By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
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Old books have a special place in my heart. They are my connection to the past shared by a passion for the written word. Whether I’m looking through a museum glass window at an ancient papyrus writing, of which I have a limited idea of what is being said, or a story that’s a few hundred years old, I’m hooked.
I’m not a collector of anything . . . except old books. Their musty scent transports me to another day. I can close my eyes and envision the author or the story transporting me to another era. Mine are old and “loved.”
When my husband and I were first married, I told him about a book I’d read as a child, my all time favorite. The copyright is 1931, and I treasured every word. Memoirs of a London Doll – by herself, edited by Mrs. Fairstair (Author). Oh, the journeys of this courageous doll. The next Christmas, I received a copy. Here’s the Amazon link for Memoirs of a London Doll.
Another gift from my husband was the Little Women Collection by Louisa May Alcott. Beneath the pages of Little Women, I discovered the power of story. As a child, I resolved that someday I’d be a writer.
Another book that is among my treasured possessions is The Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore.
A friend gave me a how-to write a novel book dated 1888, Information for Authors by Eleanor Kirk.
Books are friends. They shape and mold our thoughts. What book or books have touched your life?
Tweet this: Books that Touch Your Life
Congrats to Barbara G. and Colleen H. as winners selected from last week’s Groundhog’s Day random drawing free giveaway. Each will get a personalized copy of Journey of the Heart.
Comments 20
My favorite books from my childhood is the Mandie Series, Little Women, Bobbsey
Twins, Five Little Peppers, Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden.
Thank you Pat Carlson for your comments about another Gladys Malvern book that I plan to purchase.
I LOVE old books, too, DiAnn. My husband and I love to go to old book stores and browse. We inevitably buy something. I have a Bobbsey Twins book. Thanks so much for sharing this with your readers.
Thank you for responding!
I must say that two books come to my mind and are proudly owned. Each is a story of an orphaned young girl who ultimately finds happiness but not on the route one would expect. One has a personal twist and a spanking with my eighth grade history book.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. This will always be a favorite and is as real for today as it was when published in 1847. Jane was a girl and woman who persevered who did not have a glamorous life, did not compromise her values for love, and did get the man that she loved however different it was from the onset.
Of note here is that while reading the book in my youth I did not hear by mother calling my name to do something and as a punishment was spanked with my history book and I was forced to return Jane Eyre before finished reading it. A few years ago I was reminded of that incident when my mother “unnecessarily” apologized for the incident. It is true I did not hear her calling me but it was on a Saturday which was a regular chores day for us and I was to complete them prior to reading. Shortly after that fondly remembered conversation I bought my own copy which can be read at any time, for as many as times as desired, and now with memories of my mother too.
The second book is the book that actually fueled my desire for reading, Behold Your Queen by Gladys Malvern. I did not realize at the time that it was based on Esther in the Bible which is quite ignorant of my part even at 14 years of age. Then and now I clearly recall my attachment to the story of an orphan girl who had to conceal her identity, wins a beauty contest, wins the love of a king and saves her nation. In the process she listened to her elders, her mentors younger and older than herself, willing learned what was necessary to give and receive love, and keep her faith and values without compromise. On a personal note, I was in a bidding war on eBay to purchase an edition of this book which was published in 1951.
This is wordy but you asked and I am gladly responding. Thanks for the opportunity to share my thoughts on these two much loved books.
Linda, thank you for sharing your beautiful story with us.
I also have a childhood favorite book written by Gladys Malvern, The Foreigner. It is about Ruth in the Bible. I learned a great deal about the cultures of the people during that time, as well as learning the love story of Ruth and Boaz. It was a wonderful book.
I loved reading about Ruth as a child and still do. As a part of Jesus’ lineage, I’m thankful for how those who once lived less than godly lives are used by God.
Milne’s Winnie the Pooh series has always held a special place in my heart. My great-grandmother read it to me, I read it to my children and grandchildren and gave them copies of their own. Special memories.
As I grew, The Secret Garden, The Boxcar Children, Marguerite Henry’s horse stories Pippi Longstocking and Louisa May Alcott’s stories held me spellbound for hours – again and again.
One of my favorite old books, that I had to hunt for a while to find a copy, was The Bird’s Christmas Carol, which we read each year on Christmas Eve.
The best thing is sharing books with family and teaching them the joys of the worlds inside the covers. My oldest grandson turned 21 and still has days that he comes to read with me. The content has changed, but the pleasure of reading together is still wonderful.
Hi Sharon, I love reading everyone’s favorite books as children and young adults. Thank you!
I, too, have old books I will not part with…a good legacy…
They are more than friends; they are a part of who we are.
How sweet! I love old books too, though I don’t have your kind of collection. I love what I have. My prize and fave is the Rainbow classics Pride & Prejudice I picked up in Georgia a few years ago. That’s what I love to do when I travel, visit bookstores! =)
I thought I was the only one who visited old book stores. 🙂
What a wonderful collection! I am very envious!
Mine are yellowed and frail, but the wear doesn’t change the story. 🙂
Oh, I loved the Bobbsey Twins when I was growing up. And the Happy Hollisters. I have so many sweet memories of books I read as a child. The Little House series was perhaps my favorite. Little Women. Five Little Peppers and How They Grew. And a book I remember reading over and over again that so intrigued me was From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg. Absolutely loved the book and the title as well.
I could go on and on. . . . Loved reading this and getting a glimpse of your special books!
Mine are Little Women, The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Black Stallion, Five Little Peppers, and Cheaper By the Dozen…given to me by my Aunt, I still cry when I read it!
I also could go on and on.
Hi Carol, me too! Nancy Drew created the interest in mystery. Remember the Hardy Boys?
Thank you, Linda – Oh yes, the Five Little Peppers and How they Grew.