That felt good.

[3rdragon]

I gave away my Redwall books today. I've been aware for some time that I have more books that I have shelf space, and that they need to go somewhere, and that I should get rid of some of the ones I won't read again. But it's hard to give books up. You don't know where they're going, can't be sure that someone else will pick them up and love them. What if they'll be thrown out unread? It's better, surely, for them to stay on the shelf, even if you have to stack them sideways to fit them all.

But when I saw that grinning, excited face, heard the happy burble about which one is his favorite, he's read both of his books twice at least . . . It reminded me of when Redwall was fresh and new, when I would eagerly await the new releases, the times in which I bought those hardcovers that have been sitting on my shelf. The times before I tired of increasingly improbable size relations and increasingly terrible villains.

And it was worth it to see the grin on his face as he carried them out of the room, more books than he could hold in his arms. Worth it to see the determination to carry them home himself, even if he had to stop every 12th step to push the middle books back into line with his knees.

I love when I can give gifts that cost me so little, and yet are so clearly valued.
I kept Mossflower, though. It was the first one I owned.

Comments

[kadharonon.livejournal.com]

If I give mine away, Mossflower is definitely the one I am keeping as well. I read it so many times that the cover started to disintegrate, and I rather suspect it was my first one as well.

[3rdragon]

My parents gave it to me as a bribe for wearing my orthodontal torture device regularly. They didn't give me many books aside from birthdays and Christmas, so it remains a bright spot in my memory. I read it twice through right away.