Book meme tagged by Bon

Here's the scoop:

Books are scarce in the world. They are illegal in some provinces. They are not easily replaced, if not impossible to replace if lost in many if not most circumstances. If you can replace a book or buy one, it is usually through the black market at astronomical costs that you cannot afford. Yet you have been able to maintain one of the best collections in the world. If your entire library was about to burn up (think of the firefighters in Fahrenheit 451 invading your home) and you could only have one* book to take with you other than the Bible, what would that be and why?

Simple Rules: Answer the question. Offer one quote that resonates with you. Tag five people whose response is of genuine interest to you and inform him or her that they have been tagged. Cheers!


*And it cannot be an entire series of something, that’s cheating.

I’m a bit of an amateur antiquarian. I was born in the wrong century. I have many favorite books. My treasure. When we moved from the old house downtown we had the ease of time. We bought this house from Jay’s cousin. I was pretty surprised to find it took 300 boxes of books to get both Jay and my books here. Thank the Lord I didn’t have to tote them down the 14 steps of the old house and up the 5 steps into this place. Jay’s are all sci-fi/fantasy and paperback. Mine ? old tombs and hard back. I’ll give you the four that I went off and pulled from the shelves and give you my favorite as the last.

First, a first edition copy of Isak Dinesen ‘Out of Africa’ that as fate would have it, my landlord (at the time) and I found in an abandoned house, about to be torn down next door to our apartments. It was 1985 and the odd thing was that it was the day after the Ex & I had seen the film on it’s release. Published 1938.

Secondly, a two volume set of Dicken’s ‘Martin Chuzzlewitt” purchased for me by my Mother on a trip to London. Found in a shop on Charing Cross Road. The book was Octavo with four pages bound and had to be opened with a letter opener to read the pages. Having been unread since it was published in 1879. I consulted a book dealer before opening the pages. Broke my heart to do it but had to be done. I treasure them.

Thirdly, The ‘Diary of Samuel Pepys’ (1633-1703) edited by Henry B. Wheatley 1926 . A slog to get through (still haven’t entirely) but interesting to say the least.

Finally, my favorite, read over and over, over the years: ‘Anthony Adverse’ by Hervey Allen. The story of a boy born of a noble man and commoner woman who dies in childbirth. An epic, flowing tale of adventure and searching. French Revolution, the America’s. A great book for any boy/young man who can handle the language. Too many passages for me to sight one.

Fun meme – thanks Bon

My Victims? Grit (Toss the last meme I plagued you with and do this one!) Kelli Jean, Mapiprincesa & sixmonthsofsettled (sorry guys – don’t do it if you don't want to – I’m just interested)

XOXOBC