Weekly Geeks 2009-33: Book Collections

Last year, I saw a movie, I think it was called Definitely, Maybe, that got me to thinking. In this movie, one of the girls was on a quest to find a particular copy of Jane Eyre, I forget now the specific reason why. But in the process of her search, she ended up with this massive collection of Jane Eyre books, from all sorts of places and years and styles. She had a shelf that went all the way around her room, filled with these wonderful Jane Eyre books.

It made me wish I had a collection like hers, a collection of one particular title, in all it's various versions.

So, Weekly Geeksters, tell us, do you have a collection, (or are you starting a collection,) of one particular book title? If so, what's your story? Why that book, and how many do you have, and what editions are they? Share pictures and give us all the details.

Or perhaps you dream about starting such a collection. What title would it be and what would it take for you to get motivated to start collecting?

Or maybe it's the works of a particular author you collect (or want to collect) instead a certain book title

Alright, so the idea of having shelves full of different versions of Jane Eyre sounds like heaven on earth to me, but unfortunately, I don't think I have the room for that as of now. Maybe one day.

Right now, I don't collect one specific title, but I do collect old books. I'm actually a sucker for them. I love going into antique stores and searching through their stacks of old books in order to find those little gems. My library has also been a great resource for finding older books for sale. Here is a glimpse at my collection:

• 1930s-1940s Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• 1939 Captain Horatio Hornblower Books 1-3 by C. S. Forester (Beat to Quarters, Ship of the Line, and Flying Colours)
• 1923 The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• 1910-1920s The Crossing by Winston Churchill
• 1911 Our Mutual Friend parts 1 & 2 by Charles Dickens
• 1902 Aeneid by Virgil
• 1896 Complete Works of Alfred Tennyson by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
• 1888 Life of Mahomet by Washington Irving

What makes these books so interesting is that you know that each one has it's own story. I especially love it when there is a name inscribed on the inside, because it gives you a sense of history. It's as if that previous owner has entrusted you with a much loved book, and expects you to love and care for it as they did. It is just another example of how classic literature can connect people through generations.