The Owning Of Books

Why do you own books, and how do you decide which books you desire to own? And the ever famous question directed at readers, by non-readers, why don't you just check out books from the library?

Excuse me, what did you just ask me?!

I do frequent my local public library, most times receiving the raised eyebrow by the librarian and the all too often question of "Do you need a bag, or perhaps two bags?", when I happily deposit my towering stack of books upon the counter, and the people behind me sighing and shifting their weight in impatience as they clutch the one, or two, books in their arms. Amateurs. I will often make a once a week visit, not only to replenish my reading material but to also return the books that I read during the week. The library is my first option for reading a book that I have never read before, rather then spending money on a book that I may not desire to own, or ever desire to read again. I call those the one time readers, and the one time readers do not get a place on my bookshelves.

If I really, really enjoy a book that I read, I may desire to own it, at which point I will keep a eye out for it at Half Price Books, or even possibly buy it new, depending on how much I liked it. And what I am about to disclose is why I own books, I re-read my books. Yes, I will go back and re-read my favorites many times over. I know that some people out there will not re-read a book, and yet they own books, sometimes a lot of books ... that, I do not understand. Why own something that you will not be reading again? I understand completely the joy of having books in one's home, the beauty of it, but my books are like old friends, old acquaintances that you may not have seen for a while but in which that friendship is instantly rekindled when you run into them again. Plus they just look good. Now that we went over the why of owning books, I will now go over the which. Now, which books I choose to own is a little more complicated. I am picky when it comes to which titles I put in my personal library. Classics usually earn a instant place in my library, but not always. It has to be well written, have a good plot line, and above all it needs to be a book that I desire to re-read. Rarely will I buy a book that I have not yet read, but I will buy classics. So far the love it factor on unread classics far outweighs the hate it factor, so I feel fairly comfortable making those purchases. I really like having unread books in my library that I can seek out too. I may also make that purchase if I can find it second hand for a very reasonable price, especially if it is a book that I cannot find at my library. You win some, and you lose some when you gamble on books.

My books don't just sit on the shelves looking pretty, they do have a function.

So if a non-reader asks you that question of "Why don't you just go to the library?", ask them "Why don't you go to the library?".

Book Review of "A Wind in the Door" by Madeleine L'Engle

Wow, these books are deep, and very thought provoking.

I absolutely love how Madeleine L'Engle is able to incorporate God, magic, and science into her books. She pulls it off flawlessly, and in such a way that it just feels right and doesn't contradict itself. She truly has a beautiful perspective on things. These are the kind of books where you can just delve deeper and deeper into it, a continuous wealth of messages and meanings behind it all.

My Rating : ****

Book Review of " A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle

It was a dark and stormy night 

Thus begins the first step into the world that Madeleine L'Engle created.

I read this book as a child, possibly the entire series, but I feel that I did not understand it at the time and was unable to grasp the message, therefore it shouldn't come as a surprise that I did not remember it. Re-reading "A Wrinkle in Time" as a adult, was like reading it again for the first time.

At first I was disappointed in the book. This book is a classic, a very well known classic with a large devoted fan base, and with such popularity comes a certain expectation. A extremely hyped up sort of expectation. I found myself disappointed because of this, and not because of the book itself. As the book progressed, so did my interest. I did not realize, until reading, that there is a very clear message within this book, of Good vs. Evil. I found it to be refreshing. The classic good vs. evil is certainty not a new concept, but I found Madeleine L'Engle's message to be stronger, and louder, in this category then most others that I have read. It reminded me of "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis. I did not feel that L'Engle pushed her religious beliefs upon the reader, but rather let the reader walk away from the book and ponder  upon it. I personally enjoyed the Christian aspect that was within this book.

My Rating : ****

My Library Book Haul

I have over nineteen books checked out from my local public library sitting in my to be read pile. I didn't have my want to read list with me, so although I remembered some of the titles of those books and was able to get them, a lot of these books are just ones that I stumbled across on the shelves. So pro, I discovered some titles to add to my to be read pile, but con, I have a loooooong list of want to read books left on the list. I will be reading, reviewing, and rating these books in the weeks to come ... I wonder how quickly I can get through them? Knowing me, I'll just be adding to it as I read through them.

Book Review of "Normal: A Novel" by Graeme Cameron

Such a sad little book. When I say sad I do not refer to that certain emotion of heart wrenching despair, no, I mean sad in the pathetic sense.

I did not finish this book, I did not even get past page twenty, so perhaps my review is a little undeserved and close minded, but there is a reason that I did not go forward with this book.

The writing, my goodness the writing. As choppy as the waves at sea during a storm. The plot, and story in general, all felt very unrealistic and forced. I even skimmed through the book to see if it perhaps got better, therefore justifying my going forward with it, but as far as I could see it continued on its path of destruction.

My Rating : *

Book Review of "The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There" by Catherynne M. Valente

“A book is a door, you know. Always and forever. A book is a door into another place and another heart and another world.”

Just as awing as the first book in the series. I feel that this is a series that very well may earn a permanent place on my shelves, and well deserving of it too.

My Rating : ****

Fifty Shades Too Many

It was just announced that E.L. James, author of the Fifty Shades of Grey books, has another book up her sleeve. Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian, a male perspective version of Fifty Shades of Grey told through Christian Grey's point of view.

The author must of run out of money, otherwise why would she feel the need to release more of her badly written, pornographic, psychologically disturbed books upon the world? To be completely honest, I have not, nor will I ever, read these books. But with a book this popular, this hyped up, one tends to see and hear things. Color me not impressed. Quiet frankly, I would be embarrassed to admit to having read these books, yet alone boasting of my love for them. Everyone has the right to read whatever they desire to, and I am not here judging that choice, I am just stating that for the life of me, I just cannot understand why these books are so popular ... well, I think that we can all take a guess on the why aspect ...

I don't feel that anyone needs to be subjected to the psychologically disturbed view point of that character dubbed Christian Grey.