I still love Twas the Night Before Christmas...that poem was, perhaps, the first bit of verse (other than itsy bitsy spider and its ilk) not set to music that I learned as a child. I still try, now and then, to quote the whole thing, and as we don't read it regularly, I sometimes miss bits of it.
Ours was in a book that was shaped like a fuzzy red Christmas stocking, and it had a green velvety ribbon tied through two holes in the cardboard front cover, and a silver glitter trail behind the sleigh. It was quite old by the time I came along (born late in life to my parents, who'd already brought up three kids to near adulthood), but I loved that book. Wish I still had it.
Great to see you here at Fresh Fiction. Your cover is absolutely beautiful!
To anyone wondering about this book, it's a great read. Nancy write fantastic action, and heart-twisting emotion. You'll love her writing.
As to the question...pruning the shelves is one of the hardest things I have to do. And I need to do it again. They've spilled over into the floor. I've recently given away some books I've bought but never read. I have so little reading time now. I know I'll never get to them, and that makes me sad.
What a great post. I don't presently have a shelf full of old favorites. I have TUBS of them. Because we're restoring an old house, I've had to pack many of them up, and I have to admit, the extra space is nice while we're working, but I got such a wash of melancholy when I read your vivid description of how your favorites affect you. That's exactly how I feel. They are a comfort. I can escape into them no matter what. I AM reading on an e-reader now, and appreciate the space it saves, and love it that I can take all of my books with me. I already have my Keeper Kase and some cards. And I already have your book! *grin* so don't enter me in the contest. But I had to tell you that I was moved by your blog about favorite old books. I no longer have my Nancy Drews, but sometimes I wish I'd kept them. *sniffle*