Each had his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by heart; and his friends could only read the title. - (Virginia Woolf, Jacob's Room)
I just finished reading an article on npr's website written by Tom Rachman about his eccentric collection of obituary compilations that he keeps on the bottom shelf of his bookcase. I think we all maybe have one of those "shelves" that we don't necessarily point out to neighbors or certain family members. I also think that we all have some topic that we find ourselves reading about over and over, whether it be obituaries, zombies, or in my case, Hurricane Katrina books. Some take it one step further and make it an obsession whereas others just dabble occasionally.
After contemplating Rachman's article, I stared for quite a while at my own bookcase. With the idea of soon installing built-ins for the living room, I am now double-stacking various cheap Wal-Mart bookcases throughout our house. One small bookcase holds signed editions that I hold dear to my heart, another holds my husband's fantasy and military novels. But the one that I happen to be looking at from the comforts of my couch is an interesting mix. It is a home for my college anthologies of art and dramatic literature; popular novels; an odd collection of non-fiction about the Black Death of Europe, and of course, my Katrina/Louisiana shelf. Peppered from one ledge to another are little trinkets...my curiosities. A little wooden box full of my grandfather's old keys; a milk glass candy jar given to my by my husband's grandmother; a treasure box holding my late father's cheesy leather belt, true 80's style; Mardi Gras beads depicting funny little Voodoo dolls; a Mexican jar candle and chocolate grinder; and no doubt, much dust. So what does your bookcases say about you?
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