Eva's Bookshelf Meme

I was tagged for this meme by its creator, the lovely Eva of A Striped Armchair, who quite rightly says that it is not just the content of books that make us enjoy them, but the books themselves. So...

The Rules
1. Tag 3-5 people, so the fun keeps going!
2. Leave a comment at the original post at A Striped Armchair, so that Eva can collect everyone’s answers.
3. If you leave a comment and link back to Eva as the meme’s creator, she will enter you in a book giveaway contest! She has a whole shelf devoted to giveaway books that you’ll be able to choose from, or a bookmooch point if you prefer.
4. Remember that this is all about enjoying books as physical objects, so feel free to describe the exact book you’re talking about, down to that warping from being dropped in the bath water…
5. Make the meme more fun with visuals! Covers of the specific edition you’re talking about, photos of your bookshelves, etc.

The Meme
the book that’s been on your shelves the longest: Like Eva, most of my childhood books are boxed away (in my parents attic no less!) and lovingly dusted off every now and then when I'm fishing out old Christmas decorations or mattresses for the many guests. But most of my childhood books are in there, the Roald Dahls, Enid Blytons, AA Milnes and Beatrix Potters. But the book that I have had the longestis one of the funniest and sweetest picture books I ever had the chance to read: The Lazy Beaver by Giovanni Gallo. An adorable story about a colony of beavers moving to a new home where they start unpacking and rebuilding until it soon becomes apparent that young Betram isn't doing his fair share of the work. He becomes so lazy that his front teeth get so long that they hurt and he can't do anything. So Betram has to visit the dentist and learns his lesson! The oldest books in terms of age on my shelf are the entire second hand collection of Willard Price's adventure stories. They nurtured my desires to travel and explore and my love of nature as a child, and thankfully are now back in print. Highly recommended for adventurous children, though perhaps a little dated now!

a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time, etc.): There are so many books that remind me of people and places that I find it hard to pick just one. Seeing as it is approaching New Year however, this sprang to mind. When I think of The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt, I am always going to be reminded of the first time I read it. I was living in Hawaii and spent New Years Eve with two very good friends at the dolphin lab we worked at, eating homemade Japanese food, playing cards, listening to music and the locals singing on the beach, watching the fireworks and playing with the dolphins. It was probably one of the most peaceful, relaxing and pleasant New Years I have spent, and went back to one of my friends houses that evening, where we ate dinner and watched movies all night. The next day I woke up early to a torrential downpouring of rain. I lay on my sofabed, reading The Last Samurai, with the sounds of the rain and the smell of the wet trees wafting in through the open windows. I did not want that day to end, nor that rain to ever stop. The book, recommended to me by the friend I was staying with, a fellow bookseller and bookjunkie, is about a young single mother raising her son, who happens to be a genius, using the seven samurai as role models to give the boy a father figure. It is an odd and interesting first novel, but beauifully written and the front cover of the US edition is quite frankly delicious! However, I think I will always be disappointed reading that book again, as I will never be able to replicate that wonderful morning.

a book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used bookstore, prize, etc.): I was sent to Australia recently for a 2 day job. Yes, sent from the UK all the way to Australia for 2 days work. With the journey there and back and some time to acclimatize etc, it made a week. And I'm an environmental scientist...oh the irony. Anyway, I wasn't about to head all that way without seeing two of my good friends who live in Brisbane, so I headed east for a week too (making the trip last 2 weeks which alleviated my guilt..well a bit). While I was there, we visited my favourite tea house in the entire world..Batavia, a colonial style tea house which also sells furniture, lamps, candles, all inspired by the east indies. And it was there, while enjoying my high tea, that I discovered the Iron Fairies. Rather than describing these enchanting creatures, I suggest you take a look at the website. I came home clutching Volume 1 in delight and have been relishing their creativity ever since.

the most recent addition to your shelves: This would be The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling, but as I'm about to review it later today, I'll mention another recent addition, well three...the Winter King, Enemy of God and Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell. I have wanted to read this series for a long time, no doubt due to the ever persisent Rhinoa, fellow bookworm, stationery junkie and giver of fabulous recommendations! I have The Winter King on my list for the Arthurian Challenge, and lucked upon all three in a Waterstones 3 for the price of 2 offer. Bargain! I'm very much into all things Arthurian and the moment, possibly due to the BBC show Merlin that has just finished over here (sniffle), so I hope to get to this series soon.

a book that’s been with you to the most places: My favourite book of all time, hands down, no competition, is I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallmann. It is the story of a woman's life in Africa, experiencing the wonder of living on a ranch in the wild and the tragedies that strike her family. I have travelled a lot in the past, living in several different countries, but I have never been able to part with this book on long journeys away from home. Kuki has come with me to Australia, China, the USA, Canada and poetically, back to Africa. She comforts me like no other book I have ever read. When I read it, I weep, I smile, I dream and I know that however hard life can get, it is important that you experience it, live it and share it. Kuki Gallmann is an inspiration to me, and I love knowing that this book can travel with me anywhere life leads me, even though it may now look a little worse for wear!

a bonus book that you want to talk about but doesn’t fit into the other questions: I'm not sure I can single out any more books today! I become very attached to all of them.

I shall tag Nymeth, Rhinoa, Darla D, Naida and Valentina, but all are welcome to participate. Thanks Eva!