qos | The "Special" Shelf

havah_prewett made a reference in a recent post about the "scripture shelf" in her movie collection.

mam_adar also made reference recently to different shelves in her own library.

Since junior high, I have had a section in my own book collection called my "Select Library": shelves reserved for the books which have touched me deeply, have shaped me, and continue to resonate with me years, even decades, after I have read them.

A few months ago I was looking at those shelves and wondering if some of those books still belonged there. It had been so long since I'd last read them that I could scarcely remember the plots of one or two. In some cases there were spiritual themes I wasn't sure would still be meaningful to me. I took down a fantasy novel by Michael Moorcock (not an author I usually like) called The Warhound and the World's Pain, about a warrior jaded and exhausted by years of combat who ends up going on a quest on Satan's behalf to recover the Grail. It's a strange book in many ways, but -- to my surprise -- once again it moved me in a special way.

I'm thinking about doing a post about some of my favorite of these books. But in the meantime, I'm curious: do you have 'special shelves' or sub-collections in your book, movie, or musical libraries? If so, what is on them?

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My special shelves are books I know I will read whenever I want an old friend, one of the books I really love and enjoy and know in my bones. The books tend to be fantasy, things that are escapist and fun and that I can curl up in bed with whenever I want comfort. They've got Charles deLint's Greenmantle, Jack of Kinrowan and Memory & Dream, the first two editions of The Journals of Anais Nin, Sheri S Tepper's Beauty, David Eddings's guilty pleasures of the Belgariad and the Mallorean, Linda Jaivin's Rock n Roll Babes from Outer Space and all the Terry Pratchett I can cram in.

Boy do I! I'm an anal Virgo, and I organize EVERYTHING!

I have a "witches' fiction" section, that I reserve for books that had witchcraft or magic in them, that wasn't total crap. I use that as my recommendation list for friends who want something good to read. As most of my friends are witches, my witchy fiction selection tends to be a big hit.

Then I have a "Recommended Witchcraft Reading" shelf, for students. Every book on there not only has good information, but is moving AND inspiring to me.

Then I have the "Lend-out" section, which is a shelf of books that I don't care if I lose.

And then there's the top shelf. I keep the books that NOBODY EVER GETS TO BORROW EVER EVER EVER up there. *chuckles* Those are the ones that are either collectors' items like my signed books, or expensive rare books, or books that were so inspiring that I just cannot imagine life without them, like the Kushiel's Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey.

It's ALL about the anal-ness. *grins*

Can you give me a couple of good titles on your recommended list for interested people who don't know a great deal?

Sure!

The following list is my recommended reading list, which I give to students when asked:

For witchcraft in general-
Witchcraft: Theory and Practice, by Ly de Angeles
Inner Temple of Witchcraft, by Christopher Penczak
Mastering Witchcraft, by Paul Huson
Aradia: Gospel of the Witches, by Charles Leland
The Witches' Bible, by Janet and Stewart Farrar
The Practice of Witchcraft Today, by Robin Skelton
Grimoire of the Green Witch (Green Witchcraft series), by Ann Moura
Power of the Witch, by Laurie Cabot

For Wicca-
The Heart of Wicca, by Ellen Cannon Reed
Anything by Raven Grimassi, Scott Cunningham, Doreen Valiente, Gerald Gardner, or the Farrars
A Grimoire of Shadows, by Ed Fitch

For spells and magical study-
Spellcraft, by Robin Skelton
The Witches' Qabala, by Ellen Cannon Reed
The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells (actually a really good book, despite my original suspicions)
The Goodly Spellbook (Wiccan-friendly, which means not very hardcore, but good for information)
Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic by catherine yronwode
Herbal Magick, and the Master Book of Herbalism by Paul Beyerl

Old Tradition Craft books (all WAY expensive)-

Viridarium Umbris, by Daniel Schulke
Azoetia, by Andrew Chumbley
Old Tradition Crafte, compiled by Robin Artisan
Anything by Robin Artisson or Peter Paddon

Alternative witchcraft references-
Evolutionary Witchcraft by T. Thorn Coyle (Feri Tradition)
Earth Magic, by Marion Weinstein (Dianic tradition)
Witch Crafting, by Phyllis Curott (Temple of Ara)
The Spiral Dance, by Starhawk (Reclaiming tradition)
Witchcraft Fact Book, by Ed Buczynski (Minoan Brotherhood/Sisterhood)

Naturally, this isn't a complete list, but it's a start!

My special shelves are books I know I will read whenever I want an old friend, one of the books I really love and enjoy and know in my bones.

Exactly!

Thanks for sharing the titles.

I keep the books that NOBODY EVER GETS TO BORROW EVER EVER EVER up there.

Exactly!
I'll buy copies for someone else to read, if necessary. But NO ONE gets to borrow them!

*grins* Exactly.

The "Special" Shelf

Hiya. Back frrom England and glad to see my books!

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Re: Hiya. Back frrom England and glad to see my books!

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