A Meme

Just as A Reader's Respite was bemoaning our recent blogger's block (if you're just tuning in, blogger's block is our version of writer's block), Literary Menagerie came to the rescue and tagged us with the Bookshelf Meme.



Thank goodness because our poor readers were about to be assaulted with a 1000 word diatribe about the uselessness of Proust.

(Whenever we're low on blogging ideas, we take petty jabs at Proust. Just so you know. It's not as if he has a Google Alert set up.)


Proust. Aren't we immature?

Now on to the meme!

And now tell me about...


The book that’s been on your shelves the longe
st:

My copies of The Chronicles of Narnia. I've had them at least 30 years, although I cannot for the life of me remember who bought them for me as a child.


I lost them for a while, then stumbled upon them in my mother's basement, which shouldn't surprise me. I think the woman saved everything from our first lost tooth to our first bowel movement. Sheesh.

I'm saving them for my own kidlets, just in case one of them learns to read someday. A mom can dream, can't she?



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

This one is a toss up between:


War and Peace, which is the ONLY book I took with me when I sequestered myself for one entire summer on a 32' sailboat called The Seawind and sailed the San Juan Islands,

and

Trixie Belden and The Mystery Off Old Telegraph Road, which evokes childhood memories of lazy summer afternoons devouring this book. Interestingly, it's the only Trixie Belden book I ever read.



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

Eragon, by Paolini. I stole it.



Okay, so I stole it from my brother. But still, it was out and out theft.



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

I once tucked a copy of Jon Krakauer's book Into Thin Air in a side pocket of my flight case and promptly forgot about it until I cleaned out the case some 3 years later. Based on loose calculations I figure that book probably accumulated around 2.2 million frequent flyer miles.

And no, the irony of the title and where the book was misplaced is not lost on me.



The most recent addition to your shelves:

My stunningly beautiful UPS man just stopped by. Sadly, it wasn't a social visit. But he did bring me Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance, by Gyles Brandreth. I'm excited about this one.




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

Looky what I found whilst digging through boxes in the garage:



That's right, baby, it's The Illustrated Jane Eyre! Bought it right before our big move and it got packed away and completely forgotten about. I *heart* this book!


So here's 5 people who are probably getting sick and tired of me tagging them:

Passages to the Past
Beth Fish Reads
Great Books and Fresh Coffee
Jo-Jo Loves to Read!
All About {n}



And for those of you who were tagged, read the fine print:

The Rules
1. Tag 3-5 people, so the fun keeps going!
2. Leave a comment at the original post at A Striped Armchair, so that Eva can collect everyone’s answers.
3. If you leave a comment and link back to Eva as the meme’s creator, she will enter you in a book giveaway contest! She has a whole shelf devoted to giveaway books that you’ll be able to choose from, or a bookmooch point if you prefer.
4. Remember that this is all about enjoying books as physical objects, so feel free to describe the exact book you’re talking about, down to that warping from being dropped in the bath water…

5. Make the meme more fun with visuals! Covers of the specific edition you’re talking about, photos of your bookshelves, etc.

19 comments:

  1. I love that meme! You learn alot about your blogger friends with this one. I would imagine, with your job, that you would win the "most miles traveled" that anyone.

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  2. Thanks for the tag!!! You did such a great job on this meme. So has everyone -- everyone, that is, except me. I did answer all the questions and everything, but I just didn't have the time or energy to do the book covers. Me bad!

    It was a really fun to do and to think about and I'm happy and flattered that you tagged me. Come see my post here.

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  3. Hey, I kinda like Proust! I've only gotten through Swann's Way, but I actually liked it. Someday I'll even read the rest. :-)

    Lezlie

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  4. OMG!! Those are the copies of Chronicle of Narnia I had too! I can't find my whole set, so I have been searching used book stores (I refuse to ebay them--feels un-Narnian!) to find all of them. Just found out my good friend has 5 of 7! That is joy!!

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  5. We have that box set of Narnia, it's proudly displayed in our living room right next to my harry potter collection... Yeah, there's no guessing if we're nerds or not when we have visitors!

    I LOVE being tagged! Thanks! I'll let you know when the survey is up.

    Also, every time I hear Proust mentioned, I can't help but think of 'Little Miss Sunshine' with Steve Carrell. <3

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  6. How fun that you sailed the San Juan Islands (and took War and Peace). Did you finish it? I read it while on bedrest for my first pregnancy.

    I also own the same Narnia books, but mine are worse for wear. My sisters and I were pretty rough with them.

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  7. An Illustrated Jane Eyre!!! What I wouldn't give to get my hands on that. lol.

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  8. Thanks for the tag Michele - I'll have my post up shortly.

    The Proust thing totally cracked me up. =D

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  9. I really like that meme. My dad has the same boxed set of the Narnia books as you do, and they are old. My brother and I both read some of the books from that set, so it is sure to be well-loved!

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  10. Oh this is a neat meme...and thanks for tagging me! I will get mine posted in the next couple of days.

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  11. Oh, I LOVED Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance. Such a good book. I'm stoked to read the second one, and even have it at my house...I just need to find the time, though the review will be going on my new blog for all things NOT American..called Bridge the Gap. I should be re-posting my review for Death of No Importance on there soon if you want to see what I thought. :)

    =Lauren

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  12. I still have my Narnia boxed set too, it is the same one. I can clearly remember reading The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe sitting on our old red couch. I read it all in one day, I couldn't put it down!

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  13. Sandy - I think Carey at The Tome Traveller might have me beat in that area....she works more trans-contintental flights than I do. ;)

    Beth - it's the answers that are important! I enjoyed reading yours because our reading tastes are so darned similar.

    Lezlie - I should have known, LOL. I look forward to your reviews of Proust so I can make fun of him, HA.

    MonsterLibrarian - isn't it funny how a certain edition belongs to a certain age group? ;)

    Smash - HP and Narnia in the living room? I knew there was a reason I liked you!

    Alyce- yes, I did finish War and Peace. And I actually liked it. Go figure. Did you like it?

    Dar - it's a gorgeous and fun edition. I love it.

    Nely - you can always count on me to beat up on poor Proust.

    Bookworm - ok, now you just made me feel very old, lol.

    Jo-Jo - looking forward to reading yours!

    SSM - I'll be watching for your review - I am so looking forward to this book!

    Carey - all us cool people have the same boxed set, right? (It's okay, you can insert "old" for "cool"....I'll understand). :)

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  14. Michele - I liked almost all of War and Peace. The parts that I remember not liking were the political/moral commentary from the narrator and/or Tolstoy. The rest of the story was quite enjoyable.

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  15. the *Into Thin Air* anecdote is priceless.

    I love the cover of the Jane Eyre edition ... are all the illustrations as dramatic?

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  16. Hey!!

    I posted the review for Death of No Importance again. You can find it here if you like:

    www.bridgethegapx.blogspot.com

    :)

    I hope you get to read it soon!!!

    -lauren

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  17. I have that SAME exact boxed-set of Narnias and have read them several times. Plus, it has been on my shelf for as long as yours have, I reckon. A long long time.

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  18. Dawn - illustrations are so-so, but cool nonetheless!

    Lauren - awesome review, thanks for reposting it....now I'm really looking forward to that book!

    Cip - nice to know there's someone out there as old as I am, ha. ;)

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Fire away!