Tuesday, June 5, 2007

So many books for girls, so little time

Dear J and L:

This is a serious post. I've mentioned before that I love to read. You know that I love to write. What I may have neglected to mention -- at least prominently -- is that I've been rather obsessed with collecting books over the years. I love finding a good used book bargain. I have books upon books on our many shelves that I have read, haven't read, intend to read someday, and a few that just don't need to be here any longer. As a follow up to my post late last week, I am on a mission to clear stuff out of this house, to purge the old and make new for all of your many things.

This seems like a great time to start a series of posts I have been planning for months, but haven't gotten around to tackling. In honor of Tackle it Tuesday, I will start today.

As I wrote Saturday, if anything in this house doesn't have a purpose, it must go. My theory on purging books goes like this: If it is something I want to read to you, want you to read or want you to have someday, it must stay. Everything else must go. Every Tuesday, I will tell you about one book you have to read and why and then I'll list one more that will be immediately listed for sale on Half.com.

This week, my book review of sorts, will be a copy of "White Oleander: A Novel," by Janet Fitch. Above all, this book must stay. I will read it again someday. I want you to read it for its pure poetry, it's heart-renching details and it's shower of girldome. Of course, you will not suffer like the main character in this book. But, this book is also about the love between a mother and a daughter. That love you will know, immensely. I have many books, but this one I cherish just as much as many of the classics. Please take the time to read this some day, just for reading's sake.

And, so, this means one book has to say buh-bye. That book is "Big Stone Gap," by Adriana Trigiani. A good book, but not good enough for me to recommend to my baby girls some day.

Tackle It Tuesday Meme

11 comments:

Jodi said...

What a neat tackle!! Have a great Tuesday!

PJ Hoover said...

I have to laugh! I collect elephants and REALLY did when I was young. But in my great Goodwill purges, I let 95% of the elephant collection go. Why? Because I may want to pass on my favorite ONE or TWO elephants to my kids, but my favorite 100! Why would I burden them with that? I figure they can have the joy of collecting something of their own someday.
So good for you on the book giving! (Because all books or elephants are not worth it).

Eva said...

I find it really hard to get rid of any books, but agree that if it's not something I would reread or recommend, then why keep it? I loved White Oleander as well.

Answered your question about movie editing back in my comments on my blog.

S said...

What a great idea. I may have to do the same...at least the purging part. There is just no excuse for a crappy book, IMHO. ;)

Loukia said...

Yes, what a great idea! I love reading, too. Bookcases filled with books and no matter how tired I am after a day with my toddler, I will read before going to bed every night. I enjoyed White Oleander, too. I just finished Angela's Ashes and am reading 'Tis now. Amazing books. I also loved The Glass Caslte which I read recently as well. Anyway... I'm rambling! Great post, and great blog!

Dawn said...

That is a good thing to tackle. I have a lot of books, too. I have a lot that I haven't read, but I don't feel like I can get rid of them until I read them, even if it's something that doesn't sound that great. I need to do what you're doing, maybe just get rid of one a week whether I've read it or not.

Shawn said...

Thanks for your comments. I'm not sure, yet, if I will get rid of many that I haven't read. Only those that I'm sure I will not read, perhaps because they are so obviously not in my interest at this stage in my life (singlehood books come to mind). If I keep buying books and storing them, then we'll need a house just for books. That's not possible. I have to get rid of some. If any of you decide to do something similiar, please let me know by commenting or email so I know to keep an eye on what you are keeping/purging.

Lauren said...

What a creative tackle! I love it!
And your blog theme is awesome... it reminds me of the book, "The Letter Box".

Jenny said...

My children's school just organized a book swap - bring two, take two.

I brought 20 and took two. I figured it was a good trade ;)

Fingers To Toes Photography said...

What a neat tackle! I miss reading - it's been so long since I was able to pick up a good book!!!

LeAnna said...

I just discovered your blog, your girls are cute! I have a 2 year old girl and a 9 month old boy. If you are interested, I have a book blog at http://www.writtenwindows.blogspot.com and I write children's book reviews. I am pretty blunt at what I think of them and I love to read critically and I know the power of the written language.
keep up the good blogging!
LC