I’ve been visiting with Rhoda Baxter today. She has a lovely blog segment on inheritance books—both those that have shaped our own lives and those we’d like to pass along to future generations. Please stop by and join the fun!
What are the special books you’ve been given? Which ones would you most like to gift to the future?
It’s been a while since we had someone sitting in the Inheritance Books sofa. I’m delighted to have a visitor today, so welcomd Barb Taub, to Inheritance Books. While I go put the kettle on and fetch the biscuit tin, why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself.
In the halcyon days BC (before children), I wrote a humor column for several Midwest newspapers. With the arrival of Child #4, I veered toward the dark side and an HR career. Following a daring daytime escape to England, I’ve lived in a medieval castle and a hobbit house with my prince-of-a-guy and the World’s Most Spoiled AussieDog. Now all my days are Saturdays, and I spend them consulting with my occasional co-author/daughter on Marvel heroes, Null City, and translating from British to American.
Which book have you inherited from a generation above? Why is it special? Try and talk about…
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Barb Taub 
Oh, Barb, I went over to read the full blog post and it brought tears to my eyes. I have just inherited all my dad’s books. His books meant the world to him: the new ones, the ones he found in charity shops or bought in auctions, library sales. I don’t know how many there are – now all in boxes in our attic. One day I will have to sort them and part with some of them. I really don’t need a set of Clydesdale stud books from the very first issue but dad needed and teasured them because he used them to research the family trees of Clydesdale horses, which he gave to breeders. We already have groaning bookshelves and I don’t know where I’ll put those of dad’s I want to keep: art books, books on the countryside, history books, poetry, horse racing, dog books – I don’t need to keep the golf books but they meant so much to him. As long as the attic doesn’t give way they are safe there for the time being.
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I read your comment and then I was the one with tears. When my parents passed away a few years ago, it was easy to share out their books between their ten children. Now I have a special shelf of their books, along with one of the pairs (dozens!) of my mother’s reading glasses and one of the old pipes my father gave up smoking decades ago.
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A friend just sent me this link. It’s nice to dream…
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I’ve had to relinquish too many books in the past to want to ever do it again… I know there are books I could part with… and I know it is the way they have changed me or the memories they have gifted that matter ad will not go… but I don’t want to part with any more!
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My husband was so upset when the poverty of grad student days led to the sale of many books. Now he stamps and signs each one boldly with his name so it will never be sold.
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I can relate to that… all the ‘good’ books were sold after Nick was attacked and the situation was dire.
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When we moved to England, we just brought a few suitcases. But after a very short time here, when people asked if I missed my things, I realized that I didn’t miss anything but the books. Sure, I could buy duplicate copies of the essential ones…but that seemed like I was cheating on my old friends. Still miss them!
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I know what you mean… every mark and scuff is part of the friendship.
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Except when people turn down page corners or [shudder] crack the spine. They must be punished.
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There must be some forgotten statute to enforce there….
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You’d think a country where “It is legal for a male to urinate in public, as long it is on the rear wheel of his motor vehicle and his right hand is on the vehicle” would at least consider it a hanging offense when people violate innocent books.
http://www.dumblaws.com/law/1065
[I’ve been dying for an excuse to mention that one…]
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I can understand the basics (though the right hand? Let’s not go there…) But I agree… the RSPB needs a new branch….
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