Bookish meme

I nicked this bookish meme from Deslily who got it from Eva at A Striped Armchair originally, but I couldn't find that post so can't link back to it. Just for fun then:

The Rules
1. Tag 3-5 people, so the fun keeps going!
2. Leave a comment at the original post at A Striped Armchair, so that Eva can collect everyone’s answers.
3. If you leave a comment and link back to Eva as the meme’s creator, she will enter you in a book giveaway contest! She has a whole shelf devoted to giveaway books that you’ll be able to choose from, or a bookmooch point if you prefer.
4. Remember that this is all about enjoying books as physical objects, so feel free to describe the exact book you’re talking about, down to that warping from being dropped in the bath water…
5. Make the meme more fun with visuals! Covers of the specific edition you’re talking about, photos of your bookshelves, etc.

1 - The book that’s been on your shelves the longest:

Goodness, that's a tough one as I have books dating back to when I was a teenager. (*mumblemumble* years ago...) The one that comes to mind is a Penguin edition of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte that my best friend gave to me in 1968; it still has her inscription in it. But my copy of Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier may well be equally as old... and in fact is - 1967 apparently. And cost me 3/6d, which seeing as I doubtless bought it with my pocket money, was probably a princely sum to me.



2 - A book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time, etc.):

The first two dragon books by Anne McCaffrey, Dragonquest and Dragonflight. I could hardly believe it when I discovered them as a young mum. Totally blown away by Anne's wonderful universe and I still feel that way about her first books, even now. Another author I was obsessed with around that time was Victoria Holt. I suppose people would scorn her books a bit now but back then her lovely historicals used to transport me to another world. And then I read Katherine by Anya Seton and no historical matched up to that for quite some time.

3 - A book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used bookstore, prize, etc.):

My copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare. At school we were told to write an imaginative short story - I think it must have been the all of 3rd. 4th. and 5th. years in the school but I'm not sure. Mine got picked to be entered for a prize - known as the Brooke Bond National School Awards. I don't know if I was the only one from the school entered or if there were a lot put forward. No idea. Next thing I knew my English teacher was calling me into his office and telling me I'd won a prize. I don't know if one person from every school got a prize, or whether it was regional thing, again, no idea. I *do* remember that my mum's jaw hit the floor when I told her and that she cried on Speech Day when I picked up my *extra* prize. Awwww.



4 - The most special YA book I've ever read

Hmmm. Another difficult one as I read a lot of YA these days. I think perhaps it's The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, which I read last year and was bowled over by.

5 - A book that’s been with you to the most places:

Um, well the second book of Lynn Flewelling's 'Nightrunner' series, Stalking Darkness, visited half a dozen US states with me in 2006. And Grass by Sheri Tepper came to London with me one time because I was halfway through it and just could not bear to leave it behind. Yes - it IS that good...

6 - The most recent addition to your shelves:

See end of this post.

7 - A bonus book that you want to talk about but doesn’t fit into the other questions:

Well okay. Here're a few pics from one of my favourite books. It's called The Atlas of North American Exploration and it does exactly what is says on the tin.















I love this book for several reasons. Firstly, I'm a bit of a map freak. Give me a map - especially if it happens to be in the front of a fantasy book - and I'm a happy bunny. Secondly, I'm really rather fascinated by the discovery and opening up of the North American continent. And thirdly, it is SO beautifully illustrated. I can't remember where I got it - I think it was from a book club I belonged to years ago. Whatever, it's one book I would never part with.