short on space, and so I buy and read many fine romance authors, but they are one time reads for me and so I pass them on quickly. I seldom buy hardcovers anymore for that reason and because unless they flop open, I find them uncomfortable to hold after a while. I wait for paperback.
Authors and books I’ll never give up: Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer (except for the mysteries and the historicals), Marion Chesney’s romances, Robert A. Heinlein’s juvies, my old Oz books, Robert Evans’s biography (a very instructive treatise on the nature of males), Alan Furst’s WW2 era novels, my half dozen favorite Mary Baloghs (The Secret Pearl, Secrets of the Heart, Dark Angel, Christmas Promise, A Precious Jewel, etc.), Dorothy Sayers, Barbara Metzger’s Signets, Charles Dickens and my old college texts. Plus my stash of UFO books from Edward Ruppelt onward. Some of these I have on kindle, others not. Convenience counts.
Stuck at home with nothing much to do, I have been going through my bookcases and keeper boxes and thinning things out. I’ve been finding new homes for a lot of old regencies.
Nowadays I’m a little short on space, and so I buy and read many fine romance authors, but they are one time reads for me and so I pass them on quickly. I seldom buy hardcovers anymore for that reason and because unless they flop open, I find them uncomfortable to hold after a while. I wait for paperback.
Authors and books I’ll never give up: Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer (except for the mysteries and the historicals), Marion Chesney’s romances, Robert A. Heinlein’s juvies, my old Oz books, Robert Evans’s biography (a very instructive treatise on the nature of males), Alan Furst’s WW2 era novels, my half dozen favorite Mary Baloghs (The Secret Pearl, Secrets of the Heart, Dark Angel, Christmas Promise, A Precious Jewel, etc.), Dorothy Sayers, Barbara Metzger’s Signets, Charles Dickens and my old college texts. Plus my stash of UFO books from Edward Ruppelt onward. Some of these I have on kindle, others not. Convenience counts.
Stuck at home with nothing much to do, I have been going through my bookcases and keeper boxes and thinning things out. I’ve been finding new homes for a lot of old regencies.
Nowadays I’m a little short on space, and so I buy and read many fine romance authors, but they are one time reads for me and so I pass them on quickly. I seldom buy hardcovers anymore for that reason and because unless they flop open, I find them uncomfortable to hold after a while. I wait for paperback.
Authors and books I’ll never give up: Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer (except for the mysteries and the historicals), Marion Chesney’s romances, Robert A. Heinlein’s juvies, my old Oz books, Robert Evans’s biography (a very instructive treatise on the nature of males), Alan Furst’s WW2 era novels, my half dozen favorite Mary Baloghs (The Secret Pearl, Secrets of the Heart, Dark Angel, Christmas Promise, A Precious Jewel, etc.), Dorothy Sayers, Barbara Metzger’s Signets, Charles Dickens and my old college texts. Plus my stash of UFO books from Edward Ruppelt onward. Some of these I have on kindle, others not. Convenience counts.
Stuck at home with nothing much to do, I have been going through my bookcases and keeper boxes and thinning things out. I’ve been finding new homes for a lot of old regencies.
Nowadays I’m a little short on space, and so I buy and read many fine romance authors, but they are one time reads for me and so I pass them on quickly. I seldom buy hardcovers anymore for that reason and because unless they flop open, I find them uncomfortable to hold after a while. I wait for paperback.
Authors and books I’ll never give up: Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer (except for the mysteries and the historicals), Marion Chesney’s romances, Robert A. Heinlein’s juvies, my old Oz books, Robert Evans’s biography (a very instructive treatise on the nature of males), Alan Furst’s WW2 era novels, my half dozen favorite Mary Baloghs (The Secret Pearl, Secrets of the Heart, Dark Angel, Christmas Promise, A Precious Jewel, etc.), Dorothy Sayers, Barbara Metzger’s Signets, Charles Dickens and my old college texts. Plus my stash of UFO books from Edward Ruppelt onward. Some of these I have on kindle, others not. Convenience counts.
Stuck at home with nothing much to do, I have been going through my bookcases and keeper boxes and thinning things out. I’ve been finding new homes for a lot of old regencies.
Nowadays I’m a little short on space, and so I buy and read many fine romance authors, but they are one time reads for me and so I pass them on quickly. I seldom buy hardcovers anymore for that reason and because unless they flop open, I find them uncomfortable to hold after a while. I wait for paperback.
Authors and books I’ll never give up: Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer (except for the mysteries and the historicals), Marion Chesney’s romances, Robert A. Heinlein’s juvies, my old Oz books, Robert Evans’s biography (a very instructive treatise on the nature of males), Alan Furst’s WW2 era novels, my half dozen favorite Mary Baloghs (The Secret Pearl, Secrets of the Heart, Dark Angel, Christmas Promise, A Precious Jewel, etc.), Dorothy Sayers, Barbara Metzger’s Signets, Charles Dickens and my old college texts. Plus my stash of UFO books from Edward Ruppelt onward. Some of these I have on kindle, others not. Convenience counts.
Aieeee! I left out JRR Tolkien 🙁
Aieeee! I left out JRR Tolkien 🙁
Aieeee! I left out JRR Tolkien 🙁
Aieeee! I left out JRR Tolkien 🙁
Aieeee! I left out JRR Tolkien 🙁
Oh my! I have many of the same keepers as all commenting including Agatha Christie. Jo Beverley of course. Plus I collect & keep books about Robin Hood, King Arthur and anything related to them. I’ve started doing mostly ebooks now since Hubby and I are downsized and there’s no room for any more bookshelves.
Oh my! I have many of the same keepers as all commenting including Agatha Christie. Jo Beverley of course. Plus I collect & keep books about Robin Hood, King Arthur and anything related to them. I’ve started doing mostly ebooks now since Hubby and I are downsized and there’s no room for any more bookshelves.
Oh my! I have many of the same keepers as all commenting including Agatha Christie. Jo Beverley of course. Plus I collect & keep books about Robin Hood, King Arthur and anything related to them. I’ve started doing mostly ebooks now since Hubby and I are downsized and there’s no room for any more bookshelves.
Oh my! I have many of the same keepers as all commenting including Agatha Christie. Jo Beverley of course. Plus I collect & keep books about Robin Hood, King Arthur and anything related to them. I’ve started doing mostly ebooks now since Hubby and I are downsized and there’s no room for any more bookshelves.
Oh my! I have many of the same keepers as all commenting including Agatha Christie. Jo Beverley of course. Plus I collect & keep books about Robin Hood, King Arthur and anything related to them. I’ve started doing mostly ebooks now since Hubby and I are downsized and there’s no room for any more bookshelves.
It sounds like you’re much better at culling than I am, Janice! Although you’re still keeping the most important books, so that’s great. I haven’t read Robert A Heinlein for years – maybe I should try to reread a couple? I used to love those – thanks for reminding me!
It sounds like you’re much better at culling than I am, Janice! Although you’re still keeping the most important books, so that’s great. I haven’t read Robert A Heinlein for years – maybe I should try to reread a couple? I used to love those – thanks for reminding me!
It sounds like you’re much better at culling than I am, Janice! Although you’re still keeping the most important books, so that’s great. I haven’t read Robert A Heinlein for years – maybe I should try to reread a couple? I used to love those – thanks for reminding me!
It sounds like you’re much better at culling than I am, Janice! Although you’re still keeping the most important books, so that’s great. I haven’t read Robert A Heinlein for years – maybe I should try to reread a couple? I used to love those – thanks for reminding me!
It sounds like you’re much better at culling than I am, Janice! Although you’re still keeping the most important books, so that’s great. I haven’t read Robert A Heinlein for years – maybe I should try to reread a couple? I used to love those – thanks for reminding me!
That’s interesting, Jeanne! I have to admit to having a soft spot for both Robin Hood and King Arthur as well, although I don’t have many books about them. Intriguing stories though! As for Agatha Christie, I’ve always preferred her books transferred onto the tv screen for some reason.
That’s interesting, Jeanne! I have to admit to having a soft spot for both Robin Hood and King Arthur as well, although I don’t have many books about them. Intriguing stories though! As for Agatha Christie, I’ve always preferred her books transferred onto the tv screen for some reason.
That’s interesting, Jeanne! I have to admit to having a soft spot for both Robin Hood and King Arthur as well, although I don’t have many books about them. Intriguing stories though! As for Agatha Christie, I’ve always preferred her books transferred onto the tv screen for some reason.
That’s interesting, Jeanne! I have to admit to having a soft spot for both Robin Hood and King Arthur as well, although I don’t have many books about them. Intriguing stories though! As for Agatha Christie, I’ve always preferred her books transferred onto the tv screen for some reason.
That’s interesting, Jeanne! I have to admit to having a soft spot for both Robin Hood and King Arthur as well, although I don’t have many books about them. Intriguing stories though! As for Agatha Christie, I’ve always preferred her books transferred onto the tv screen for some reason.
Love this post. A few years ago I turned a spare bedroom into a library and I don’t regret it at all. I got more shelf space and while I am full, my shelves are not yet overflowing. I suspect it won’t take long before they are.
I have a bunch of books from my childhood like L.M. Montgomery, Lloyd Alexander, and Tamora Pierce. I have all of M.M. Kaye’s books. Susannah Kearsley, Patricia Briggs, Elizabeth Peters (everything except the Amelia Peabody books), Mary Stewart, Andrea Penrose, Kelley Armstrong, Ilona Andrews, Juliet Marillier… the list goes on.
I will periodically clean them out, but I generally only get rid of newer books I’ve purchased that aren’t worth re-reading. I do buy/borrow ebooks, but I’m still a paper girl all the way. If I love it enough to re-read, I generally want to feel the paper in my hand.
Love this post. A few years ago I turned a spare bedroom into a library and I don’t regret it at all. I got more shelf space and while I am full, my shelves are not yet overflowing. I suspect it won’t take long before they are.
I have a bunch of books from my childhood like L.M. Montgomery, Lloyd Alexander, and Tamora Pierce. I have all of M.M. Kaye’s books. Susannah Kearsley, Patricia Briggs, Elizabeth Peters (everything except the Amelia Peabody books), Mary Stewart, Andrea Penrose, Kelley Armstrong, Ilona Andrews, Juliet Marillier… the list goes on.
I will periodically clean them out, but I generally only get rid of newer books I’ve purchased that aren’t worth re-reading. I do buy/borrow ebooks, but I’m still a paper girl all the way. If I love it enough to re-read, I generally want to feel the paper in my hand.
Love this post. A few years ago I turned a spare bedroom into a library and I don’t regret it at all. I got more shelf space and while I am full, my shelves are not yet overflowing. I suspect it won’t take long before they are.
I have a bunch of books from my childhood like L.M. Montgomery, Lloyd Alexander, and Tamora Pierce. I have all of M.M. Kaye’s books. Susannah Kearsley, Patricia Briggs, Elizabeth Peters (everything except the Amelia Peabody books), Mary Stewart, Andrea Penrose, Kelley Armstrong, Ilona Andrews, Juliet Marillier… the list goes on.
I will periodically clean them out, but I generally only get rid of newer books I’ve purchased that aren’t worth re-reading. I do buy/borrow ebooks, but I’m still a paper girl all the way. If I love it enough to re-read, I generally want to feel the paper in my hand.
Love this post. A few years ago I turned a spare bedroom into a library and I don’t regret it at all. I got more shelf space and while I am full, my shelves are not yet overflowing. I suspect it won’t take long before they are.
I have a bunch of books from my childhood like L.M. Montgomery, Lloyd Alexander, and Tamora Pierce. I have all of M.M. Kaye’s books. Susannah Kearsley, Patricia Briggs, Elizabeth Peters (everything except the Amelia Peabody books), Mary Stewart, Andrea Penrose, Kelley Armstrong, Ilona Andrews, Juliet Marillier… the list goes on.
I will periodically clean them out, but I generally only get rid of newer books I’ve purchased that aren’t worth re-reading. I do buy/borrow ebooks, but I’m still a paper girl all the way. If I love it enough to re-read, I generally want to feel the paper in my hand.
Love this post. A few years ago I turned a spare bedroom into a library and I don’t regret it at all. I got more shelf space and while I am full, my shelves are not yet overflowing. I suspect it won’t take long before they are.
I have a bunch of books from my childhood like L.M. Montgomery, Lloyd Alexander, and Tamora Pierce. I have all of M.M. Kaye’s books. Susannah Kearsley, Patricia Briggs, Elizabeth Peters (everything except the Amelia Peabody books), Mary Stewart, Andrea Penrose, Kelley Armstrong, Ilona Andrews, Juliet Marillier… the list goes on.
I will periodically clean them out, but I generally only get rid of newer books I’ve purchased that aren’t worth re-reading. I do buy/borrow ebooks, but I’m still a paper girl all the way. If I love it enough to re-read, I generally want to feel the paper in my hand.
I’ve downsized my keepers quite a lot. I used to have a complete set of Brother Cadfael, and all of Dorothy Sayers books, but lately I’ve been realistically thinking about which ones I really might want to reread, and only keeping those. If I find one of my keepers for sale on Kindle, I get rid of the paperback. I do have some hard copies of out of print books, plus some favorites from Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas Jo Beverly, Joanna Bourne, and some old Signet Regencies that I’m hanging on to. The real problem I have is the cartons of books that are still on my TBR list!
I’ve downsized my keepers quite a lot. I used to have a complete set of Brother Cadfael, and all of Dorothy Sayers books, but lately I’ve been realistically thinking about which ones I really might want to reread, and only keeping those. If I find one of my keepers for sale on Kindle, I get rid of the paperback. I do have some hard copies of out of print books, plus some favorites from Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas Jo Beverly, Joanna Bourne, and some old Signet Regencies that I’m hanging on to. The real problem I have is the cartons of books that are still on my TBR list!
I’ve downsized my keepers quite a lot. I used to have a complete set of Brother Cadfael, and all of Dorothy Sayers books, but lately I’ve been realistically thinking about which ones I really might want to reread, and only keeping those. If I find one of my keepers for sale on Kindle, I get rid of the paperback. I do have some hard copies of out of print books, plus some favorites from Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas Jo Beverly, Joanna Bourne, and some old Signet Regencies that I’m hanging on to. The real problem I have is the cartons of books that are still on my TBR list!
I’ve downsized my keepers quite a lot. I used to have a complete set of Brother Cadfael, and all of Dorothy Sayers books, but lately I’ve been realistically thinking about which ones I really might want to reread, and only keeping those. If I find one of my keepers for sale on Kindle, I get rid of the paperback. I do have some hard copies of out of print books, plus some favorites from Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas Jo Beverly, Joanna Bourne, and some old Signet Regencies that I’m hanging on to. The real problem I have is the cartons of books that are still on my TBR list!
I’ve downsized my keepers quite a lot. I used to have a complete set of Brother Cadfael, and all of Dorothy Sayers books, but lately I’ve been realistically thinking about which ones I really might want to reread, and only keeping those. If I find one of my keepers for sale on Kindle, I get rid of the paperback. I do have some hard copies of out of print books, plus some favorites from Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas Jo Beverly, Joanna Bourne, and some old Signet Regencies that I’m hanging on to. The real problem I have is the cartons of books that are still on my TBR list!
James Clavell, James Michener, James Patterson,(what is it about the name James -hmm-) then came Jayne Ann Krentz(all 3-4 names) Elizabeth Lowell, Nora Roberts, Mary Jo Putney, and the list just keeps getting longer! Reading has kept me sane, prevented murder, and returned my sense of humor. Thank you one and all for sharing your talents as writers, philosophers, comedians, detectives, and warriors and this list goes on also, but you get the idea. Please keep writing so I can keep reading! Be safe and stay well!
James Clavell, James Michener, James Patterson,(what is it about the name James -hmm-) then came Jayne Ann Krentz(all 3-4 names) Elizabeth Lowell, Nora Roberts, Mary Jo Putney, and the list just keeps getting longer! Reading has kept me sane, prevented murder, and returned my sense of humor. Thank you one and all for sharing your talents as writers, philosophers, comedians, detectives, and warriors and this list goes on also, but you get the idea. Please keep writing so I can keep reading! Be safe and stay well!
James Clavell, James Michener, James Patterson,(what is it about the name James -hmm-) then came Jayne Ann Krentz(all 3-4 names) Elizabeth Lowell, Nora Roberts, Mary Jo Putney, and the list just keeps getting longer! Reading has kept me sane, prevented murder, and returned my sense of humor. Thank you one and all for sharing your talents as writers, philosophers, comedians, detectives, and warriors and this list goes on also, but you get the idea. Please keep writing so I can keep reading! Be safe and stay well!
James Clavell, James Michener, James Patterson,(what is it about the name James -hmm-) then came Jayne Ann Krentz(all 3-4 names) Elizabeth Lowell, Nora Roberts, Mary Jo Putney, and the list just keeps getting longer! Reading has kept me sane, prevented murder, and returned my sense of humor. Thank you one and all for sharing your talents as writers, philosophers, comedians, detectives, and warriors and this list goes on also, but you get the idea. Please keep writing so I can keep reading! Be safe and stay well!
James Clavell, James Michener, James Patterson,(what is it about the name James -hmm-) then came Jayne Ann Krentz(all 3-4 names) Elizabeth Lowell, Nora Roberts, Mary Jo Putney, and the list just keeps getting longer! Reading has kept me sane, prevented murder, and returned my sense of humor. Thank you one and all for sharing your talents as writers, philosophers, comedians, detectives, and warriors and this list goes on also, but you get the idea. Please keep writing so I can keep reading! Be safe and stay well!
How lovely to have your very own library! And it’s great to keep favourite childhood books too. I still have my Famous Five books somewhere in my mother’s basement – need to rescue them. Yes, paper boooks are best for truly special stories!
How lovely to have your very own library! And it’s great to keep favourite childhood books too. I still have my Famous Five books somewhere in my mother’s basement – need to rescue them. Yes, paper boooks are best for truly special stories!
How lovely to have your very own library! And it’s great to keep favourite childhood books too. I still have my Famous Five books somewhere in my mother’s basement – need to rescue them. Yes, paper boooks are best for truly special stories!
How lovely to have your very own library! And it’s great to keep favourite childhood books too. I still have my Famous Five books somewhere in my mother’s basement – need to rescue them. Yes, paper boooks are best for truly special stories!
How lovely to have your very own library! And it’s great to keep favourite childhood books too. I still have my Famous Five books somewhere in my mother’s basement – need to rescue them. Yes, paper boooks are best for truly special stories!
The TBR piles are a nuisance, aren’t they! I never know where to keep mine and they end up teetering somewhere they shouldn’t be. Having talked about them, I’m now very tempted to reread all the Brother Cadfael books – it’s been a while. I so enjoyed the tv series too but they never did the whole series, a shame.
The TBR piles are a nuisance, aren’t they! I never know where to keep mine and they end up teetering somewhere they shouldn’t be. Having talked about them, I’m now very tempted to reread all the Brother Cadfael books – it’s been a while. I so enjoyed the tv series too but they never did the whole series, a shame.
The TBR piles are a nuisance, aren’t they! I never know where to keep mine and they end up teetering somewhere they shouldn’t be. Having talked about them, I’m now very tempted to reread all the Brother Cadfael books – it’s been a while. I so enjoyed the tv series too but they never did the whole series, a shame.
The TBR piles are a nuisance, aren’t they! I never know where to keep mine and they end up teetering somewhere they shouldn’t be. Having talked about them, I’m now very tempted to reread all the Brother Cadfael books – it’s been a while. I so enjoyed the tv series too but they never did the whole series, a shame.
The TBR piles are a nuisance, aren’t they! I never know where to keep mine and they end up teetering somewhere they shouldn’t be. Having talked about them, I’m now very tempted to reread all the Brother Cadfael books – it’s been a while. I so enjoyed the tv series too but they never did the whole series, a shame.
Thank you for your comment, Suzanne! Hmm, yes, James is a nice name. And I’m glad that reading has helped you – it keeps me sane too! Such a great feeling to disappear into a fictional world.
Thank you for your comment, Suzanne! Hmm, yes, James is a nice name. And I’m glad that reading has helped you – it keeps me sane too! Such a great feeling to disappear into a fictional world.
Thank you for your comment, Suzanne! Hmm, yes, James is a nice name. And I’m glad that reading has helped you – it keeps me sane too! Such a great feeling to disappear into a fictional world.
Thank you for your comment, Suzanne! Hmm, yes, James is a nice name. And I’m glad that reading has helped you – it keeps me sane too! Such a great feeling to disappear into a fictional world.
Thank you for your comment, Suzanne! Hmm, yes, James is a nice name. And I’m glad that reading has helped you – it keeps me sane too! Such a great feeling to disappear into a fictional world.
Lovely post, Christina, and I have many of the same keepers on my shelves as yours as well as so many of the authors listed in the comments stream. I also need to cull my books but usually what happens when I start, I have to glance inside the book to refresh my memory and decide whether it stays or goes, and after a hard day’s work when I’ve ended up reading a whole three books and thrown out none, I retire to bed . . . to read. LOL
Lovely post, Christina, and I have many of the same keepers on my shelves as yours as well as so many of the authors listed in the comments stream. I also need to cull my books but usually what happens when I start, I have to glance inside the book to refresh my memory and decide whether it stays or goes, and after a hard day’s work when I’ve ended up reading a whole three books and thrown out none, I retire to bed . . . to read. LOL
Lovely post, Christina, and I have many of the same keepers on my shelves as yours as well as so many of the authors listed in the comments stream. I also need to cull my books but usually what happens when I start, I have to glance inside the book to refresh my memory and decide whether it stays or goes, and after a hard day’s work when I’ve ended up reading a whole three books and thrown out none, I retire to bed . . . to read. LOL
Lovely post, Christina, and I have many of the same keepers on my shelves as yours as well as so many of the authors listed in the comments stream. I also need to cull my books but usually what happens when I start, I have to glance inside the book to refresh my memory and decide whether it stays or goes, and after a hard day’s work when I’ve ended up reading a whole three books and thrown out none, I retire to bed . . . to read. LOL
Lovely post, Christina, and I have many of the same keepers on my shelves as yours as well as so many of the authors listed in the comments stream. I also need to cull my books but usually what happens when I start, I have to glance inside the book to refresh my memory and decide whether it stays or goes, and after a hard day’s work when I’ve ended up reading a whole three books and thrown out none, I retire to bed . . . to read. LOL
Thank you Anne – now why does that sound familiar LOL? I find it a terrible wrench to get rid of any of them so I just don’t!
Thank you Anne – now why does that sound familiar LOL? I find it a terrible wrench to get rid of any of them so I just don’t!
Thank you Anne – now why does that sound familiar LOL? I find it a terrible wrench to get rid of any of them so I just don’t!
Thank you Anne – now why does that sound familiar LOL? I find it a terrible wrench to get rid of any of them so I just don’t!
Thank you Anne – now why does that sound familiar LOL? I find it a terrible wrench to get rid of any of them so I just don’t!
I did, at one point in my twenties, decide I’d read Heyer to death, and sold my set to a second hand bookshop.
And inevitably rebought them all at much greater expense.
I do think the internet makes the whole thing less fraught – I used to very literally remember the towns of the UK by their second-hand bookshops, and if my children were walking ahead of me in a strange place they would automatically stop if we came to one: they knew I would always go in, hoping to find some out-of-print book or other.
(As a teenager, I had actual dreams where I found Heyer’s ‘The Great Roxhythe’ which I knew existed, but was not in our library system or anywhere else.)
So now that many books can be found online I’m less inclined to compulsively keep everything. My system used to be I’d only keep things I would definitely reread – I reread a lot – but about 8 years ago I shelved everything by colour, just for fun, which gives books with purple spines an added advantage – I’m more likely to keep a mediocre book if the spine is a colour I need.
@Binnie – I went to the Château d’If just because I love that book so much.
I did, at one point in my twenties, decide I’d read Heyer to death, and sold my set to a second hand bookshop.
And inevitably rebought them all at much greater expense.
I do think the internet makes the whole thing less fraught – I used to very literally remember the towns of the UK by their second-hand bookshops, and if my children were walking ahead of me in a strange place they would automatically stop if we came to one: they knew I would always go in, hoping to find some out-of-print book or other.
(As a teenager, I had actual dreams where I found Heyer’s ‘The Great Roxhythe’ which I knew existed, but was not in our library system or anywhere else.)
So now that many books can be found online I’m less inclined to compulsively keep everything. My system used to be I’d only keep things I would definitely reread – I reread a lot – but about 8 years ago I shelved everything by colour, just for fun, which gives books with purple spines an added advantage – I’m more likely to keep a mediocre book if the spine is a colour I need.
@Binnie – I went to the Château d’If just because I love that book so much.
I did, at one point in my twenties, decide I’d read Heyer to death, and sold my set to a second hand bookshop.
And inevitably rebought them all at much greater expense.
I do think the internet makes the whole thing less fraught – I used to very literally remember the towns of the UK by their second-hand bookshops, and if my children were walking ahead of me in a strange place they would automatically stop if we came to one: they knew I would always go in, hoping to find some out-of-print book or other.
(As a teenager, I had actual dreams where I found Heyer’s ‘The Great Roxhythe’ which I knew existed, but was not in our library system or anywhere else.)
So now that many books can be found online I’m less inclined to compulsively keep everything. My system used to be I’d only keep things I would definitely reread – I reread a lot – but about 8 years ago I shelved everything by colour, just for fun, which gives books with purple spines an added advantage – I’m more likely to keep a mediocre book if the spine is a colour I need.
@Binnie – I went to the Château d’If just because I love that book so much.
I did, at one point in my twenties, decide I’d read Heyer to death, and sold my set to a second hand bookshop.
And inevitably rebought them all at much greater expense.
I do think the internet makes the whole thing less fraught – I used to very literally remember the towns of the UK by their second-hand bookshops, and if my children were walking ahead of me in a strange place they would automatically stop if we came to one: they knew I would always go in, hoping to find some out-of-print book or other.
(As a teenager, I had actual dreams where I found Heyer’s ‘The Great Roxhythe’ which I knew existed, but was not in our library system or anywhere else.)
So now that many books can be found online I’m less inclined to compulsively keep everything. My system used to be I’d only keep things I would definitely reread – I reread a lot – but about 8 years ago I shelved everything by colour, just for fun, which gives books with purple spines an added advantage – I’m more likely to keep a mediocre book if the spine is a colour I need.
@Binnie – I went to the Château d’If just because I love that book so much.
I did, at one point in my twenties, decide I’d read Heyer to death, and sold my set to a second hand bookshop.
And inevitably rebought them all at much greater expense.
I do think the internet makes the whole thing less fraught – I used to very literally remember the towns of the UK by their second-hand bookshops, and if my children were walking ahead of me in a strange place they would automatically stop if we came to one: they knew I would always go in, hoping to find some out-of-print book or other.
(As a teenager, I had actual dreams where I found Heyer’s ‘The Great Roxhythe’ which I knew existed, but was not in our library system or anywhere else.)
So now that many books can be found online I’m less inclined to compulsively keep everything. My system used to be I’d only keep things I would definitely reread – I reread a lot – but about 8 years ago I shelved everything by colour, just for fun, which gives books with purple spines an added advantage – I’m more likely to keep a mediocre book if the spine is a colour I need.
@Binnie – I went to the Château d’If just because I love that book so much.
It is more relaxed these days, Marianne, that’s true! I could never resist a second-hand book shop (or any book shop!) either and near where my parents lived there used to be a market every week with second-hand book stalls. Such fun to browse! I haven’t yet tried to shelve my books by colour but it does look fabulous I have to admit!
It is more relaxed these days, Marianne, that’s true! I could never resist a second-hand book shop (or any book shop!) either and near where my parents lived there used to be a market every week with second-hand book stalls. Such fun to browse! I haven’t yet tried to shelve my books by colour but it does look fabulous I have to admit!
It is more relaxed these days, Marianne, that’s true! I could never resist a second-hand book shop (or any book shop!) either and near where my parents lived there used to be a market every week with second-hand book stalls. Such fun to browse! I haven’t yet tried to shelve my books by colour but it does look fabulous I have to admit!
It is more relaxed these days, Marianne, that’s true! I could never resist a second-hand book shop (or any book shop!) either and near where my parents lived there used to be a market every week with second-hand book stalls. Such fun to browse! I haven’t yet tried to shelve my books by colour but it does look fabulous I have to admit!
It is more relaxed these days, Marianne, that’s true! I could never resist a second-hand book shop (or any book shop!) either and near where my parents lived there used to be a market every week with second-hand book stalls. Such fun to browse! I haven’t yet tried to shelve my books by colour but it does look fabulous I have to admit!
Marianne – I miss secondhand book stores as all the old haunts near us have closed – and hunting on the internet for used books just isn’t the same! One of my very favorite travel memories is spending a day in Wigtown, considered Scotland’s “book town”. We just wandered from shop to shop – and then had to buy a duffel bag to return to the US with all our finds! I hope to some day go back and would love your suggestions for other secondhand book shops in the UK – wouldn’t that be a wonderful basis for an itinerary!
Marianne – I miss secondhand book stores as all the old haunts near us have closed – and hunting on the internet for used books just isn’t the same! One of my very favorite travel memories is spending a day in Wigtown, considered Scotland’s “book town”. We just wandered from shop to shop – and then had to buy a duffel bag to return to the US with all our finds! I hope to some day go back and would love your suggestions for other secondhand book shops in the UK – wouldn’t that be a wonderful basis for an itinerary!
Marianne – I miss secondhand book stores as all the old haunts near us have closed – and hunting on the internet for used books just isn’t the same! One of my very favorite travel memories is spending a day in Wigtown, considered Scotland’s “book town”. We just wandered from shop to shop – and then had to buy a duffel bag to return to the US with all our finds! I hope to some day go back and would love your suggestions for other secondhand book shops in the UK – wouldn’t that be a wonderful basis for an itinerary!
Marianne – I miss secondhand book stores as all the old haunts near us have closed – and hunting on the internet for used books just isn’t the same! One of my very favorite travel memories is spending a day in Wigtown, considered Scotland’s “book town”. We just wandered from shop to shop – and then had to buy a duffel bag to return to the US with all our finds! I hope to some day go back and would love your suggestions for other secondhand book shops in the UK – wouldn’t that be a wonderful basis for an itinerary!
Marianne – I miss secondhand book stores as all the old haunts near us have closed – and hunting on the internet for used books just isn’t the same! One of my very favorite travel memories is spending a day in Wigtown, considered Scotland’s “book town”. We just wandered from shop to shop – and then had to buy a duffel bag to return to the US with all our finds! I hope to some day go back and would love your suggestions for other secondhand book shops in the UK – wouldn’t that be a wonderful basis for an itinerary!
I live near Hay-on-Wye, which is just across the Welsh border – it’s a town known for its second-hand bookshops and there are LOTS! Definitely worth a visit when you next come over here, Constance. There’s also a castle which I believe is being slightly restored (or perhaps just shored up?) and they have a literary festival once a year in May. This year, obviously, it was online.
I live near Hay-on-Wye, which is just across the Welsh border – it’s a town known for its second-hand bookshops and there are LOTS! Definitely worth a visit when you next come over here, Constance. There’s also a castle which I believe is being slightly restored (or perhaps just shored up?) and they have a literary festival once a year in May. This year, obviously, it was online.
I live near Hay-on-Wye, which is just across the Welsh border – it’s a town known for its second-hand bookshops and there are LOTS! Definitely worth a visit when you next come over here, Constance. There’s also a castle which I believe is being slightly restored (or perhaps just shored up?) and they have a literary festival once a year in May. This year, obviously, it was online.
I live near Hay-on-Wye, which is just across the Welsh border – it’s a town known for its second-hand bookshops and there are LOTS! Definitely worth a visit when you next come over here, Constance. There’s also a castle which I believe is being slightly restored (or perhaps just shored up?) and they have a literary festival once a year in May. This year, obviously, it was online.
I live near Hay-on-Wye, which is just across the Welsh border – it’s a town known for its second-hand bookshops and there are LOTS! Definitely worth a visit when you next come over here, Constance. There’s also a castle which I believe is being slightly restored (or perhaps just shored up?) and they have a literary festival once a year in May. This year, obviously, it was online.
Christine we have a lot of books in common! I have most of what you listed here.
I also love Elizabeth Elgin’s books especially the series set in WW11 about the Suttons, their staff, friends and the wonderful house called Rowangarth. The first time I read it I loved it and have reread it now and again over the years. It’s a fantastic series. Definitely a keeper for me.
I still have my Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. Malory Towers and St Clare’s too.
I did try lately to cull it a bit. I brought two bags of books to the charity shop and came home with more!!
Great post.
Christine we have a lot of books in common! I have most of what you listed here.
I also love Elizabeth Elgin’s books especially the series set in WW11 about the Suttons, their staff, friends and the wonderful house called Rowangarth. The first time I read it I loved it and have reread it now and again over the years. It’s a fantastic series. Definitely a keeper for me.
I still have my Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. Malory Towers and St Clare’s too.
I did try lately to cull it a bit. I brought two bags of books to the charity shop and came home with more!!
Great post.
Christine we have a lot of books in common! I have most of what you listed here.
I also love Elizabeth Elgin’s books especially the series set in WW11 about the Suttons, their staff, friends and the wonderful house called Rowangarth. The first time I read it I loved it and have reread it now and again over the years. It’s a fantastic series. Definitely a keeper for me.
I still have my Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. Malory Towers and St Clare’s too.
I did try lately to cull it a bit. I brought two bags of books to the charity shop and came home with more!!
Great post.
Christine we have a lot of books in common! I have most of what you listed here.
I also love Elizabeth Elgin’s books especially the series set in WW11 about the Suttons, their staff, friends and the wonderful house called Rowangarth. The first time I read it I loved it and have reread it now and again over the years. It’s a fantastic series. Definitely a keeper for me.
I still have my Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. Malory Towers and St Clare’s too.
I did try lately to cull it a bit. I brought two bags of books to the charity shop and came home with more!!
Great post.
Christine we have a lot of books in common! I have most of what you listed here.
I also love Elizabeth Elgin’s books especially the series set in WW11 about the Suttons, their staff, friends and the wonderful house called Rowangarth. The first time I read it I loved it and have reread it now and again over the years. It’s a fantastic series. Definitely a keeper for me.
I still have my Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. Malory Towers and St Clare’s too.
I did try lately to cull it a bit. I brought two bags of books to the charity shop and came home with more!!
Great post.
It does sound as though we have almost exactly the same taste, Teresa! And if ever I went to the charity shop to get rid of some books I have a feeling I would come back with more as well. Never can resist having a look and there is always something I want!
It does sound as though we have almost exactly the same taste, Teresa! And if ever I went to the charity shop to get rid of some books I have a feeling I would come back with more as well. Never can resist having a look and there is always something I want!
It does sound as though we have almost exactly the same taste, Teresa! And if ever I went to the charity shop to get rid of some books I have a feeling I would come back with more as well. Never can resist having a look and there is always something I want!
It does sound as though we have almost exactly the same taste, Teresa! And if ever I went to the charity shop to get rid of some books I have a feeling I would come back with more as well. Never can resist having a look and there is always something I want!
It does sound as though we have almost exactly the same taste, Teresa! And if ever I went to the charity shop to get rid of some books I have a feeling I would come back with more as well. Never can resist having a look and there is always something I want!
I have over the years had to “purge” my keeper shelves because I read and keep so many books they just wouldn’t fit. In the US when I was in High School and College I belonged to the Coventry book club that sent you 4 or 6 books every 2 months I think. All were historical romances, Edwardian, Georgian, but mainly Regency. I saved that whole collection for years until I said, why!?? I did discover some great authors that way but did I really need to save all of them.
When I purge I do have to read the book again to realistically say yes, no. I’ve got rid of several hundred at least. Right now I need to purge a shelf but haven’t done it yet
My criteria for a keeper has evolved. Is it a book I will reread? Does it SPEAK to me? Is it by one of my most favorite authors? Even if it is by a favored author do I REALLy like it? Will I reread it again? Sometimes I keep a book only because it is a part of a series, not because it qualifies as a “true” keeper. Sometimes an author is a keeper for 5 or 10 years but then I’m “done” and I move those books along.
I probably pass on 75% of the books I read which is why I tend to buy used mass market. Much cheaper that way. I also do free ebooks to sample and library books.
As for my keepers on the shelf – oh yes, Georgette Heyer. Every. Single. One. Regency. Historical. Mystery. Plus every book that has her published short stories in it. True there were several mysteries I didn’t like but I kept them! Definitely didn’t like her contemporary books. But kept them. Because… Georgette Heyer.
Many of the names mentioned earlier I also have on my keeper shelves. Mary Jo Putney – all of them and all the novellas. Anne Gracie. Jayne Anne Krentz in all her names. Robyn Carr – Virgin River series. Trisha Ashley. Rosamund Pilcher. Elsie Lee. Lisa Kleypas. Joanna Bourne. Carolyn Brown. Emily March. Lori Foster. Jennifer Ashley (Mackenzie Family series) Joan Wolf. Clare Darcy. Janet Chapman. Joan Smith. Anne McCaffrey (Contemp & Fantasy). D.E. Stevenson. James H. Schmitz (Young Sci Fi). Nevil Shute (only my 2 favorites). Sharon Sala but only 2 of her series. Linda Howard – Mackenzie family series. Linda Lael Miller – certain series.
Plus lots of 1 off books that for whatever reason still speak to me. Nothing else by that author spoke to me but those still do.
I have over the years had to “purge” my keeper shelves because I read and keep so many books they just wouldn’t fit. In the US when I was in High School and College I belonged to the Coventry book club that sent you 4 or 6 books every 2 months I think. All were historical romances, Edwardian, Georgian, but mainly Regency. I saved that whole collection for years until I said, why!?? I did discover some great authors that way but did I really need to save all of them.
When I purge I do have to read the book again to realistically say yes, no. I’ve got rid of several hundred at least. Right now I need to purge a shelf but haven’t done it yet
My criteria for a keeper has evolved. Is it a book I will reread? Does it SPEAK to me? Is it by one of my most favorite authors? Even if it is by a favored author do I REALLy like it? Will I reread it again? Sometimes I keep a book only because it is a part of a series, not because it qualifies as a “true” keeper. Sometimes an author is a keeper for 5 or 10 years but then I’m “done” and I move those books along.
I probably pass on 75% of the books I read which is why I tend to buy used mass market. Much cheaper that way. I also do free ebooks to sample and library books.
As for my keepers on the shelf – oh yes, Georgette Heyer. Every. Single. One. Regency. Historical. Mystery. Plus every book that has her published short stories in it. True there were several mysteries I didn’t like but I kept them! Definitely didn’t like her contemporary books. But kept them. Because… Georgette Heyer.
Many of the names mentioned earlier I also have on my keeper shelves. Mary Jo Putney – all of them and all the novellas. Anne Gracie. Jayne Anne Krentz in all her names. Robyn Carr – Virgin River series. Trisha Ashley. Rosamund Pilcher. Elsie Lee. Lisa Kleypas. Joanna Bourne. Carolyn Brown. Emily March. Lori Foster. Jennifer Ashley (Mackenzie Family series) Joan Wolf. Clare Darcy. Janet Chapman. Joan Smith. Anne McCaffrey (Contemp & Fantasy). D.E. Stevenson. James H. Schmitz (Young Sci Fi). Nevil Shute (only my 2 favorites). Sharon Sala but only 2 of her series. Linda Howard – Mackenzie family series. Linda Lael Miller – certain series.
Plus lots of 1 off books that for whatever reason still speak to me. Nothing else by that author spoke to me but those still do.
I have over the years had to “purge” my keeper shelves because I read and keep so many books they just wouldn’t fit. In the US when I was in High School and College I belonged to the Coventry book club that sent you 4 or 6 books every 2 months I think. All were historical romances, Edwardian, Georgian, but mainly Regency. I saved that whole collection for years until I said, why!?? I did discover some great authors that way but did I really need to save all of them.
When I purge I do have to read the book again to realistically say yes, no. I’ve got rid of several hundred at least. Right now I need to purge a shelf but haven’t done it yet
My criteria for a keeper has evolved. Is it a book I will reread? Does it SPEAK to me? Is it by one of my most favorite authors? Even if it is by a favored author do I REALLy like it? Will I reread it again? Sometimes I keep a book only because it is a part of a series, not because it qualifies as a “true” keeper. Sometimes an author is a keeper for 5 or 10 years but then I’m “done” and I move those books along.
I probably pass on 75% of the books I read which is why I tend to buy used mass market. Much cheaper that way. I also do free ebooks to sample and library books.
As for my keepers on the shelf – oh yes, Georgette Heyer. Every. Single. One. Regency. Historical. Mystery. Plus every book that has her published short stories in it. True there were several mysteries I didn’t like but I kept them! Definitely didn’t like her contemporary books. But kept them. Because… Georgette Heyer.
Many of the names mentioned earlier I also have on my keeper shelves. Mary Jo Putney – all of them and all the novellas. Anne Gracie. Jayne Anne Krentz in all her names. Robyn Carr – Virgin River series. Trisha Ashley. Rosamund Pilcher. Elsie Lee. Lisa Kleypas. Joanna Bourne. Carolyn Brown. Emily March. Lori Foster. Jennifer Ashley (Mackenzie Family series) Joan Wolf. Clare Darcy. Janet Chapman. Joan Smith. Anne McCaffrey (Contemp & Fantasy). D.E. Stevenson. James H. Schmitz (Young Sci Fi). Nevil Shute (only my 2 favorites). Sharon Sala but only 2 of her series. Linda Howard – Mackenzie family series. Linda Lael Miller – certain series.
Plus lots of 1 off books that for whatever reason still speak to me. Nothing else by that author spoke to me but those still do.
I have over the years had to “purge” my keeper shelves because I read and keep so many books they just wouldn’t fit. In the US when I was in High School and College I belonged to the Coventry book club that sent you 4 or 6 books every 2 months I think. All were historical romances, Edwardian, Georgian, but mainly Regency. I saved that whole collection for years until I said, why!?? I did discover some great authors that way but did I really need to save all of them.
When I purge I do have to read the book again to realistically say yes, no. I’ve got rid of several hundred at least. Right now I need to purge a shelf but haven’t done it yet
My criteria for a keeper has evolved. Is it a book I will reread? Does it SPEAK to me? Is it by one of my most favorite authors? Even if it is by a favored author do I REALLy like it? Will I reread it again? Sometimes I keep a book only because it is a part of a series, not because it qualifies as a “true” keeper. Sometimes an author is a keeper for 5 or 10 years but then I’m “done” and I move those books along.
I probably pass on 75% of the books I read which is why I tend to buy used mass market. Much cheaper that way. I also do free ebooks to sample and library books.
As for my keepers on the shelf – oh yes, Georgette Heyer. Every. Single. One. Regency. Historical. Mystery. Plus every book that has her published short stories in it. True there were several mysteries I didn’t like but I kept them! Definitely didn’t like her contemporary books. But kept them. Because… Georgette Heyer.
Many of the names mentioned earlier I also have on my keeper shelves. Mary Jo Putney – all of them and all the novellas. Anne Gracie. Jayne Anne Krentz in all her names. Robyn Carr – Virgin River series. Trisha Ashley. Rosamund Pilcher. Elsie Lee. Lisa Kleypas. Joanna Bourne. Carolyn Brown. Emily March. Lori Foster. Jennifer Ashley (Mackenzie Family series) Joan Wolf. Clare Darcy. Janet Chapman. Joan Smith. Anne McCaffrey (Contemp & Fantasy). D.E. Stevenson. James H. Schmitz (Young Sci Fi). Nevil Shute (only my 2 favorites). Sharon Sala but only 2 of her series. Linda Howard – Mackenzie family series. Linda Lael Miller – certain series.
Plus lots of 1 off books that for whatever reason still speak to me. Nothing else by that author spoke to me but those still do.
I have over the years had to “purge” my keeper shelves because I read and keep so many books they just wouldn’t fit. In the US when I was in High School and College I belonged to the Coventry book club that sent you 4 or 6 books every 2 months I think. All were historical romances, Edwardian, Georgian, but mainly Regency. I saved that whole collection for years until I said, why!?? I did discover some great authors that way but did I really need to save all of them.
When I purge I do have to read the book again to realistically say yes, no. I’ve got rid of several hundred at least. Right now I need to purge a shelf but haven’t done it yet
My criteria for a keeper has evolved. Is it a book I will reread? Does it SPEAK to me? Is it by one of my most favorite authors? Even if it is by a favored author do I REALLy like it? Will I reread it again? Sometimes I keep a book only because it is a part of a series, not because it qualifies as a “true” keeper. Sometimes an author is a keeper for 5 or 10 years but then I’m “done” and I move those books along.
I probably pass on 75% of the books I read which is why I tend to buy used mass market. Much cheaper that way. I also do free ebooks to sample and library books.
As for my keepers on the shelf – oh yes, Georgette Heyer. Every. Single. One. Regency. Historical. Mystery. Plus every book that has her published short stories in it. True there were several mysteries I didn’t like but I kept them! Definitely didn’t like her contemporary books. But kept them. Because… Georgette Heyer.
Many of the names mentioned earlier I also have on my keeper shelves. Mary Jo Putney – all of them and all the novellas. Anne Gracie. Jayne Anne Krentz in all her names. Robyn Carr – Virgin River series. Trisha Ashley. Rosamund Pilcher. Elsie Lee. Lisa Kleypas. Joanna Bourne. Carolyn Brown. Emily March. Lori Foster. Jennifer Ashley (Mackenzie Family series) Joan Wolf. Clare Darcy. Janet Chapman. Joan Smith. Anne McCaffrey (Contemp & Fantasy). D.E. Stevenson. James H. Schmitz (Young Sci Fi). Nevil Shute (only my 2 favorites). Sharon Sala but only 2 of her series. Linda Howard – Mackenzie family series. Linda Lael Miller – certain series.
Plus lots of 1 off books that for whatever reason still speak to me. Nothing else by that author spoke to me but those still do.
Marianne – I found The Great Roxhythe once, many years ago, and it has the distinction of being the only Heyer I ever gave away, with no regrets then or ever since. It’s a strong contender for the worst book she ever wrote. It’s set in Stuart England, and it’s stilted and lifeless. Not a era that matched her style.
Marianne – I found The Great Roxhythe once, many years ago, and it has the distinction of being the only Heyer I ever gave away, with no regrets then or ever since. It’s a strong contender for the worst book she ever wrote. It’s set in Stuart England, and it’s stilted and lifeless. Not a era that matched her style.
Marianne – I found The Great Roxhythe once, many years ago, and it has the distinction of being the only Heyer I ever gave away, with no regrets then or ever since. It’s a strong contender for the worst book she ever wrote. It’s set in Stuart England, and it’s stilted and lifeless. Not a era that matched her style.
Marianne – I found The Great Roxhythe once, many years ago, and it has the distinction of being the only Heyer I ever gave away, with no regrets then or ever since. It’s a strong contender for the worst book she ever wrote. It’s set in Stuart England, and it’s stilted and lifeless. Not a era that matched her style.
Marianne – I found The Great Roxhythe once, many years ago, and it has the distinction of being the only Heyer I ever gave away, with no regrets then or ever since. It’s a strong contender for the worst book she ever wrote. It’s set in Stuart England, and it’s stilted and lifeless. Not a era that matched her style.
I have a copy of The Great Roxhythe too but have never actually read it – it got such bad reviews I figured I’d just keep it on the shelf, safer that way!
I have a copy of The Great Roxhythe too but have never actually read it – it got such bad reviews I figured I’d just keep it on the shelf, safer that way!
I have a copy of The Great Roxhythe too but have never actually read it – it got such bad reviews I figured I’d just keep it on the shelf, safer that way!
I have a copy of The Great Roxhythe too but have never actually read it – it got such bad reviews I figured I’d just keep it on the shelf, safer that way!
I have a copy of The Great Roxhythe too but have never actually read it – it got such bad reviews I figured I’d just keep it on the shelf, safer that way!
That sounds like a great way of judging a book , Vicki – seeing if it speaks to you. I know exactly what you mean! I used to belong to a similar club but it was the Harlequin Mills & Boon Historicals. I still have all of them but can’t really justify why. You have some great books on your shelves!
That sounds like a great way of judging a book , Vicki – seeing if it speaks to you. I know exactly what you mean! I used to belong to a similar club but it was the Harlequin Mills & Boon Historicals. I still have all of them but can’t really justify why. You have some great books on your shelves!
That sounds like a great way of judging a book , Vicki – seeing if it speaks to you. I know exactly what you mean! I used to belong to a similar club but it was the Harlequin Mills & Boon Historicals. I still have all of them but can’t really justify why. You have some great books on your shelves!
That sounds like a great way of judging a book , Vicki – seeing if it speaks to you. I know exactly what you mean! I used to belong to a similar club but it was the Harlequin Mills & Boon Historicals. I still have all of them but can’t really justify why. You have some great books on your shelves!
That sounds like a great way of judging a book , Vicki – seeing if it speaks to you. I know exactly what you mean! I used to belong to a similar club but it was the Harlequin Mills & Boon Historicals. I still have all of them but can’t really justify why. You have some great books on your shelves!
What a great post, Christina, and what a slew of wonderful comments that have mentioned many past and current favorites!
This summer I read a book called The Ideal Bookshelf in which people listed the books that they loved and/or had had an impact on their life. Each shelf was illustrated by watercolor artist Jane Mount. You can see some of her paintings here ~
https://mobile.twitter.com/idealbookshelf?lang=en
The book challenged the reader to consider their own Ideal Bookshelf, so I did.
My ideal bookshelf would contain:
**A Hotel Is a Place …by Shelley Berman
I spent a lot of my childhood living in hotels as my father was a hotel manager. He kept a stack of these books and would give them away to disgruntled guests. It’s written by a comedian and is very funny.
**The Cheerleader by Ruth Doan MacDougall
As a teen, I absolutely loved this story about a girl growing up in the fifties in small town USA; her life was very different from my own. Two things I took from this book: first, always wash the butter dish after finishing a stick and second, the friends you make at college can last a lifetime. (I’m afraid to reread this as I fear it won’t live up to my memories.)
**The Little World of Don Camillo by Giovanni Guareschi
This is a three generation book in my family. My mother introduced me to the series when I was a teen, and I did likewise with my daughter. It features a priest in 1950s era Italy and his foe, the Communist mayor, Peppone. Don Camillo talks to Christ on the cross who talks back.
**The Reader’s Digest Treasury of American Humor
I grew up reading Reader’s Digest (and, as the child of non-native speakers of English, give a lot of credit to the Word Power columns for my good vocabulary); I particularly enjoyed the jokes. This tome accompanied me to college, and I would read it when I was depressed. I still remember some of the jokes I read aloud to my roommate; it likely helped me keep my sanity during Organic Chemistry.
**Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Grad school era humor that my soon to be husband (and subsequently daughter) also enjoyed.
**Baby Blues: This is Going to be Harder Than We Thought by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott
My husband gave this to me when our daughter was a newborn; we were so tired and punchy that we truly laughed until we cried.
Some longtime fiction favorites ~
**Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
**Tell Me No Lies by Elizabeth Lowell
**Uhura’s Song (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 21) by Janet Kagan
**Ishmael (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 23) by Barbara Hambly
I’m a frequent rereader of books; my husband once said he could tell my mood by which of the above books I was rereading.
**The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise
This book inspired our homeschooling which began when our daughter started seventh grade.
**Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
We call this the ‘big black book’ and use it often.
More recent fiction favorites ~
**The Martian by Andy Weir
**Written In Red by Anne Bishop
**Claimings, Tails, and Other Alien Artifacts by Lyn Gala (Not for the conservative reader)
**The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
**Linesman by S. K. Dunstall
What a great post, Christina, and what a slew of wonderful comments that have mentioned many past and current favorites!
This summer I read a book called The Ideal Bookshelf in which people listed the books that they loved and/or had had an impact on their life. Each shelf was illustrated by watercolor artist Jane Mount. You can see some of her paintings here ~
https://mobile.twitter.com/idealbookshelf?lang=en
The book challenged the reader to consider their own Ideal Bookshelf, so I did.
My ideal bookshelf would contain:
**A Hotel Is a Place …by Shelley Berman
I spent a lot of my childhood living in hotels as my father was a hotel manager. He kept a stack of these books and would give them away to disgruntled guests. It’s written by a comedian and is very funny.
**The Cheerleader by Ruth Doan MacDougall
As a teen, I absolutely loved this story about a girl growing up in the fifties in small town USA; her life was very different from my own. Two things I took from this book: first, always wash the butter dish after finishing a stick and second, the friends you make at college can last a lifetime. (I’m afraid to reread this as I fear it won’t live up to my memories.)
**The Little World of Don Camillo by Giovanni Guareschi
This is a three generation book in my family. My mother introduced me to the series when I was a teen, and I did likewise with my daughter. It features a priest in 1950s era Italy and his foe, the Communist mayor, Peppone. Don Camillo talks to Christ on the cross who talks back.
**The Reader’s Digest Treasury of American Humor
I grew up reading Reader’s Digest (and, as the child of non-native speakers of English, give a lot of credit to the Word Power columns for my good vocabulary); I particularly enjoyed the jokes. This tome accompanied me to college, and I would read it when I was depressed. I still remember some of the jokes I read aloud to my roommate; it likely helped me keep my sanity during Organic Chemistry.
**Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Grad school era humor that my soon to be husband (and subsequently daughter) also enjoyed.
**Baby Blues: This is Going to be Harder Than We Thought by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott
My husband gave this to me when our daughter was a newborn; we were so tired and punchy that we truly laughed until we cried.
Some longtime fiction favorites ~
**Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
**Tell Me No Lies by Elizabeth Lowell
**Uhura’s Song (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 21) by Janet Kagan
**Ishmael (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 23) by Barbara Hambly
I’m a frequent rereader of books; my husband once said he could tell my mood by which of the above books I was rereading.
**The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise
This book inspired our homeschooling which began when our daughter started seventh grade.
**Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
We call this the ‘big black book’ and use it often.
More recent fiction favorites ~
**The Martian by Andy Weir
**Written In Red by Anne Bishop
**Claimings, Tails, and Other Alien Artifacts by Lyn Gala (Not for the conservative reader)
**The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
**Linesman by S. K. Dunstall
What a great post, Christina, and what a slew of wonderful comments that have mentioned many past and current favorites!
This summer I read a book called The Ideal Bookshelf in which people listed the books that they loved and/or had had an impact on their life. Each shelf was illustrated by watercolor artist Jane Mount. You can see some of her paintings here ~
https://mobile.twitter.com/idealbookshelf?lang=en
The book challenged the reader to consider their own Ideal Bookshelf, so I did.
My ideal bookshelf would contain:
**A Hotel Is a Place …by Shelley Berman
I spent a lot of my childhood living in hotels as my father was a hotel manager. He kept a stack of these books and would give them away to disgruntled guests. It’s written by a comedian and is very funny.
**The Cheerleader by Ruth Doan MacDougall
As a teen, I absolutely loved this story about a girl growing up in the fifties in small town USA; her life was very different from my own. Two things I took from this book: first, always wash the butter dish after finishing a stick and second, the friends you make at college can last a lifetime. (I’m afraid to reread this as I fear it won’t live up to my memories.)
**The Little World of Don Camillo by Giovanni Guareschi
This is a three generation book in my family. My mother introduced me to the series when I was a teen, and I did likewise with my daughter. It features a priest in 1950s era Italy and his foe, the Communist mayor, Peppone. Don Camillo talks to Christ on the cross who talks back.
**The Reader’s Digest Treasury of American Humor
I grew up reading Reader’s Digest (and, as the child of non-native speakers of English, give a lot of credit to the Word Power columns for my good vocabulary); I particularly enjoyed the jokes. This tome accompanied me to college, and I would read it when I was depressed. I still remember some of the jokes I read aloud to my roommate; it likely helped me keep my sanity during Organic Chemistry.
**Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Grad school era humor that my soon to be husband (and subsequently daughter) also enjoyed.
**Baby Blues: This is Going to be Harder Than We Thought by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott
My husband gave this to me when our daughter was a newborn; we were so tired and punchy that we truly laughed until we cried.
Some longtime fiction favorites ~
**Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
**Tell Me No Lies by Elizabeth Lowell
**Uhura’s Song (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 21) by Janet Kagan
**Ishmael (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 23) by Barbara Hambly
I’m a frequent rereader of books; my husband once said he could tell my mood by which of the above books I was rereading.
**The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise
This book inspired our homeschooling which began when our daughter started seventh grade.
**Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
We call this the ‘big black book’ and use it often.
More recent fiction favorites ~
**The Martian by Andy Weir
**Written In Red by Anne Bishop
**Claimings, Tails, and Other Alien Artifacts by Lyn Gala (Not for the conservative reader)
**The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
**Linesman by S. K. Dunstall
What a great post, Christina, and what a slew of wonderful comments that have mentioned many past and current favorites!
This summer I read a book called The Ideal Bookshelf in which people listed the books that they loved and/or had had an impact on their life. Each shelf was illustrated by watercolor artist Jane Mount. You can see some of her paintings here ~
https://mobile.twitter.com/idealbookshelf?lang=en
The book challenged the reader to consider their own Ideal Bookshelf, so I did.
My ideal bookshelf would contain:
**A Hotel Is a Place …by Shelley Berman
I spent a lot of my childhood living in hotels as my father was a hotel manager. He kept a stack of these books and would give them away to disgruntled guests. It’s written by a comedian and is very funny.
**The Cheerleader by Ruth Doan MacDougall
As a teen, I absolutely loved this story about a girl growing up in the fifties in small town USA; her life was very different from my own. Two things I took from this book: first, always wash the butter dish after finishing a stick and second, the friends you make at college can last a lifetime. (I’m afraid to reread this as I fear it won’t live up to my memories.)
**The Little World of Don Camillo by Giovanni Guareschi
This is a three generation book in my family. My mother introduced me to the series when I was a teen, and I did likewise with my daughter. It features a priest in 1950s era Italy and his foe, the Communist mayor, Peppone. Don Camillo talks to Christ on the cross who talks back.
**The Reader’s Digest Treasury of American Humor
I grew up reading Reader’s Digest (and, as the child of non-native speakers of English, give a lot of credit to the Word Power columns for my good vocabulary); I particularly enjoyed the jokes. This tome accompanied me to college, and I would read it when I was depressed. I still remember some of the jokes I read aloud to my roommate; it likely helped me keep my sanity during Organic Chemistry.
**Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Grad school era humor that my soon to be husband (and subsequently daughter) also enjoyed.
**Baby Blues: This is Going to be Harder Than We Thought by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott
My husband gave this to me when our daughter was a newborn; we were so tired and punchy that we truly laughed until we cried.
Some longtime fiction favorites ~
**Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
**Tell Me No Lies by Elizabeth Lowell
**Uhura’s Song (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 21) by Janet Kagan
**Ishmael (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 23) by Barbara Hambly
I’m a frequent rereader of books; my husband once said he could tell my mood by which of the above books I was rereading.
**The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise
This book inspired our homeschooling which began when our daughter started seventh grade.
**Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
We call this the ‘big black book’ and use it often.
More recent fiction favorites ~
**The Martian by Andy Weir
**Written In Red by Anne Bishop
**Claimings, Tails, and Other Alien Artifacts by Lyn Gala (Not for the conservative reader)
**The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
**Linesman by S. K. Dunstall
What a great post, Christina, and what a slew of wonderful comments that have mentioned many past and current favorites!
This summer I read a book called The Ideal Bookshelf in which people listed the books that they loved and/or had had an impact on their life. Each shelf was illustrated by watercolor artist Jane Mount. You can see some of her paintings here ~
https://mobile.twitter.com/idealbookshelf?lang=en
The book challenged the reader to consider their own Ideal Bookshelf, so I did.
My ideal bookshelf would contain:
**A Hotel Is a Place …by Shelley Berman
I spent a lot of my childhood living in hotels as my father was a hotel manager. He kept a stack of these books and would give them away to disgruntled guests. It’s written by a comedian and is very funny.
**The Cheerleader by Ruth Doan MacDougall
As a teen, I absolutely loved this story about a girl growing up in the fifties in small town USA; her life was very different from my own. Two things I took from this book: first, always wash the butter dish after finishing a stick and second, the friends you make at college can last a lifetime. (I’m afraid to reread this as I fear it won’t live up to my memories.)
**The Little World of Don Camillo by Giovanni Guareschi
This is a three generation book in my family. My mother introduced me to the series when I was a teen, and I did likewise with my daughter. It features a priest in 1950s era Italy and his foe, the Communist mayor, Peppone. Don Camillo talks to Christ on the cross who talks back.
**The Reader’s Digest Treasury of American Humor
I grew up reading Reader’s Digest (and, as the child of non-native speakers of English, give a lot of credit to the Word Power columns for my good vocabulary); I particularly enjoyed the jokes. This tome accompanied me to college, and I would read it when I was depressed. I still remember some of the jokes I read aloud to my roommate; it likely helped me keep my sanity during Organic Chemistry.
**Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Grad school era humor that my soon to be husband (and subsequently daughter) also enjoyed.
**Baby Blues: This is Going to be Harder Than We Thought by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott
My husband gave this to me when our daughter was a newborn; we were so tired and punchy that we truly laughed until we cried.
Some longtime fiction favorites ~
**Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
**Tell Me No Lies by Elizabeth Lowell
**Uhura’s Song (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 21) by Janet Kagan
**Ishmael (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 23) by Barbara Hambly
I’m a frequent rereader of books; my husband once said he could tell my mood by which of the above books I was rereading.
**The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise
This book inspired our homeschooling which began when our daughter started seventh grade.
**Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
We call this the ‘big black book’ and use it often.
More recent fiction favorites ~
**The Martian by Andy Weir
**Written In Red by Anne Bishop
**Claimings, Tails, and Other Alien Artifacts by Lyn Gala (Not for the conservative reader)
**The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
**Linesman by S. K. Dunstall
That sounds like a fascinating book, Kareni! And I like the choices you’ve made as they each mean a lot to you – that’s how it should be. Thank you for sharing!
That sounds like a fascinating book, Kareni! And I like the choices you’ve made as they each mean a lot to you – that’s how it should be. Thank you for sharing!
That sounds like a fascinating book, Kareni! And I like the choices you’ve made as they each mean a lot to you – that’s how it should be. Thank you for sharing!
That sounds like a fascinating book, Kareni! And I like the choices you’ve made as they each mean a lot to you – that’s how it should be. Thank you for sharing!
That sounds like a fascinating book, Kareni! And I like the choices you’ve made as they each mean a lot to you – that’s how it should be. Thank you for sharing!
My advice is to stick with Heinlein’s early juvies for Scribners, when that lady was still editing him, and his short stories. For my taste, his novels from the 1960s on haven’t aged well.
I first read the juvies as a teen. He did not dumb them down; most of the other YA stuff I encountered then had constricted vocabulary and smoothed over history. Heinlein wrote for kids as if they were as smart as adults and the fans appreciated that. I still feel that he nailed the powerless feeling of being a teen, competent in many things but still under the control of others better than anybody before or since. He was also a real page turner as a storyteller. I can’t approve of his personal life but that could just be me.
My advice is to stick with Heinlein’s early juvies for Scribners, when that lady was still editing him, and his short stories. For my taste, his novels from the 1960s on haven’t aged well.
I first read the juvies as a teen. He did not dumb them down; most of the other YA stuff I encountered then had constricted vocabulary and smoothed over history. Heinlein wrote for kids as if they were as smart as adults and the fans appreciated that. I still feel that he nailed the powerless feeling of being a teen, competent in many things but still under the control of others better than anybody before or since. He was also a real page turner as a storyteller. I can’t approve of his personal life but that could just be me.
My advice is to stick with Heinlein’s early juvies for Scribners, when that lady was still editing him, and his short stories. For my taste, his novels from the 1960s on haven’t aged well.
I first read the juvies as a teen. He did not dumb them down; most of the other YA stuff I encountered then had constricted vocabulary and smoothed over history. Heinlein wrote for kids as if they were as smart as adults and the fans appreciated that. I still feel that he nailed the powerless feeling of being a teen, competent in many things but still under the control of others better than anybody before or since. He was also a real page turner as a storyteller. I can’t approve of his personal life but that could just be me.
My advice is to stick with Heinlein’s early juvies for Scribners, when that lady was still editing him, and his short stories. For my taste, his novels from the 1960s on haven’t aged well.
I first read the juvies as a teen. He did not dumb them down; most of the other YA stuff I encountered then had constricted vocabulary and smoothed over history. Heinlein wrote for kids as if they were as smart as adults and the fans appreciated that. I still feel that he nailed the powerless feeling of being a teen, competent in many things but still under the control of others better than anybody before or since. He was also a real page turner as a storyteller. I can’t approve of his personal life but that could just be me.
My advice is to stick with Heinlein’s early juvies for Scribners, when that lady was still editing him, and his short stories. For my taste, his novels from the 1960s on haven’t aged well.
I first read the juvies as a teen. He did not dumb them down; most of the other YA stuff I encountered then had constricted vocabulary and smoothed over history. Heinlein wrote for kids as if they were as smart as adults and the fans appreciated that. I still feel that he nailed the powerless feeling of being a teen, competent in many things but still under the control of others better than anybody before or since. He was also a real page turner as a storyteller. I can’t approve of his personal life but that could just be me.
Thanks Janice, I hadn’t realised that! I haven’t read that many of his books so I will go and have a look.
Thanks Janice, I hadn’t realised that! I haven’t read that many of his books so I will go and have a look.
Thanks Janice, I hadn’t realised that! I haven’t read that many of his books so I will go and have a look.
Thanks Janice, I hadn’t realised that! I haven’t read that many of his books so I will go and have a look.
Thanks Janice, I hadn’t realised that! I haven’t read that many of his books so I will go and have a look.