Bookshelf

[clevermanka]

A little while back, adammaker posted this question on his LJ: If you view the beginning and end of your life as bookends, what are some of the titles on the shelf? I interpreted the question to mean what books have had the most effect on my life. So I present my bookshelf, in alphabetical order, of course:

The AD&D Player's Handbook, 2nd Edition: Good times. Set my course (for better or worse) for post-high school social circles.

The Ages of Lulu: The first porn I read and liked.

Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do: Made me think seriously about freedom, society and making my own decisions as an adult.

Best-Loved Folktales of the World: I don't remember my first book of fairy tales (read to tatters and discarded I'm sure), but whatever it was, this is the one that replaced it and remains on my shelf today.

Betty Crocker's Cooky Book: The first cookbook I ever read. And read. And read. I still have my mother's copy, beloved stains and all.

The Bible: Told me a lot about what I did and didn't want in a religion. How appropriate that I wound up an atheist.

Hellblazer: Original Sins: The first comic book series I ever read.

I, Robot: My introduction to SF.

Jitterbug Perfume: The importance of laughter, joy, and growth in love.

Little, Big: There is magic all around us every day. Notice it.

Nikki and David Goldbeck's American Wholefoods Cuisine: Taught me how to eat better.

The Oz series, by L. Frank Baum: I had all the Oz books by Baum and read them over and over. I tried to re-read them as an adult and wondered how. As a kid, you don't notice the ham-handed allegories smacking you upside the head. I still think John R. Neill's illustrations are some of the most beautiful things ever. Even his line drawings are spectacular.

The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing: Invaluable. The best basic sewing book available.

Re/Search: Modern Primitives: This magazine series kicked off my fascination with subcultures in general, and this issue with body-mod culture in particular.

What's on your shelf?

Comments

[annamatic.livejournal.com]

I love that RE/Search volume. I first read it at about age 21 and was just bowled over.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I saw it first at Alley Cat Records downtown in...1990? 1991? Thereabouts. When I say the interview with Fakir Musafar changed my life, I'm not kidding. For the first time, I recognized the incredible value of freaks in society. And even though I knew I'd never be one of them, I was (and am) completely in love with the concept.

[annamatic.livejournal.com]

I miss Alley Cat so fucking much. Their selection was a lot more punkish and edgy, back when I was really into edgy, punkish music. Now I'm daydreaming about a lot of downtown places I miss... Paradise, Tin Pan Alley, Adventure Bookstore, Phil Zone... le sigh.

:)

[wyckedgood.livejournal.com]

The spine fell off of my Betty Crocker Cookbook it was so worn and well loved.

I will have to pick up The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing. Providing I actually graduate this semester maybe I will finally have time to learn some sewing skills. When I asked my mom to teach me to sew, she declined on the basis that she would like to remain my friend. Ha!

Thank you for sharing your bookshelf :)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the sewing--and graduating!

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

Awesome list.

[ms-danson.livejournal.com]

The AD&D Player's Handbook, 2nd Edition: Good times. Set my course (for better or worse) for post-high school social circles.

Same.

Re/Search: Modern Primitives:

Now that I know it exists, I must read it.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness for Amazon used copies! I should buy another one. My old one is gone...somewhere...it would be good to revisit my roots, you know? =)

[ms-danson.livejournal.com]

I've ordered a copy of my own just now.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I'll be interested to hear what you think. I'm sure coming to it now, you'll have quite a different perspective. Reading about a subculture 20 years later, after it has gone mainstream, is always a little humorous, and a little heartbreaking.

[ms-danson.livejournal.com]

It arrived... but my husband ran off with it. :P

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

*snort*

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

Very cool, I am now thinking about my bookshelf and the ones on yours that I'd like to read.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I want to do this question in all seriousness, too.

Funny, we have a couple of matching books :)

I will always think fondly of you when I look at my copy of Little, Big.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Funny, we have a couple of matching books

Imagine that!

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

*snort*

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

That question came to me abut 10 years ago while trapped in a meeting.
I wrote it down in the dayrunner
that I just finished recycling
in the great moving clean-out.
-
The cool question had to stay, that other old shit could go.