Keepers

There are books that we keep and books that we donate. What makes the difference?

I thought of this recently as I made my weekly visit to the library. I passed books on the shelf that I had read and loved and smiled at them like old friends. I watched a woman picked up a book that had been a favorite of mine and, on impulse, I recommended it to her. “That’s a great one,” I offered. “A good choice.”

She looked at me with narrowed eyes as though trying to remember when she had asked my opinion. I grinned and continued with my search for a book that would inspire that same kind of passion in me. I did not look back to see if she took my advice and checked out the book I recommended.

As a writer, I want to write the books that people keep. Once I borrowed a copy of Gift From The Sea from a friend. I remember just as I was about to walk out with it my friend stopped me. “Hang on!” she said. “I want to write my name in it so I can be sure to get it back. This one’s a book I want to keep.” She paused. “It’s special to me.”

Isn’t that every writer’s longing? To write a book that readers want to keep, if for nothing else than to know it’s there, to smile at it on their shelf? So what does a keeper look like? I thought of the books I have kept. In spite of my ever-shrinking shelf space they earned a permanent spot. These books are:

Moving. The book moved me emotionally. I connected with the plot, the premise, the outcome. I wanted to keep it because I wanted to preserve the connection.

Memorable Characters. I have spent time with these characters and loved them. When the book ends, I find myself wondering how they’re doing. I wanted to keep the book because I wanted the characters close by.

Makes you think. Whether it’s a surprise ending or a moral dilemma the character faced, the book kept me enthralled and made me ponder life from a different angle or made me dig deeper into some of my own beliefs. I wanted to keep it because it earned my respect.

Masterful writing. When I read the book I caught myself going back to re-read certain sentences or paragraphs because the writing was just that good. I wanted to keep the book because the writer created an amazing work.

Motivates me to be a better writer. When I closed the book I thought to myself, “I wish I had written that book… or thought of that premise… or created those plot twists, etc.” Reading good writing inspires really good writing. I kept the book because I want good writing close at hand.

Ariel and I thought we’d make a brief list of the books we consider keepers. We would love for you to share yours!

Ariel’s list: Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Kathryn Stockett’s The Help, Keeper Of The Bees by Jean Stratton Porter, anything by George MacDonald or C.S. Lewis, and all of the She Reads selections,

Marybeths’ list: all the She Reads picks, Kathleen McCleary’s House And Home, Prince Of Tides by Pat Conroy (the book that cemented my desire to be a writer), all of Lee Smith’s titles, Susan Meissner’s Blue Heart Blessed, Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos, The Pact by Jodi Picoult

Which books are on your Keeper List? What makes them stand out to you?

By: Marybeth Whalen