The Bookshelf Tag

The Bible is not only a book of divine revelation; 

it is also a book of literary grandeur, 

sublime influence, human interest, amazing accuracy, 

perfect unity, and everlasting challenge. 

~J. Edwin Orr

Last month I was tagged for The Bookshelf Tag by Schuyler M at My Lady Bibliophile. Schuyler is a close friend of mine, and you all should check out her book blog if you haven't already. ;) Thank you for the tag, Lady B! :) 

I've been collecting books since I started to read, and I have many, many favorites. And I keep going into second-hand book stores to find more treasures--sometimes you find them in the oddest of places. I read a lot of fiction when I was younger, and I still definitely enjoy it; however, I do find more benefit from non-fiction, as I usually read to gain knowledge and to learn, and I have found that I get more out of non-fiction (during this season of life, anyway). You'll see my collection of books in the three pictures in this post. I do have many others online, but I tend to forget about them because I love reading an actual book instead of staring at a screen. 

I'm having a difficult time choosing other bloggers to tag, so if you are a reader (and a blogger ;), consider yourself tagged! :) 

1) Is there a book that you really want to read but haven’t because you know that it’ll make you cry?

Crying over books has never been an issue for me, because it's been my standard policy never to do so. :P I don't pick out books based on whether or not I will cry over them because I just don't cry, and I don't remember ever crying over a book in the past, either. However, I have read two books that I will not read again because of the terrible endings. The books were both works of fiction and were well-written with solid morals, but I did not enjoy the conclusions. I think books should have good endings, even when there are consequences for wrong actions. Personal preference, I realize. :P

2) Pick one book that helped introduce you to a new genre.

I haven't expanded my genre "collection" for a while now. I tend to stay within the realms of historical fiction and non-fiction, but I did very much enjoy The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. Those books introduced the meaning of allegory and fantasy to me. I have seen that reading fantasy that has a Scriptural worldview can really deepen your understand of the world we live in now in a way that fiction and non-fiction don't. And there are other books in the genre of fantasy that are on my to-read list.

3) Find a book that you want to reread. 

Actually a three-book series: the Crown and Covenant series by Douglas Bond. Except I might skip the ending of the third book. It's sad. :P

4) Is there a book series you read but wish that you hadn’t?

No, not a series. The two books I mentioned previously (that I wish I hadn't read) are Titus: A Comrade of the Cross by Florence Morse Kingsley (you can probably guess the ending to that book just by the title) and The Choctaw Code by Brent Ashabranner and Russell G. Davis. All the other books I have read have been more or less interesting, but those are the two I would not read again.

5) If your house were burning down and all of your family and pets were safe, which book would you go back inside to save?

Oh, dear. Schuyler changed this question a bit in her response, and I think I must do the same. Provided that my family, pets, and computer were safe, I think I would go back to save my three special Bibles. I discussed with a friend the possibility of being able to actually save the rest of my books because they are all in my bedroom which has a window, so I could potentially just throw them all out the window and be fine, depending on where the fire was, but I think that's overthinking the question. My Bibles, however, are in my work area, which would take some creativity to get to in an emergency. But I would try to save them because I've marked things in them, and they're the kind of books that I know where verses are because I can see the page in my head--where I've underlined or written things in the margins.

6) Is there one book on your bookshelf that brings back fond memories?

Well...there's this book I never got tired of as a little kid. I remember curling up on the couch or in my bed with my dad, who would patiently read and reread it for me. I'm sure I asked him to read it every night. I remember him reading it in all different sorts of accents (he was probably bored of reading it a million times, and wanted to make it more interesting for himself), and I would say "No, Dad. That's not how it goes! Read it properly!" And sometimes he would try to scare me during the scary parts. Or he would try to skip pages, but I always knew if he did. (Thanks for all the patience, Dad! ;) I can still see the pictures and pages in my head, and I can almost quote the first page from memory. There were parts I never understood as a child. For instance, I never did figure out if the "bad guy" was actually bad, but I didn't let that bother me because I didn't want to interrupt the flow of the story, and because I wanted to hear the end again. The ending was good. ;) My copy of this book has been taped and re-taped on the spine, and the front cover and pages are tattered, but I still have it. I actually searched it on Amazon.ca, and apparently it's worth 0.01 at it's cheapest (minus the shipping). Guess re-selling it as an antique isn't an option. :P I never heard of any other child who knew of the book when I was really into it, so I'm not sure it was very popular. But I lived and breathed it every night practically...for a few years. This book has other special memories along with it, but they aren't for posting on a public blog. ;) Oh, yes. The book's called Norman the Doorman by Don Freeman, and it's about ... a mouse. ;) 

7) Find a book that has inspired you the most. 

I think two books deserve a place here: So Much More by Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin (most inspiring during the ages of 14-15), and The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges (most inspiring during the ages of 19-20). The former helped me to define my role in life as a Christian, sister, daughter, and friend. And in a way, the Scriptural principles it taught determined the direction I took during and after high school. The second book was especially encouraging as it laid out the definition of holiness, how we are to view it, and why it's vital for every believer. A short book, but a mind-changing one for me. And both of these books I intend to reread again in the near future. 

8) Do you have any autographed books?

I don't think I do. And if I do, it certainly wouldn't be because I went up to somebody and asked them for their autograph. At least, not yet--not in my current collection. Don't think I'm brave enough for that sort of thing, yet. :P There is one book I'd like to have autographed, though...and if you check out the blog I mentioned at the beginning of this post, you'll find recent snippets from the Work in Progress. And someday, Lord willing, I shall have a copy of it with an autograph inside one day. ;)

9) Find the book that you have owned the longest.

Oh, that would definitely have to be the aforementioned mouse book. 

10) Is there a book by an author that you never imagined you would read or enjoy?

No, actually. When people told me that I wouldn't like a book, I usually wanted to read it to see if they were right. And I usually *cough* liked it. And all the books that people were raving about...I usually liked those, too. So I don't think I ever went into a book thinking I wouldn't enjoy it. 

But no matter what books I have collected, enjoyed, or not so much enjoyed, there is still One Book that stands above the rest in all areas: the Word of God. God's revelation to man in the written word. Despite the books, genres, authors, and literary critics that have come and gone, God's Word still remains, and it will continue to stand the test of time until our Savior comes. 

"The Bible is of such universal and perennial interest that it will call forth comments and sermons without number, to the end of time. This of itself is sufficient evidence of its divine origin and character. It is now more extensively studied than ever before, and goes on conquering and to conquer in the face of all enemies. It is inexhaustible. It never grows old, but increases in interest and value as time flows on. Human books have their day, but ‘the Word of the Lord endureth forever.’"

~Philip Schaff