Birthday Book Thoughts

Thank you so much to everyone who made my birthday special! I'm ridiculously lucky. Pictures and probably a more detailed chronology of birthday celebrations will be mentioned in a later post.

Right now, I'd like to steal a prompt from Ashley, who writes very interesting things (to me, anyway). Especially on Thursdays, when she writes about books:

What, if any, memorable or special book have you ever gotten as a present? Birthday or otherwise. What made it so notable? The person who gave it? The book itself? The “gift aura?”

Several books come to mind, but these stand out:

1. Black Beauty. Given to me by Emily on my 10th birthday. I know this because she inscribed it on the inside cover. I go read the inscription when I miss her, or when I'm feeling nostalgic. I'm sure the "gift aura" was important, but I love it because it reminds me both of her and of being that age. It was that period when all the girls were obsessed with horses, and Emily and I were first becoming good friends. I couldn't tell you the plot line of the book if my life depended on it, but it will ALWAYS be on my bookcase. It's not the only book she's given me (I've kept the others as well), but it's my favorite "emily book."

2. Anne of Green Gables. Given to my by my grandparents when i was approximately 12. One of my favorite books, one of my favorite movies. Also, it's a really pretty edition with painting insets and such. There isn't really an inscription, but the book came with an ex libris written on the first page and my grandmother wrote "Kimberly" in on it. It's nice to see her handwriting.

3. My King James Bible. I have a lot of Bibles. Some from practicing, some from studying (I was a religion major in undergrad, fyi). My favorite Bible, though, is my KJV. It's pink leather with silver on the edge of the pages. Or it was several years ago. It's a little on the falling-apart side now. But it was a gift from my parents before I started my short-lived time in private school. I love it because it was the first Bible I chose, because it's from my parents, and because it's been used to death. It has highlighting and notes and stickers and song lyrics and bulletins stuck in random places. It's one of those security blanket things, and even when I go through times that I don't actively attend church services, I still keep it nearby.

What gift books mean the most to you?