The Bookshelf Meme

{Thanks Eva from A Striped Armchair for this wonderful meme.}

The book that’s been on your shelves the longest:

While my mom has stored some of “my” childhood favorites away in my brother’s closet, I really don’t remember reading them. I think they were my brother’s favorites as I can clearly remember her reading these books to him. Just not to me. I’m not quite sure what happened to my collection of Barenstein bear books, which I took the time to write my name in. First, middle, and last.

I do, however, still have my jacket copy of Eloise by Kay Thompson. I can remember putting on my best Eloise outfit, complete with black suspenders and shiny shoes, and heading to the Plaza to meet Eloise. The lady at the front desk told me, and my aunt, that Eloise was out of town and I could leave my book with her for Eloise to sign. Unfortunately, I was leaving for home the next morning and couldn’t have Eloise autograph it. I was so upset and have, clearly, still not gotten over the disappointment, never mind the fact that I {now} know that literary characters can’t sign the books they’re in.

A book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time, etc.):

My mom purchased my a copy of Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Christina Bjork on a business trip and gave it to me when she returned. I want to say that Monet’s paintings were on desplay wherever she was, but I don’t think that’s correct.

At the time, I was in the height of my affection for art. While I still enjoy art museums, at the time I received Linnea in Monet’s Garden, I was begging my mom to take me to the Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth so I could practice “my drawing.” In other words, I used to copy the painting onto my own sketchbook with colored pencils and crayons. Unfortunately, my “drawing skills” have never improved past copying.

Often times, my mom was unable to take me to the art museum, so I would hole up in my room and salivate over Monet’s garden painting, as well as wish to be Linnea.

A book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used bookstore, prize, etc.):

Probably not the slightest bit interesting but I received my box set of Little House books from one of the Scholastic order forms my elementary school passed out. I had no idea what I was ordering at the time, and it took all my Christmas money from Papa Lee to buy it.

But I’ve read every single one, repetitively, and have now moved on to the novels about Laura Ingalls Wilder’s female relatives, including daughter, Rose, mother, Caroline, grandmother, Charlotte, and great-grandmother, Martha. I’ve also become slightly obsessed with the television show, although it differs greatly from the actual series. I watch it everytime I’m home sick or on vacation.

The most recent addition to your shelves:

The book whose loss would traumatize you the most:

For my ninth birthday, my mother gave me a beautiful hardback edition of Little Women by Louise May Alcott. I love the illustration on the front. The painting is definetly perfect as a representation of the novel. We’re not supposed to judge a book by a cover, but with this cover, I don’t think you could possibly put it down. And I can’t help but think that my edition of this wonderful classic is a far better than paperback editions you can purchase anywhere.

Inside, the novel also has a beautiful illustrations of Jo, Meg, Beth, Amy, and Marmee March to go along with the story. I read Little Women soon after my mother gave it to me, but it’s been so long that I plan to read it again. Soon, I hope. But I would be quit upset if I was to ever lost my copy, especially since my mother would undoubtedly ask about what happened to it. I don’t even want to begin to think about losing it in a fire.

A book that’s been with you to the most places:

Pride & Prejudice. I’ve taken it to Spain, Canada, New York City, Seattle, and every where in between.

A bonus book that you want to talk about but doesn’t fit into the other questions:

Favorite book(s) as a child? The American Girl books. I own almost every one, except for the newest American girls, and all of my copies are the old, classic white ones with the original owners of the American Girls on the spine, i.e. not Mattel.

I think the best books were about Samantha, Molly, and Kit. Samantha lived in the early 1900s, so most her stories were based around ther changes occuring in American society. For example, the use of children, specifically Samantha’s friend Kit, in factories as laborers. Molly lives during World War II and was my second favorite character. Kit was the last added before I stopped {completely} playing with dolls and I like her stories the best, mostly because she lives during the Depression and her stuggles are the most intereesting.