A few weeks ago, I wrote about a dusty boxful of books I’ve been moving around for decades, and the thoughtful responses from Book Pages readers delighted and surprised me. I’m sharing an edited batch below. And as we head into the long weekend, I hope you get yourself something good to read – whether you find it in a bookstore, a library, your shelves or even somewhere in the back of the garage. (Remember: libraries will be closed on the Labor Day holiday. So stock up early.)
Shannon Dadlez wrote to offer a thoughtful reframing of how to view a box of old books.
I’m so glad to hear that I am not the only one with a personal library stretching back my entire life. But your attitude towards the books is wrong; these are not dusty paperpacks – they are old friends.
These are the places we visited when stuck at home. These characters kept us company in our youth, inspired us, and gave us hope and visions to chase. These were our heroes when our lives may have been without. These stories molded our selves, our values, and our personalities.
I cannot imagine how I may have turned out without my Chronicles of Narnia, Little House on the Prairie series, Collier’s Junior Classics, or my mom’s tattered Lord of the Rings paperbacks! Those Stephen King paperbacks kept me up at night at age 14, but now these same paperbacks make my teens do so! I smile knowing when they’ve hit a page I well remember, and smile that we now share the same friends.
Librarian Helen messaged to let me know she too had an eclectic collection of books she’d held onto – and had the pictures to prove it. She also provided a thoughtful explanation as to why we hold on to old books.
The colorful and bare bones, boring-looking library copies built for eternity? The Girl Detective series that were my mother’s? My Wizard of Oz obsession? Assorted riffraff picked up (OK, accumulated) here and there?
Simpler times always beckon.
Librarian Helen shared images of her shelves, which are richly laden with books (including a glorious stack of multicolored library bindings). (Courtesy of Librarian Helen)
Isabel Walbourne, co-author with Gary Walbourne of the Guardian of the Dragons series, wrote about how she and her husband share a love of teen detectives and the novels of western writer Louis L’Amour.
I am, ahem, also one of those that love my old books and stories that I had while in school. Not just as a kid, but also in college.
One set of books are all the Nancy Drew detective stories. It amazed me that she was forever 18 years old and had an adventure each and every day or weekend. Out of 55 books or so at that time, I think I only have 10 or so missing – and then to find out my husband had most of The Hardy Boys detective books in his collection was fantastic!
It doesn’t stop there. I fell in love with the old western paperbacks by Louis L’Amour way back when, and they are still in a box somewhere in the garage. He wrote stories of actual places and events. He left home at 15 or 16, never finished school, had so many odd jobs, and even was a boxer and a lumberjack. One story came from partial sheets of a diary rolled up and stuffed into the barrel of a gun.
This box is all my respect and honor of an author that was an adventurer, and by keeping these paperbacks, they might some day be worthwhile to give onward to my family. Don’t know if he will be as popular with the rest of the family, but at least my husband and I had a blast reading them. Great subject!
Stacks of books. (Getty Images)
Renee Walter wrote about letting some books go and how she misses them, but then she got inspired to do something unexpected.
Moving from Arizona back to my home state, California, I cleared out a big old library of books I collected. Fiction, nonfiction, self-help, cookbooks, children’s books, lots of gardening and home decorating books, because I guess that’s a passion. Some I never opened, mostly gifts. Some I read and re-read and read the whole series or trilogy or everything from one author. It was quite a nice collection of books. But it wasn’t moving with me.
When you move between states, you pay the mover by weight, and books are heavy, even the paperbacks add up. And when you are moving into a rental while a new home is being built, you put a lot of stuff in storage, only the good stuff that you really want to save. Many of my books were not worthy of the cost to move or store so I took many to my local library and to the Visiting Nurses Book Sale. I donated so others can enjoy them; that put a smile on my face. Some of the ones that perhaps had an increased value were sold at an estate sale. A local antiquarian might have bought some, but the process was a nuisance: send a photo, wait for a valuation, take them to the dealer for consideration, and so on. It was more of a hassle when I already had a long to-do list.
Some days I look on the bookshelves in my new home and realize I didn’t keep the ones I want now. I keep buying books, and still get lots of books as gifts so the bookshelves are filling. And then I still have a shelf of books I’ve had since I was a child in the ‘50s. They have only sentimental value, but some are quite interesting like one that is the history of the California Missions and another of the islands off the coast, “Eight Pieces of Gold.” Those are long out of print, and I will have a hard time parting with those.
My grandsons, working towards their Eagle Scout honors, have worked with others in their Tustin troop to build and start the now-popular Little Free Library boxes that are popping up in many neighborhoods across the country. “Take one leave one” is a thoughtful way to recycle books and to meet other readers in a community. However, this new home came with a homeowner’s association and with lots of rules and regulations. Erecting a post for a Little Free Library just won’t work with any of the community maintenance guidelines.
On Facebook, I follow a neighborhood in Belmont Shore where someone named Riley has developed a great reputation for his Little Red Wagon Library. He attracts lots of interest keeping the selection updated and appealing to all ages. His sidewalk wagon can roll into the garage in damp weather. He inspired me to dust off my wagon and get a note in the community newsletter that I’ll have a Red Wagon Library ready to visit in September.
Already my neighbors are cleaning off their bookshelves and bringing books to stock the wagon. I’ll go through the books I’ve accumulated in the last two years, and perhaps select a few from my sentimental favorites to add to the wagon, too. Next week, I’ll stop by my local library; I’ll bring home some from their dollar store. I’m crossing my fingers and toes that this idea becomes popular, and hope that my neighbors follow the honor system as they do in Long Beach.
This plan comes at a time when Irvine is changing its library system and our local Grace Wheeler library will be closed. The plan also faces the popularity of Kindles and YouTube videos, and many people no longer think of books. My bet is that this will attract readers of all ages and neighbors who usually stay behind closed doors.
Check in with me after a few months about the red wagon filled with books on the sidewalk in front of my home.
Making plans? Here are some upcoming events to consider:
Los Angeles Kids Book Festival
This kid-friendly book event will feature 70 exhibitors, author readings, storytelling sessions, musical performances, arts and crafts, and other activities.
When: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Sept. 8
Where: West Hollywood Park, 647 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood
Info: https://www.lakidsbookfestival.com/
The Frugal Frigate Storytime
Pamela Kleibrink Thompson, the author of “The Horse Who Wanted to Fly,” will be part of a storytime and coloring activity.
When: 10:30-11:30 a.m., Sept. 14
Where: The Frugal Frigate at 9 N. 6th Street, Redlands
Info: https://www.frugalfrigate.com/
Lush bandleader Miki Berenyi has thoughts on ‘Middlemarch’
Former Lush singer and guitarist Miki Berenyi is the author of a new memoir, “Fingers Crossed.” (Photo credit Abbey Raymonde / Courtesy of Mango)
In the 1990s, Miki Berenyi was best known as the lead singer of the British band Lush. Following the group’s split, she became an editor. Now, she’s an author as well. When Berenyi’s memoir, “Fingers Crossed,” hit bookshelves in the U.S., contributor Liz Ohanesian asked the singer, guitarist and writer about her favorite books.
Q. Is there a book that you always recommend to others?
“Easter Parade” by Richard Yates. His writing is so amazing. It’s clearly quite autobiographical. “Easter Parade” is about two sisters. I think his mother is always in there. She sounds like she was quite unconventional and a bit of a nightmare, but he does write about her with love, but she’s crazy. He writes so beautifully because it’s such a compelling, funny, but tragic story. Definitely worth reading.
Q. What are you reading right now?
I just finished a book, “Toxic: Women, Fame and the Tabloid 2000s” by Sarah Ditum.
She writes about Amy Winehouse. She writes about Jennifer Aniston. Britney Spears, these sort of female icons of the era.
She’s a brilliant writer, but it’s such an interesting take on the noughties. I was busy having children and I ducked out of music in ’96, so I didn’t see how much worse it got in terms of that kind of sexism and just the treatment of these women. It’s a really good read.
Q. Do you listen to audiobooks? And is there a genre you read most frequently?
I mostly read fiction. I do read some nonfiction. If I do an audiobook, I do listen to quite a lot of nonfiction. I can’t listen to fiction. If I do an audiobook, it has to be nonfiction. For some reason, it doesn’t work with fiction. One or two works if they’re really well produced, but I think fiction is something where you need your whole imagination to immerse yourself and I think that comes better from reading a page.
Q. Do you have a favorite book?
There’s way too many. There’s quite a boring choice, but I do think “Middlemarch” by George Eliot was the most astonishing book I ever read, not least because it’s so old and there’s something about reading books that old that when they really resonate in terms of an outlook or an understanding of people, it feels like, wow, those things aren’t just the modern way of thinking.
She does that in “Middlemarch,” with even a figure like Casaubon. He’s so hateful. He’s so awful, but she has some empathy with him. She does say, “I know he sounds awful, but…” That ability to make me to have some sympathy, whereas, I love Dickens, but that’s real goodies and baddies. People are just evil or they are sickeningly good. But, I love that gray area with someone like George Eliot where she doesn’t allow anyone to be totally evil or totally good. There’s always some insight into their human frailties.
Q. What’s next on your reading list?
Richard Milward, “Man-Eating Typewriter.” I am going to read it because he interviewed me and I read his first book, which I really enjoyed.
Click the link to read Miki Berenyi’s interview with Liz Ohanesian.
More bestsellers, authors and books
Some end of the summer romances for book lovers. (Covers courtesy of Tor.com, Dell, Berkley, Dutton, Flatiron and Gallery Books)
15 summer romances
The Ripped Bodice’s Leah Koch helped us pick a diverse range of romantic reads. READ MORE
• • •
Liz Moore’s novel “The God of the Woods” is the top-selling fiction release at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Riverhead Books)
The week’s bestsellers
The top-selling books at your local independent bookstores. READ MORE
• • •
Carribean Fragoza, Romeo Guzmán and Samine Joudat are the editors of “Writing the Golden State: The New Literary Terrain of California,” a collection of essays that explores the state through diverse perspectives. (Artwork by Fernando Mendez Corona /Courtesy of Angel City Press)
State of affairs
The California-focused “Writing the Golden State” explore disability, race and class. READ MORE
• • •
Chris Nashawaty is the author of the new book, “The Future Was Now: Madmen, Mavericks, and the Epic Sci-Fi Summer of 1982.” (Courtesy of Flatiron Books)
Summer of sci-fi
Over 8 weeks in 1982, “E.T.,” “Blade Runner,” “The Thing” and more hit theaters. READ MORE
• • •
Sign up for The Book Pages
Miss last week’s newsletter? Find past editions here
Dive into all of our books coverage
Bookish (SCNG)
Next on ‘Bookish’
The next event is scheduled for today, Sept. 20, at 5 p.m. with Garth Greenwell and Moon Zappa. Sign up for free now.
Want to watch previous Bookish shows? Catch up on virtual events and more!
Related Articles
Seth Meyers recommends his favorite books and authors
5 must-read books in translation chosen by Jennifer Croft
Why there are some books you’ll just never give up
What if your neighbor liked the same books and audiobooks you did?
The Book Pages: Women Who Submit prepare for a day of panels, workshops and more