So You Want To Know What's On My Bookshelf, eh?

I was tagged by The Bumbles Blog for this original bookshelf meme. Thank you. Thank you very much.


Tell me about the book that has been on your shelves the longest.

Like most people, I wish I could say it was a book from my childhood. I do, however, have several college books laying around. This one, Philosophy and Science, has been around since my first year in college (read: the night school version) and it reminds me of the very arrogant professor who taught us about the relationship between these two disciplines, often name-dropping places he'd been too (the Sistine Chapel was a biggie) and telling us we needed to travel. Well, I am now thankful for his arrogance because he challenged me and made me want to travel.

Tell me about a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (i.e. a person, a place, a time, etc.)

This copy of Graham Green's The End of the Affair is one of my treasures. I began reading it on a solo flight to Hong Kong by MYSELF. Yikes! I love to go to other places, but I wish I could wiggle my nose, Bewitched-style, and just be there already. I was on a business trip going to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Taipei when I read this book. It was the one constant I could count on throughout, so this copy is sort of like my blankie from that journey.




Tell me about a book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used book store, prize, etc.)...

This book is one I found at an antique store on a visit to Galveston. It's called "The Shipwreck" by William Falconer, publish date London, T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1806. It has this inscription in it: M. T Teague the gift of dearest Laramore (sp?) Truro, October 18th, 1811.

This book, about the size of a modern blackberry, has something mysterious about it to me because I like to think of all the places it might have traveled inside the coat pocket or a trunk of it's various owners. Imagine - it was published in London, inscribed in Truro and then purchased by me in Texas. If this book could talk....


Tell me about the most recent addition to your shelves.


That would be books written by some of the authors I will meet this coming weekend at the Pulpwood Queens Author Extravaganza: Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy by Robert LeLeux and The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson.






Tell me about a book that has been with you to the most places.

Well, that would have to be mine, of course! I never travel without several copies of Janeology now. You never know when you might meet a person who needs a book. Plus, I like to leave my book with BookCrossing stickers around, too.



The Fine Print

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.

I tag the following fellow fancy pants writer people/friends because I'd like to know what's on their bookshelves:


Joshua Corin at My Blargh
Dave Diotalevi at Where's Myx?
Cheryl Tardif at The Suspense is Killing Me
Robert Rummel-Hudson at Fighting Monsters With Rubber Swords
Sophia Dembling at Sophia Dembling

So You Want To Know What's On My Bookshelf, eh?