As I've been sorting and straightening my bookshelves, I've been thinking about highlighting certain books and authors from my 'keeper shelves'. Let me say that I am not overly attached to my books. I usually read them and then pass them along to someone else. Except a few.
My keeper shelves contain books from my youth and younger years, books that are now out of print, treasured books that have been signed by the author, or ones that haven't made their way into e-book format. Some are hardbacks, most without dust covers, but some are old paperbacks that I would struggle to read now, partly because of the print size and partly because I'd be afraid the book would fall apart. I've found many of these in used bookstores and some I've ordered from online booksellers or eBay. If they have a place on the 'keeper shelf', there's a good reason.
So, I'm going to begin a new feature and do it a couple of times a month, probably on Fridays. I'm going to call it:
I might talk about a favorite author or series or specific book. They will likely be older books, maybe even very old. You might have heard of them. You might not. In any case, know that these are authors and books that I hate to see forgotten. I hope you'll join me and will share your experiences as well.
The first 'kay's favorites' will be Friday and I'll be talking about an author I loved first as a teen and then later as well - Phyllis A. Whitney, who lived to be an amazing 104 years old.
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| Photograph © Malice Domestic |
nice idea for a feature...looking forward to seeing the books/authors that make it to the keeper shelves
ReplyDeleteI think I'll have fun with it - hopefully, everyone else will too.
DeleteI'm looking forward to reading about your 'keepers'. I keep far too many books once I've read them as I find it so difficult to let them go - so I'm interested in how you decide which ones to keep and which ones you let go.
ReplyDeleteWell, a lot of times I just am browsing around in a used bookstore and run across a book that I remember fondly. However, there have been a bunch of time that I regretted letting a book go. I'm a big rereader and am always frustrated when I've given a book away and then want to revisit. It's a dilemma. LOL
DeleteGreat feature and I look forward to reading more of your posts, Kay.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melody. I think I'll have fun with it. Hopefully, it will be interesting enough.
DeleteI read all of her books when I was younger, my goodness she led a long life. Looking forward to your post.
ReplyDeleteMs. Whitney did live a long, long life didn't she? I was amazed when I went looking for a picture. I knew she had died, but I really didn't remember that she was quite that old.
DeleteGreat idea, what a way to honour authors you have enjoyed in the past and maybe find your way back to their work.
ReplyDeleteExactly. You get it, Marce. This probably more for me than for anyone else. Bonus will be if someone rediscovers an author or book or if they are convinced to look for an oldie to try.
DeleteWhat a wonderful idea, to look back over the books that have meant something special to you. I remember Les talking about keeping a book journal, and the best I have is a list, and that only from the past ten years. I envy you smart girls who have kept a complete record for decades. Now I just have my blog...
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about only keeping a few: from youth, signed, or a few worth a reread.
Yes, I've given away and given away. The only issue is when I want to reread a book and I no longer have it. And that has happened several times. As to keeping track of my reading, yes, I've done it since 1993, but I wish I had done it since 1973 - LOL!
DeleteWhat a fun idea! I love your first choice. I used to devour her books but I don't think I've read any in years! I'm looking forward to your first post.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy this, Katherine. I'm going to try to mix up the authors and types of books a bit - although, the mystery genre will predominate because that's always been my favorite. A bit of romance though.
DeleteThis sounds like a fun idea! I can't wait to see what made your 'keepers' list!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim. I think I will have fun with it.
DeleteWhat a brilliant idea! As you know I love your book nostalgia feature and am envious at the length of time you've kept track of your reading - I will be visiting Friday!
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome, Cleo. I'd like to highlight some authors that people might have forgotten or never known about. As I said, I hate to see authors that I enjoy forgotten.
DeleteWhat a great idea, Kay! I am looking forward to your posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Wendy. I think it will be fun.
DeleteI'm looking forward to your new feature. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diana. I hope you guys will enjoy hearing about my 'favorites'.
DeleteFun feature! Whitney's name is familiar to me, but I can't think of any books I've read by her ... maybe your upcoming post will spark my memory.
ReplyDeleteShe wrote adult mysteries in the gothic vein - like Mary Stewart or Victoria Holt and she also wrote juvenile mysteries. I liked both.
DeleteLooking forward to it! Phyllis Whitney was one of my favorites too.
ReplyDeleteI think we've talked about that, Gayle.
DeleteI love this idea. I've been saying I'm going to do a meme called Small Gems about little, unknown books. I really like this idea, too.
ReplyDeleteDeb, I think that your meme idea for Small Gems sounds lovely. I got to thinking about this recently when I realized that the library where I used to work had weeded all the books in one mystery series that I was quite fond of. And I think it's out of print. I was so sad. I wondered if anyone would remember those books. This idea kind of came out of that.
DeleteI LOVE the ideas you come up with! Looking forward to this. Pretty much all my shelves are keeper shelves because so many are books I haven't read yet. But then there are the beloved ones from childhood (just a couple) and college- all my Faulkner, Fitzgerald, and Hemingway. And then there are the Wodhouse and Woolf shelves. Keepers and adders (a real word??)on to.
ReplyDeleteI just replied above to Deb Nance where this idea came from. I know I've talked about the authors and series that I loved in past years, but many of those posts were on the blog that I deleted. I decided that I'd talk about them again. I hate to see some books forgotten completely. Wish every older book could be made available as an e-book.
DeleteA lot of them are which pleases me no end. I discovered Stuart Palmer, Arthur Upfield, and now ER Punshon as well as others via ebooks.
DeleteWhat a great idea! I'm looking forward to Friday's post. Thanks again for inspiring me to share some of my books from my past. This week I go back to January 1996! :)
ReplyDeleteOh yay! I don't think I knew you in 1996, did I? We were still in Oregon then. Can't wait to see what you'll share with us.
DeleteNo, I don't think we "met" until 1997. As far as what I'm going to share, I may do a combo post since one of the books was quite a dud. Maybe I'll just skip that one altogether. ;)
DeleteWhat an excellent idea! I look forward to seeing which books and authors you highlight!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle! I'm hoping this will be fun for others and for me.
DeleteOh how fun a new feature to look forward to - love it, Kay!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Iliana!
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