Me, A Bibliophile?

Posted by memo at 4:55 PM in Literature

B. I believe in the transformative power of books.

C. My philosophy is ingrained within this self-created quote:

"Show me your books and I'll tell you who you are."

C. Books are the "essence" of me. I am in a large part, a product of the books I read.

Been sorting through my book collection lately, trying to categorize and place things in some kind of order for easy reference.

There's not enough space. There never is. Floor space all used up, the nightstand out of space and I dare not stack anymore on the floor in the passageway.

Including the afore mentioned stacks, both book shelves are jam packed. The collection includes horror, sci-fi, political science, medical, history, fairie tales, mythology, technical & programming, self-help & how to, spirituality, various versions of the Holy Bible, mysteries, philosophy, psychology, magazines and personal journals I once started and packed away--now weathered by time. I can't bring myself to throw them out.

A friend eyes them and tells me that I need to let go of the past and rid myself of things I haven't used in years and most likely will never use again."You're too sentimental!" he accuses. "Always holding on to the past!"

Me, throw away my books! unheard of! I even hate to lend them out. In fact, I've been know to offer my friends the money to purchase a book they have seen in my collection and have asked to read, rather than lend it to them.

I agree with you--I'm pretty stingy when it comes to my books and that side of me has lately extended to my now ever growing collection of music and software CD's thanks to { Amazon.com }but even with these I am less stingy.

Why am I like this with my books? Well, I have this theory--my books are a "map" of my growth. They illustrate I believe, my mental, spiritual and emotional evolution over the years. There's an adage that says "show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are" and while my friends tend to be people who are avid readers or writers I feel in my case that my books will tell you who I am and how I tend to think.

As such, when in the past, I have loaned my books to friends which were not returned I went through a kind of depression, a mourning. It was as if a part of myself had been taken away and was lost forever. The books can be replaced of course but it's not the same.

It's just not the same! I tend to scribble all over the pages--dates, moments of discovery, epiphany, enlightenment, or complete misunderstandings are highlighted where necessary on the various pages. Notes to self , to author, questions, answers, thoughts and so forth represents my growth.

The look and feel of the book, how it ages with time, it's scent, a coffee ring imprinted upon a page, crumbs from a cookie or muffin I may have been snacking on at some point while I read the book, sketches and other marginal doodles serve as reminders about what I may have been doing or thinking back when I read the book. When the books are gone, those visual etchings of imprinted pleasures and the memories embedded within them are gone forever.

Besides all that however, books offer me a way to escape and to make if not physical, but mental contact with other cultures. They influence not only how I think but my writing as well .

Now my questions to you are:

1. Do you yourself collect books?

2. Do you think they have little or no effect or significance in your life? I'm just curious to know how others feel on this subject. Speak to me!