One Hundred Books

If you really know me, you know that I am a pack rat. I have been getting better but letting go of possessions is a struggle for me. I have been culling things out of my closet and I now get rid of two things for every item I buy at a thrift store. (I've stopped buying new.) For a while, when I thought I'd build my own tiny house, I would pause before making a purchase to reflect on whether or not the item would fit in the tiny house. Lately, I ask myself if I'll have room for the item at the eco-village. My latest area of concentration is books. I have decided that I want to get down to owning only one hundred books. As an English teacher and a lifelong learner, this will be challenging. As I sort through my bookcases, I find many books that give me warm feelings; many books that transport me to another time and place. Here are some of the books that are firmly in my keeper pile:

I'll Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch, My Mom gave me this book when I first became a parent. To this day, I cry every time I read this book. "I'll love you forever / I'll love you for always / As long as I'm living / My baby you'll be." Becoming a parent changes a person's outlook on life like nothing else.

Homegrown Democrat by Garrison Keillor. A friend had this book autographed for me and said that he didn't even have to tell Garrison how to spell Manitowoc. I thought that was pretty cool! For years I listened to Prairie Home Company and Garrison's wit and stories provided such warmth. Having his book just seems comforting.

Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin. A friend gave me this book when I was still trying to figure myself out. While this book was written for teens, I found much courage and wisdom in the words of youth. The stories that these young people shared helped me to find hope and ask myself some tough questions. And while the book and stories are special, so too is the note that my friend wrote in the front.

The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams was given to me as a gift from another friend.​​ I am a fan of the Dalai Lama and I was fortunate to hear him speak in Madison a few years ago. His humor and gentle ways are infectious! And the anti-apartheid movement was one of the early causes for which I was very active. I remember when protesters built shanties on the grounds of the state capitol. Desmond Tutu was one of the voices in S. Africa at this time. Both of these men have adorable laughs and seem to approach life with genuineness. This book helped my outlook on life. The concept of all of us being connected, Ubuntu, is mentioned several times in this book

Not surprisingly, I have about fifty books by or about Gandhi. This will be one area where downsizing will be a challenge! I have several copies of Louis Fischer's book as it is short and is a good entry book to understanding Gandhi. The one I will keep for certain will be Gandhi: A Life by Yogesh Chadha. This book is about 500 pages in length and has sufficient detail to help the reader truly understand Gandhi.

I have a few books by Thich Nhat Hanh. I will most likely keep Peace is Every Step. Learning to walk mindfully on the earth is something that helps to center me when I am feeling out of balance. I also have a pocket Thich Nhat Hanh and a pocket Pema Chodron which will also make the cut. I sometimes keep one of them in my purse as they are perfect to pull out and read when I find myself having to wait unexpectedly for something. Among the classics, I will include some Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. I want to keep a copy of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Some of the books are keepers because of the words the authors wrote. Others because of the person who gave me the book. Often, the books and I crossed paths at important times in my life. Of course, I hope to one day include a book that I have published in my list of 100 keepers! So, what books would make your short list of books to keep?