What's on your bookshelf?

With the reading events going on this month, I've stopped and looked a little closer at all of the books on my own shelves. Shelves of books are on every level of the house, in every room. I keep thinking I really should donate them to a used bookstore; it would save a lot of weight when it is time to move.

I just can't bring myself to pick which books should go, and which should stay. Books are like old friends. I can relate certain stories to different times in my life. Books taught me lessons, and introduced me to a larger vocabulary. Books brought tears, laughter, quotes and questions. I just can't choose. Don't make me choose.

If you make me choose, I will argue that no one will want my books because I highlight and write notes in each one.

When people visit, discussion tends to turn to the books that cover our shelves. I've noticed the books in which visitors show interest tell much about them.
The English majors go right for Shakespeare, "Canterbury Tales," and Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."

Military friends asked if Colin Powell's autobiography was worth reading. The only correct reply is, yes. Oh, you have Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried," "Gods and Generals," the "North and South" trilogy? Three great reads!

Horror lovers notice I can't quite stomach Stephen King, so, I have a large collection of Dean Koontz. I have a quote from him hanging above my bedroom door:

"Do as little harm to others as you can; make any sacrifice for your true friends; be responsible for yourself and ask nothing of others; and grab all the fun you can.
Don't give much thought to yesterday, don't worry about tomorrow, live in the moment, and trust that your existence has meaning even when the world seems to be all blind chance and chaos. When life lands a hammer blow in your face, do your best to respond to the hammer as if it had been a cream pie. Sometimes black
humor is the only kind we can summon, but even dark laughter can sustain."

I take most interest in visitors who tend to go toward my favorite Dante's "Inferno." I've read it so many times the cover and spine are falling off. Orwell's "1984," "Hand Maid's Tale," "Lord of the Flies," and "Brave New World" make for some very interesting futuristic debates.

Characters in "Fahrenheit 451" commit the contents of the great classics to memory, because it's illegal to own a book. What would you do if you couldn't own a library of books? I can't decide on one or two books, a mental breakdown may ensue if I couldn't have any of them.

For brain mush, I got suckered into the "Midnight" series and Janet Evanovich's books on her character Stefanie Plum, a hilarious journey of a broke woman becoming a bondswoman.

Clive Cussler, mechanical engineering, Naval history, and handyman books cover the bottom shelves.

Take a look at your own collection, and the next time you have company over you may be interested to see how much you can learn just by watching family and friends go through your books.