Bought and Found
Do me a favor, take a glance at the books on your shelf (or where ever you store them) How many of those books do you cherish? I’m not speaking about the stories or writers (no doubt they play a part) but the book itself.
Now let me ask you this? would you exchange your book (s) for an exact copy? Maybe even a better copy? If not, why? What is it about yours that is significant to you? Did you received them as a gift by a loved one or did reading them help you through a rough emotional patch? Whatever the reason, don’t you agree that those books bear an innate quality that requires more than cash to create.
I’ll wager you have at least a few of these books in your life. No doubt they expose a range of feeling just thinking about them.
What gives you those emotions; what about when you came in contact with the book (s) for the first time? Can you recall intimate details of the experience?
Most of the books (we) have today stem from a mega bookseller like Barnes and Noble. Or ordered online like on Amazon. I’m not against that (who here hasn’t giggled as they clicked on the buy now button) but I prefer when books that enter our lives not because we pursued them but for a host of other reasons.
Did the book come from an unusual place; an antique store or found at a park. You might appreciate the writer or be the writer yourself. Perhaps the book came from a big box store but, through circumstances, developed into more than just another book on the shelf.
It’s a rare occurrence that this takes place (at least for me) and one I hope will take place more often.
A few of mine own discoveries:
I discovered a copy of Dracula (1965) while in a quaint bookstore in Northfield Minnesota (Content books) while I happen to be wearing a Dracula shirt.
On a table in an antique store lay a copy of “The Hellbound heart” the sole book amongst aged household pieces.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (1674 pages thick) handed by my wife's friend's mother because I remarked how I loved reading his plays.
These experiences don’t take place every day. When they do occur they not only create an intrinsic bond and memory, but it likewise provides us a story we can share with others who will get it and, share a story of their own.
I love your discussion about the books in our lives. In our "library room" we have about 1500 books. Many of these books belonged to my husband's father. We have been busy trying to catalogue them. One of the joys of doing this is that we are finding letters and notes written years ago. Some very interesting things have emerged.
That sounds amazing! like 1500 personal time machines. :-)