The Bookshelf Project

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Hello, dearies! (Oh, so this is random, but our Netflix just started to work again! *victory screech* Sorry. Totally unrelated, but it's just very happy for me;D)

I have this perpetual problem with my reading schedule. C. S. Lewis said this once, "It is a good rule after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between." Ever since I read that, I've been quasi-committed to following that rule in my leisure and devotional reading--alternating first-timers with re-reads. However, that can get messy as I'm rather indecisive and can never seem to choose which book to read at a given time! So today the thought came to me, Why not just go through your bookcase, shelf by shelf, and read through the books you have on there that you haven't yet read, while choosing your re-reads with more leisure in between? I liked that idea;) I think God sent it, actually:D I'll be reading the ones I haven't yet read that I'm not going to be reading for school anytime soon, and that I've definitely decided to read. Some of them I'm postponing due to content, and haven't yet decided whether or not to read them. Most of these are just random ones I've picked up from our family's bookshelves or from thrift stores. We'll see if I finish them all, but that's the goal, to at least give them a chance.

So that's what I've decided to do!  If I can only keep the discipline to stick with it *crosses fingers*

Thus, here's the lowdown of what my "new" books will be, after I finish Julie and read an "old" one first, that is.  

First shelf:  The Turn of the Road by Eugenia Brooks Frothingham (there's a name for ya)
A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich (technically, I've skimmed this once, but I want to read it for realsies)
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman by Brian Jacques
Pygmalion/My Fair Lady by George Bernard Shaw/Alan Jay Lerner
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky 

Second shelf:  Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle
Goodbye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton
Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge
The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson
Little Men by Louisa May Alcott
Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Yankee Stranger by Elswyth Thane
My Ántonia by Willa Cather

Third shelf:  Just Enough Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
Song of Erin by BJ Hoff
Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore
Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser
A Woman's Place by Lynn Austin



And there we are! Y'all are my witnesses to hold me to accountability, haha:D

Comments

  1. Rosie McCannSeptember 10, 2015 at 8:27 PM

    This is a really cool idea, Olivia! And I love that last picture :D

    For myself, I can't say I have a problem with books lying around staring at me that I haven't read - it's the other way around. I am always trying to find books that I haven't read, because I read really really fast :(

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    1. OliviaSeptember 12, 2015 at 10:00 AM

      Thanks, Rosie!:D Haha, I know, right?

      Oh! Well, I can see that being just as irritating a problem:-/ Though I do sometimes wish I read faster…anywho.

      Delete
  2. AbigailSeptember 10, 2015 at 8:46 PM

    That is a good idea!! I read that quote to, and have tried to stick with that rule. Occasionally. Ahem.
    Oh, the Merry Adventures of Robin Hood... Aggh that book!! I love it. It took me a while to read, but I was crying by the end of it, because I loved the characters and didn't want it to end the way it did. Also because it was one of those happy stories that you can't bear to have end. Now I wanna live Under the greenwood tree.

    All your pictures were lovely btw, and I love love love the last one!!

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    1. OliviaSeptember 12, 2015 at 10:02 AM

      Thank you, Abby!:) Haha, I know how you feel. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it *ahem* doesn't.

      Oh, good! I've heard it's really good and really emotional; I think I've either read or heard about the ending, so I'm steeling myself. Few things can be as emotionally damaging as the ending to BBC's version of RH, hehe, so hopefully I'll be okay. But I'll probably cry too.

      Thank you! I had fun picking out random pretty pictures for this post:D

      Delete
  3. Katie HannaSeptember 10, 2015 at 9:04 PM

    HEY LOOK IT'S SECRETARIAT!
    (I really like that movie. I think I said before I like "Seabiscuit" better, and that's true, I do--but I really, really like "Secretariat" as well.)

    ReplyDelete
  4. MeredithSeptember 10, 2015 at 10:24 PM

    I'm slowly reading The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood right now(so far, so good!), and Little Men is one of my favorites. So good.

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    1. OliviaSeptember 12, 2015 at 10:08 AM

      Awesome! We'll have to talk together when we both finish those two:D

      Delete
  5. Emma JaneSeptember 11, 2015 at 8:26 AM

    A Lantern In Her Hand!!!! As you've probably guessed, that's one of my favorite books. :-) IT'S SO AMAZING. If you like Little House, you'll probably love it. But I must warn you, it WILL make you cry. ;-)

    AND YANKEE STRANGER OH MY GOODNESSSSSSS!!!!!! Did I know you had that one on your shelf? I don't think so. Maybe I forgot. ANYWAY I can't wait for you to read it so we can swoon together because it's pretty much my favorite book in the history of the world. (That, and its predecessor, Dawn's Early Light.) YOU WILL LOVE IT.

    I'm currently reading (well, trying to read) Rebecca, but so far it's not my thing. But I know lots of people who are crazy about it, so you might like it!

    By the way, did you ever read Lonesome Dove? I remember you said it was on your shelf a while ago. I DO heartily recommend reading it if you're a fan of the series, though there are some parts you should definitely skip. (I can let you know, if you want.)

    And Secretariat!!! I love that movie. Dearly. :-)

    ~Emma

    ReplyDelete
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    1. OliviaSeptember 12, 2015 at 10:21 AM

      Oh, I know! I've skimmed the ending, and I have a feeling sniffles will be forthcoming;)

      Heehee, I don't know if you knew, but yes, I knew you were going to be very happy about that one;D Oh, OH, AND I have the same cover that you blogged about over at Down in the Valley. The old-timey one. Just thought you should know:D And yay! We shall swoon away, I'm sure!

      Yeah, we'll see, I guess.

      *heavy sigh* Okay, soooo. Lonesome Dove. I've…put that one on hold. The thing is, I have flipped through it before, and saw some parts that were…iffy, but still read-able. Then the other day I was flipping through and opened to one of the--not okay, shall we say, parts. (It was one of my least favorite scenes in the series too, the one where Newt decides to mimic every other vulgar cowboy out there…ahem, calming down. It was a lot more graphic than in the series, as I'm sure you recall:-P) So I'm just…not quite sure if I want to read it. On the one hand, I know I CAN skip those parts, but on the other hand, I don't know if I want to have to be that "careful" while reading, y'know? Sigh. I just don't know:( So yeah, I haven't decided on that one yet, but if I read it, have no fear, I shall definitely let you know! And I'm still looking forward to using my Gus bookmark;D

      I know!!! It's such a wonderful movie:D

      Delete
    2. Emma JaneSeptember 12, 2015 at 12:45 PM

      There are several parts to be passed over in LD, unfortunately. That one with Newt is the most graphic -- I just skipped that altogether. Then there's some in the...third chapter, maybe? where it's telling about Lorena and her tragic life that you might want to read with caution. The parts I had the most trouble with were about the Indians and their brutality -- I think it was around where Gus rescued Lorie (which was SOOO EPIC). So yeah. I don't know if you want to read it. It's up to you.

      Delete
    3. OliviaSeptember 12, 2015 at 4:02 PM

      Thanks for understanding:-/ Yeah, those parts with Lorie and the Indians do sound really hard. I'm not sure if I'll read it or not…but we'll see.

      Delete
  6. Naomi PittsSeptember 11, 2015 at 10:36 AM

    A Women's Place!!! BASICALLY READ ANYTHING LYNN AUSTIN. I looove it.

    AND A LANTERN IN HER HAND. Wow, that book is quite something. I'm absolutely crazy about Rebecca, but, as Emma said, I understand it if you don't enjoy it thaat much. I just finished rereading Northanger Abbey! I loved it!

    You should be on Goodreads, girl. I would follow ya. :-)

    ~ Naomi

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    1. OliviaSeptember 12, 2015 at 10:27 AM

      Yay! I'll let you know what I think of it!:D

      So I've heard! I have a feeling I'll really like ALiHH. And Rebecca…it's in the Gothic romance genre, I understand, and that isn't my favorite genre, but we'll see. Hopefully I'll like it!:) And NA, as well!

      Aww, thank you! Well, technically I AM on Goodreads…I'm just not very active at all. I'm going to try to be a little bit more involved, though:) My username is Graceofthevalar. What's yours?:D

      Delete
    2. Naomi PittsSeptember 12, 2015 at 11:26 AM

      I'm Naomi Bennet on Goodreads. Here's the link to my profile: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/40096835-naomi-bennet

      Delete
    3. OliviaSeptember 12, 2015 at 12:09 PM

      Yay! Thanks! (And I changed my name to Olivia, hehe.)

      Delete
  7. Ivy MirandaSeptember 11, 2015 at 1:33 PM

    I don't have enough bookshelf space for all my books. As soon as I get a new book 3 or 4 books have to go and trying to choose which books to get rid of is much harder than I thought!

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    1. OliviaSeptember 12, 2015 at 10:30 AM

      I know how that feels! I usually have that problem, too, but the other day I went through the shelves and took off a bunch of books that I either don't like or will probably never read, so I have some more space, now:D

      Delete
  8. Erudessa ArandurielSeptember 11, 2015 at 1:45 PM

    Good idea Olivia!!

    Howard Pyle's 'Merry Adventures of Robin Hood' is VERY good!! I loved it!!!!! NORTHANGER ABBEY!!!!!! I LOVE that book!!!

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    1. OliviaSeptember 12, 2015 at 10:33 AM

      Thanks, Bailey! I thought so:)

      Yay! I'm excited to read it:) And NA, too.

      Delete
  9. Lois TinúvielSeptember 11, 2015 at 5:48 PM

    Great idea! I've read a lot of those books and they're great!
    Also... now that you have Netflix back, you should totally watch Doctor Who!!!! ;)

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    1. OliviaSeptember 12, 2015 at 10:35 AM

      Thank you!:) Cool! Haha, for some reason, I've just gotten the feeling that you're a really fast reader? Am I right? I mean, the amount of awesome book reviews you're able to turn out…sigh, I wish I could read that fast;)

      Haha, I thought you might say that;D So about DW…I don't know if I'm going to start it quite yet, because I'm already following two other seasons that I haven't watched, and rewatching RH, so…I'm not sure if I'll have time, but we'll see:D

      Delete
  10. NatalieSeptember 11, 2015 at 6:20 PM

    This is a great plan, Olivia!
    Oh, I hope you like A Lantern in Her Hand. I personally loved it, although it's bittersweetly sad.
    I want to read The Merry Adventures of Our Favorite Hero too someday. ;)
    Northanger Abbey! Oh dear....I remember you don't care for J.A. too much..hmm. Hopefully you'll like this one!
    I've seen two movie versions of Goodbye Mr. Chips....they were very good!
    I still have not read Little Men. Sad, that.
    I have Mary Barton on my shelf to read, too! Maybe we'll read it at the same time, haha. Did you know that BBC is planning to do an adaption of that? At least. I think they are.

    Now, I wanted to use this comment to ask your opinion on something-I want to start watching the LOTR movies (I'm going to finish their respective books first, though!) and I've heard there are extended versions. Should I watch the original versions or the extended first? I just thought you'd be a good person to ask. ;)

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    1. OliviaSeptember 12, 2015 at 11:11 AM

      Thanks!:)
      Thank you, I hope I do, too!
      Hee, yes;) I'm sure I'll be thinking of you when I do read them;)
      Well…I've read about a third of NA before, and I did enjoy it, so hopefully! And I've watched the movie and really liked it; Tilney is probably my favorite of JA's heroes:)
      Haha, yeah, maybe we will read it at the same time! That'd be funny. Oh, are they? That'd be awesome! I'd love to see that;)

      Eeeeeek! Thanks for asking me:D Okay, SO. The only one I absolutely would well nigh INSIST you watch extended edition is Return of the King. If you don't, you'll miss some absolutely beautiful (not to mention the ONLY) scenes with my favorite couple;) As to the FotR and the TT…I definitely recommend watching them, but I don't think it'd be disastrous if you simply watched the original theatricals of those first:)

      Delete
    2. NatalieSeptember 19, 2015 at 10:43 AM

      I love the NA movie, too! Yes, isn't Henry so sweet and wonderful?

      Thanks so much!! I am going to try watching each of them in their extended format, although I'll make sure to do so with RotK.
      Let me just say I'm enjoying LOTR SO much and I'm sure a long fangirly post will be coming sometime in the future! ;)

      Delete
    3. OliviaSeptember 22, 2015 at 6:08 PM

      Yes, he is! And so funny and amiable:D

      EEEEEEKK THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY:)

      Delete
  11. Miss MarchSeptember 14, 2015 at 10:21 AM

    This is so cool, Olivia! I loved reading through your list of books. Aww! Little Men! That is such a good book.. And the sequel is good, too. I love all the Little Women books. Have you read any of Louisa May Alcott's other stories?

    It kind of surprises me how many people have read A Lantern in Her Hand. I just never thought of that as a well known book, for some reason. My mom read to me for school quite a few years ago. I have to admit I thought it was a little boring...I think I wanted there to be more dialogue between the characters...but I haven't read it for a long time so I might like it better now. I remember the author did a really good job of carrying you into the thoughts and emotions of her heroine. It was really cool to follow the heroine through her whole life up until she's old, and to realize that people never really change. They're the same person at seventy as they were at twenty. Makes you really appreciate and respect all the grandparents around you--just thinking of all that they've experienced in their lifetimes.

    Northanger Abbey is one of my favorite Jane Austen books! It's so funny! And I love the hero and heroine! They're so sweet. :)
    Oh! The Black Arrow! I've read that one!
    I've never read Good-bye Mr. Chips, but I've seen the old black and white movie and it's really good.

    My, but you're inspiring me to make out a book list and start reading! :)

    Thanks for this delightful post, Olivia!

    ~Miss March

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    1. OliviaSeptember 14, 2015 at 2:31 PM

      Thank you, Miss March! So glad you enjoyed it! I've heard they're all great:) Yep, I've read Little Women (of course), Rose in Bloom and An Old-Fashioned Girl :D

      Huh! Yeah, it is a little strange, I guess. Cool! I'm interested to see what my final opinion of it is:D And yes, it's really cool to just stop and think that your grandparents have lived in some of the times periods with which we get so caught up!

      Aww, good! I know--I LOVE Henry Tilney;)
      Hamlette's told me it's good;)
      Cool! I think I might have seen a GMC movie a while back, but I can't remember it.

      Really? That's so exciting!:D

      You're so welcome! Thank you for reading and for your sweet comment!

      Delete

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