Books, Books, and Even More Books!

Hello!  

So a long, long, long time ago, I set up a poll to see which draft posts you would all like me to finish.  This post received the most votes!!  Thank you all for voting on the poll!  It is probably one of my earliest drafts that I've been putting off.  I'm not sure where or who it came from, but I know it made its rounds in the blogging world!

So without further ado, I give you...

The Bookshelf Tag~

Describe your bookshelf (or wherever it is you keep your books-it doesn't actually have to be a shelf!) and where you got it from:  

I have to say, before starting this post, that my bookshelf in my room is a work in progress.  I grew out of my bookshelf long ago, but haven't gotten a new one yet, so I actually have two, my sister's old one and mine! 😄  Because they are so small, I've had to remove some of my childhood or family favorites that I might otherwise have kept on the shelves.  Most of my books are also double stacked.  My bookshelves are beautiful dollhouse shaped with windows on the sides and are painted with green and pink accents on a white background.



Do you have any special or different way of organizing your books?

Overall, my books are separated by subject and then organized by height.  The top shelf of my green bookshelf is nick-nacks, statues, and other items.  Then, the next shelf holds most of my Catholic, Saint, and Life of Faith series books.  The third shelf holds some of my favorite books and series including Anne of Green Gables, Narnia, books written by Jane Austen, and other girly novels. 😊  The bottom shelf is all of my tall books, magazines, yearbooks, old paper dolls, and such.  My pink bookshelf has journals and notebooks on the top shelf.  The second shelf has devotionals, the Little House on the Prairie series, and my folded AoGG book.  The third shelf holds miscellaneous books and folders.



What's the thickest (most amount of pages) book on your shelf?

My Christian Prayer book (The Liturgy of the Hours) has 2080 pages.



What's the thinnest (least amount of pages) book on your shelf?

I have a small booklet on St. Therese called With Child-like Trust: The Spiritual Childhood of the Little Flower which has 23 pages.



Is there a book you received as a birthday gift?

I received Downright Dencey for my 16th birthday.



What's the smallest (height and width wise) book on your shelf?

A small booklet titled How to Choose Your Vocation in Life measures 5½" tall and 3⅜" wide with 24 pages.



What's the biggest (height and width wise) book on your shelf?

Therese and Lisieux measures 11⅜" tall, 9 and 3/16" wide, 1" binding, and 336 pages.



Is there a book from a friend on your shelf?

The Dominican Rosary Novena Book

Most expensive book?

My Christian Prayer book.



The last book you read on your shelf?

An Unexpected Role, by Leslea Wahl.  You can find my review here.



Of all the books on your shelf, which was the first you read?

Oh, I have no idea. 😶🙊


Do you have more than one copy of a book?

Yes, haha.  I have 2 copies of  The Catholic Girls Guide, Great Expectations, Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Rainbow Valley, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.



Do you have the complete series of any book series?

Yes, I only have one complete series on my shelves right now.  I completed collecting my Anne of Green Gables series a while ago.



What's the newest addition to your shelf?

Most recently, I received An Unexpected Role.  The most recent book I've purchased is Emily's Quest at the thrift store a few months ago.  Since it's the third book in the trilogy, It'll probably be a while before I get to read this.



What book has been on your shelf FOREVER?

Probably some of my childhood Saint books.  The small tan one on the right in the picture below might be the oldest currently on my shelf.  It's a book of Saints for Girls. 💕 (Oh, maybe The Most Important Story Bible is the oldest.  I was around 5 or younger when we got that. 💕 It's pictured below with Great Expectations.)

What's the most recently published book on your shelf?

An Unexpected Role was published in 2016.  The next most recent (since I've used that book in 3 answers now) is Moments of Grace by the Carmelite Sisters, copyright 2014.



The oldest book on your shelf (as in, the actual copy is old)?

I can't tell for sure since many old books are only printed with the original copyright date, but I believe the oldest book I have is Month of Mary: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament by St. Peter Julian Eymard.  The copyright is 1903 and the author is called Fr. Eymard so this copy is presumably from before his canonization (1962).

A book you won?

40 Days for Life - Discover What God Has Done...Imagine What He Can Do



A book you'd hate to let out of your sight (aka a book you never let someone borrow)?

I've let many people borrow dear books so I wouldn't say I'm overly protective of any books.  However, I use my copy of The Catholic Girls Guide so much that I don't think I would be able to loan it out for an extended period of time.  I do highly recommend getting your own copy to every girl and young woman!!



Most beat up book?

My first copy of Anne of Avonlea, which I bought at a small thrift store in Washington State, was pretty well loved when I bought it and I have since read it a few times and loaned it to my grandma, so it's been very well loved.

Most pristine book?

The Imitation of Christ.  Isn't it pretty?!  I received it for my Confirmation and it is a great book, but since I read a lot of excerpts from it in my Manual for Total Consecration to Mary, I haven't used this copy as much, but I certainly want to read it in full soon.

A book from your childhood?

St. Angela Merici: Leading People to God.

A book that's not actually your book?

He is my Heaven: The Life of Elizabeth of the Trinity is actually a book I bought for my sister who, after reading it, insisted that I read it.  I kept it on my shelf ever since.



A book with a special/different cover (e.g. leather bound, soft fuzzy cover etc.)?

Great Expectations (Also, The Imitation of Christ above.)

A book that is your favorite color?

The Duck Commander Devotional

Book that's been on your shelf the longest that you STILL haven't read?

I've had Kathleen's Shaken Dreams for a long, long time now.



Any signed books?

An Unexpected Role by Leslea Wahl!  Ha!  I (sort of) won it in a giveaway.

If you still have time, Movie Critic tagged me for the Book Tag! (again, so sorry it's taken me sooo long...)

The rules:
1. You must be honest.
2. You must answer every question.
3. You must tag at least 4 people.

1.) What book has been on your shelf the longest?

Probably The Most Important Story Bible (as mentioned above).

2.) What is your current read, your last read, and the book you'll read next? 

Currently reading: The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, The Catholic Girl's Guide: Counsels & Devotions for Girls in the Ordinary Walks of Life, Jesus, King of Love by Fr.  Mateo Crawley-Boevey, and Tuning In to God's Call.

Last read: The Austen Escape, by Katherine Reay.

Next read: Maybe In This House of Brede by Rumor Godden  (Here's my whole TBR shelf link.)

4.) What book do you keep telling yourself you'll read, but you probably won't?  

I can't say for sure, but probably Jane Austen's Charlotte: Her Fragment of a Last Novel, Completed, by Julia Barrett.  I checked it out at the library months ago and still haven't read it.  I'm probably just going to end up returning it.

5.) What book are you saving for retirement?

Retirement?!?!  I've never ever thought that far ahead, girlie! 😂🙈  

6.) Last page: read it first, or wait 'til the end?   

Definitely wait 'till the end!  I do not like spoilers.  I'm especially glad I waited to go looking at Pinterest or read part of the end of Emma because it's written like a mystery and the book unfolded ever so nicely before my eyes as I read. 💖

7.) Acknowledgment: waste of paper and ink, or interesting aside?

It depends on how long it is.  It's never really crossed my mind that those (or any other pages) could be considered a waste of ink and paper.

8.) Which book character would you switch places with?  

Again!  I can't choose!!  Anne of Green Gables, firstly.  Maybe Emma, Molly from Young Pioneers, or I'm sure there's another book character I'm forgetting. 🤷

9.) Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life? (Place, time, person?)  

Place: My first copy of Anne of Green Gables reminds me of the first chiropractic office my family went to.  I always loved reading it while waiting in the waiting room and telling the receptionist about it.

Time: Saint John Bosco and Saint Dominic Savio reminds me of the time in my life when I first wanted to become a sister.  St. Mary Mazzarello was just a small part of St. John Bosco's story, but I liked reading about her and she was a great inspiration to me.

Person: The books that my grandmother gave me always remind me of her, even when I just glance at them.  I love you, Granny!🤗😘

10.) Name a book that you acquired in an interesting way.  

I can't think of anything super strange.

11.) Have you ever given a book away for a special reason to a special person?

Recently I gave two friends my last two copies of The Story of a Soul because we were talking about St. Therese, Carmelites, and simplicity.  I had originally purchased 5 copies to try and start a book club with girls in my Little Flowers group, but it never panned out so over the years I've slowly given them away.  I'm so happy I'm able to share them with friends and share the "Little Way" of St. Therese.

  
12.) Which book has been with you most places?

The Catholic Girl's Guide: Counsels & Devotions for Girls in the Ordinary Walks of Life  I take it all sorts of places to use it as a prayer book.   My first copy is so small that I can take it anywhere in a purse!

13.) Any "required reading" you hated in high school that wasn't so bad later?  

If I don't like a book (hate is a strong word), I don't pick it up later.  Books like Shadow Hawk by Andre Norton and Beorn the Proud by Madeline A. Polland were some I just couldn't read.  My sister, however, really liked them and finished them.

14.) Used or brand new?

I love both!  Please don't make me choose.  Used books have a charm and a look that they've been loved.  New books often act like a magnet.  They sit there on the shelf all new and pretty just begging to be cracked open, read, and worn.

15.) Have you ever seen a movie you liked more than the book?   

I can't think of one right now.  I always appreciate a movie that's really well done.  Maybe you could count The Hobbit as it was a little boring when I tried reading it but I like the movies.

16.) Have you ever read a book that's made you hungry, cookbooks included?

One didn't come to mind right away, but now that I think about it, A Little Princess has beautiful descriptions of food that I'd love to eat!

17.) Who is the person whose book advice you'll always take?

I mostly judge for myself although I love recommendations from many people.  I don't think there is any one person though.  My mom and sister are probably the ones who help me choose most of my books.

18.) Is there a book out of your comfort zone (e.g., outside your usual reading genre) that you ended up loving?  

Maybe The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.  I'm not a fantasy, futuristic, or SiFi person, but I really enjoyed The Time Machine in every aspect.

I tag those who have ever read 5 or more of the books I have mentioned in this post!  You can do 1 or even both tags!

I hope you enjoyed reading this super long post!  Have you read any of the books I've mentioned?  Let me know in the comments.  God bless!