Specific Books To Go

[mlerules]

Do any of these interest you:

From HOMER to MENANDER - Forces in Greek Poetic Fiction. This book has a certain amount of sentimental value. It was inscribed on June 11, 1955 to my father as a high school prize for Best final examination and year's work in Greek III. I don't care enough about it though to hang onto it if'n someone else would actually read it.

The Portable Greek Reader. Again, this has a certain measure of sentimental value, but if'n this sounds like your cup o' tea, I'm happy to give it to you. I'd just like it to go to a good home. (It's inscribed to my father from a friend c. Sept. 30, 1948. He kept very little throughout his life. This is one of the few things. My grandfather (his father) was a classicist for years, so there's that connection as well.)

Also, I seem to have ended up w/two (2) copies of Le Petit Larousse. I'm not really sure I need even one (1) these days and two (2) is definitely unnecessary. The recent one is from 1967. Any students taking French (or others) interested in having this?

*****



Meanwhile, I've filled up one (1) book box full of books to go away. Yeah, right now what I'm feeling is guilt - or something else...not sure what - more than anything else 'bout getting rid of books. But if'n they're going to good homes, that should make me feel better, right? *sigh*

Okay, here's the dealio. I live in the future a lot. Ditto the past. Books bridge these times. They remind me who I've been (what I've read) and perhaps who I'd like to be (stuff to read). I worry about giving up part of my identity by giving up my books. Books impact people. I can impact people in positive ways by passing books along. Right? *sigh*

I'm hoping for some sense of freedom from doing this. It's not happening yet. Okay, l'il inklings're floating by somewhat. I remember the feeling of freedom when I moved to SoCal nearly 30 years ago (ACK!) w/nearly everything I owned fitting inside my 1st car, the Pumpkin, a 1980 Datsun 210 stationwagon w/an engine about as powerful as a sewing machine (trucks passed me over the Grapevine). This ain't how my life is now. I've got stuff. Lots of stuff. Some I don't use. But I MIGHT use it, right? I might NEED it one day... Um. Likely not for much of this. Really. *sigh*

Well, at least I'm feeling good 'bout passing along my kids books. I'd always wanted to pass along my books to my kidlets, but since that ain't happening, I'm passing 'em along to those kids who're in my life these days.

Comments

[ebony-sphynx.livejournal.com]

The depth of feeling you express here is almost overwhelming. I think that the fear of losing parts of my identity through the loss/culling of books is possibly why I read books until I have the tales nearly memorized so I can relive them as often as I need/like. But there are some few books I never want to live without: Ender's Game, A Knot in the Grain, The Complete Works of E. A. Poe, and about 15 or so others. I keep them around like old friends, while other books come and go.

Most of my library these days consists of books about plants, eco-friendly/traditional architecture, crafts, languages. It's a bit like living with the reference section of the library. I admit to moments of sadness when I go to seek a good book to read and realize I've only kept about 25 of them. Part of that is also because I am very very picky about what I read for entertainment.

And that bit about not being able to pass certain treasures to your children...yes, that strikes a chord with me too. I count my blessings that I have nieces who share my interests (for now) who really appreciate receiving things from me that influenced me along the way.

Sharing your books with friends is a lovely way to keep them in your life even if you don't see them everyday anymore. The fact remains that they are still there. You've turned your back on nothing, only shared it with people who matter to you.

I love you. Something about your feelings for your library really opens my heart even more. you are truly one of the most wonderful people I've ever known. I'm very lucky that you're my friend.

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Thank you, My Dear, for your comments. It helps me to know I'm not alone w/these feelings, in this process, or in life.

I think I've lived many lives, when I look back over my history (and when I look at my books). Yeah, yeah, I'm the total of my victories & failures, of my triumphs & disasters, but also of the simple times, of particular moments in time when thoughts first flitted through my conciousness (sp), often stimulated by reading...or talking w/Dear Friends.

*love*

[princekermit.livejournal.com]

Culling books is a difficult process, no two ways about it. I feel your pain. (And, at the same time, I'll point back to the Naked Spine Book Swap coming up on the 25th). My general logic is: there are books as info and books as things. Books as info means data, I keep those books I use as reference and those which are difficult, if not impossible to replace and cull the rest because it's a library trip or jaunt to Half Price Books away. Books as things are like my personalized, autographed, first edition Anansi Boys. Impossible to replace and means more for the moment in time as it does for the actual value.

When it comes to books like your two above, I find a middle-person often helps. Unless someone else speaks up, I'll take those books for you and hold them for a period of X years. If you, years later, decide you really want a connection to your father in that way, I'll have it for you.

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's indeed the Nekkid Brain Book Swap (call if what you will ;-) that's encouraging me to do this culling.

Thank you so very much and bless you for your suggestion re: a middle-person and for agreeing to fill that role (if need be). If'n nobody else wants 'em, I'll pass 'em along to you. (I'd been more than sorta hoping that you - or another SMF'r - would want 'em around.) *tears falling right now - of joy*

[vismaya-viewer.livejournal.com]

We have made a welcome home for your kid books here at the Orphanage; they will be well read and loved. *hugs*

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Very much appreciated.

[hiddentass.livejournal.com]

A suggestion:
Check each questionable book for availability on Amazon, at local libraries, and for-free electronic versions (Project Gutenberg). Anything that would be cheap or free to replace is a big candidate for passing on. List each book (maybe take pictures of the covers, inscriptions, marked passages etc.). Make any extra notes about its meaning to you. Keep the list safe (electronic) and keep a hard copy for your book self.

This list preserves the appearance, and bibliographic information. You can replace anything (or put out a call for friends who have might have it) fairly easily. Plus you have less to move and the books go forth to span into new minds.

Hugs,
-Tass

[darthsunshine.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I read through the existing comments before I started typing, because now I can just say, "This." :)

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

:-)

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Thx, sweetie!

[sidhefire.livejournal.com]

Books and rocks.. when I've narrowed down my possessions in the past it's always come down to the books and rocks I couldn't let go of... I so feel what you are expressing. Best of luck with the process!

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Thx!

[nomilomi.livejournal.com]

In my storage unit I think there is a box that still has assorted young adult books (not even very good ones) that I still have not managed to cull. I don't have space to keep them in my living space, so they travel from storage unit to storage unit as I move around. I just can't make myself give them up. I hope that when Gian and I invest in a house one day he can help me cull them.

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Passing 'em along to someone you know will get lots outta them, too (like you did/do), helps HUGELY w/this.

What books/authors do you remember from that box?

[nomilomi.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure there's some Babysitters Club, a favorite for many many years. I also would often have the elementary school English "text" books that had short stories/fragments from stories because I got lots of books in one book! I know the Chronicles of Narnia are there and those are never going away because I stole them fair and square from my stupid brother! (A bit of a story behind that one, if you can't tell.)

I don't even know where in storage the box is, to be honest, it's somewhere in the unit (if I didn't manage to pare down and forget, which is possible) but will be one of those things to be gone through when I finally have the space to not have a storage unit!