Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Beloved Bookshelf – Part One
As we are moving back to the UK on Friday (hyperventilates!), we have been getting rid of things.
Our current house has three floor to ceiling bookcases that take up one wall of the living room. Books were double stacked and crammed in. Therefore, books were high on the list of things that needed to be sorted out and donated. I knew this was necessary, I knew the books I gave away would bring pleasure to other people. But I really don’t like getting rid of things, especially books.
On my first attempt I stacked up nine books, compared to my husband’s four boxes.
Umm yeah.
I needed a better strategy. So instead of clearing books out I started sorting them into books I couldn’t bare to part with under any circumstances (i.e the beloved bookshelf books). Books I loved, Books I liked. . .you get the picture.
So I thought I’d share what’s on my Beloved Bookshelf with you guys.
In no particular order
The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford – two utter gems of books. I re-read them regularly. They’ve just been re-issued I urge you to read them.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. – LOVE. THESE. BOOKS! The characters, the world building, the plot. Everything is wonderful. I even liked the movie. My favourite is The Subtle Knife.
Cross Stitch (or Outlander) by Diana Gabaldon – oh la sigh, Jamie! Plus fun time travel shenanigans.
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen – my first Dessen book and it blew me away. So much so that I didn’t read anything else by her for over a year because I just didn’t think she could match it. She can, by the way, but this remains my favourite.
Perfect You By Elizabeth Scott – yes, I am a huge fan of all her books, but this one holds a special place in my heart because I read it about five times while I was pregnant. It was like my book craving 🙂
China Blues by Pamela Longfellow – I picked this book up in a sale when I was still at school and fell in love with the characters and the setting, San Francisco! It’s sadly out of print because it’s such a great and interesting book. I also firmly believe that Kit set me up to always fall for the nice, best friend guy in books 🙂
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta – yeah I’ve probably said enough to last a life time about this book. But one last time, with feeling, Saving Francesa equals my perfect reading experience!
Bunnicula, Howliday Inn and The Celery Stalks at Midnight by Deborah and James Howe – three books I still own from when I was very small. Clearly I have had a thing for vampires for a long time (even in animal form). If you have an eight year old get these for them, or just read them yourself. Like a Pixar movie they have humour for children and adults. Chester the cat kills me!
Hideous Kinky by Esther Fraud – an absolutely gorgeous books set in Marrakech and told from a five years old perspective. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but it does so, so well.
This is getting long so part 2 tomorrow
Our current house has three floor to ceiling bookcases that take up one wall of the living room. Books were double stacked and crammed in. Therefore, books were high on the list of things that needed to be sorted out and donated. I knew this was necessary, I knew the books I gave away would bring pleasure to other people. But I really don’t like getting rid of things, especially books.
On my first attempt I stacked up nine books, compared to my husband’s four boxes.
Umm yeah.
I needed a better strategy. So instead of clearing books out I started sorting them into books I couldn’t bare to part with under any circumstances (i.e the beloved bookshelf books). Books I loved, Books I liked. . .you get the picture.
So I thought I’d share what’s on my Beloved Bookshelf with you guys.
In no particular order
The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford – two utter gems of books. I re-read them regularly. They’ve just been re-issued I urge you to read them.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. – LOVE. THESE. BOOKS! The characters, the world building, the plot. Everything is wonderful. I even liked the movie. My favourite is The Subtle Knife.
Cross Stitch (or Outlander) by Diana Gabaldon – oh la sigh, Jamie! Plus fun time travel shenanigans.
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen – my first Dessen book and it blew me away. So much so that I didn’t read anything else by her for over a year because I just didn’t think she could match it. She can, by the way, but this remains my favourite.
Perfect You By Elizabeth Scott – yes, I am a huge fan of all her books, but this one holds a special place in my heart because I read it about five times while I was pregnant. It was like my book craving 🙂
China Blues by Pamela Longfellow – I picked this book up in a sale when I was still at school and fell in love with the characters and the setting, San Francisco! It’s sadly out of print because it’s such a great and interesting book. I also firmly believe that Kit set me up to always fall for the nice, best friend guy in books 🙂
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta – yeah I’ve probably said enough to last a life time about this book. But one last time, with feeling, Saving Francesa equals my perfect reading experience!
Bunnicula, Howliday Inn and The Celery Stalks at Midnight by Deborah and James Howe – three books I still own from when I was very small. Clearly I have had a thing for vampires for a long time (even in animal form). If you have an eight year old get these for them, or just read them yourself. Like a Pixar movie they have humour for children and adults. Chester the cat kills me!
Hideous Kinky by Esther Fraud – an absolutely gorgeous books set in Marrakech and told from a five years old perspective. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but it does so, so well.
This is getting long so part 2 tomorrow
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Bunnicula! I totally forgot about those books, but I LOVED them. I think my copies are up in my parents' attic–I have to hunt them down!
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The Truth About Forever was my first Sarah Dessen book too! What a great book.
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Perfect You would be on my beloved shelf. I mean how can anybody resist Will? Saving Francesca is always another book I adore. Will have to check out the other titles you have mentioned. I look forward to part 2 🙂
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this is a GREAT idea! I love seeing what's on other's fave shelves.
Also ~ I get rid of books ALL THE TIME. In fact, I've made a point of not wanting my own personal library and only keeping my absolute faves. It gets easier to get rid of books once you start…
cant't wait for part two 🙂
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So jealous! (of the moving back to the UK part, not the getting rid of books part) Good luck!
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Meredith – the best bunny ever 🙂
Jenny – it;s amazing isn't it.
Nic – Will + adorable <3 him
Nomes – glad you liked it. I think it's actually quite a good idea much as I resisted and I like the idea of my old books being read and enjoyed 🙂
Anne – thanks 🙂
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