Booking Through Thursday: What’s Sitting on Your Shelf?

This week’s BTT topic is inspired by a recent Washington Post article, and the main question is:

“What tomes are waiting patiently on your shelves?”

I think I’ve probably written a few times on this blog about the fact that I find it really, really difficult to let go of books.  Once a book comes into my possession, it’s mine for life.  Or at least, that’s the way I look at it.  I suppose I have let a few go, over the years; but always against my better judgment, and I’ve usually regretted it afterwards.

But I’m a slow reader and sort of a picky reader, so a lot of the books I’ve acquired have ended up unread or half-read.  Which means that, yeah, I’ve got a lot of books I fully intend to read or finish reading someday when there’s world enough and time.

At the moment, I’m on the road and away from my physical library.  But I did a quick check of my LibraryThing catalogue (has to be quick because the hubby is standing at the hotel room door, jingling the car keys), and came up with a few titles right off the bat.  Flatland by Edwin Abbott – one of the classic early sci-fi works: I’ve had my ancient paperback copy for years now, and have every intention of reading it – someday.  The Mirror and the Lamp by M.H. Abrams – again, another classic, and if you were an English major twenty or thirty years ago, it was a must-read; don’t know how I managed to pass it by, but one of these days I’ll get back to it (I promise).

Of course, there’s always War and Peace, which I really would like to read someday (no, I really mean that) – I’ve got several copies of it, I think.  And I’m pretty sure I’ve been hanging onto a couple of volumes of Proust since high school.  I’ll get to them someday.

OK, I guess I could say Moby Dick, couldn’t I?  I’ve got several copies of that, too.  Had them for years.  But it would be a lie to say I intend to read any of them.  Who needs all that info about whales, right?

And now it’s back on the road as we head out for the beautiful (but rainy today, I think) Texas Hill Country!