Dec 25 2008
Merry Christmas! Books as gifts
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
I started thinking this morning about all the generous people who have given books as gifts to me. And as I looked over my shelves, I realized I’ve been enriched indeed, by all those people. Here are some examples.
It began years ago, of course, with such books as A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh. I’ve already talked about those in a previous post. I’ve loved them to death ever since I was a kid. I know they were a gift from someone, but alas, I can’t remember who. Probably my parents, but also possibly my aunt.
And it carried on until I was an adult, when family and friends - who knew me so well! - began to give me other books that were absolutely perfect for my interests and tastes. For example, another book I’ve already discussed here, given to me by a friend named Gael: The Origin of Species.
And so it has gone over the years. When I was at university, one of my (several) majors - the one in which I got both my degrees, in fact - was Religious Studies. My version of that degree was more about philosophy of world religions, but we were required to take some courses in the doctrines and practices of both western and eastern religions as well. So my friend Susan, a fellow student also working on a Religious Studies degree, got me these books for Christmas one year: The Nag Hammadi Library, and The Bible as History. They were perfect.
And of course, the religious studies work was partly related to my absolutely fervent passion for mythology, so the books that were about mythology proper continued coming in. I’ve mentioned yet another one of those here before: The Golden Bough, by Frazer, also given to me by Gael.
It wasn’t all sternly academic, however. I’ve gotten a lot of new reading, and been introduced to wonderful new authors, because of the wonderful bookish gifts friends have given me over the years. Take Terry Pratchett. A multitude of friends had raved about him for a long time, but I’d never yet read him. And so my pals Maia and Ed took it upon themselves to buy me four Pratchett books for my birthday, two or three years ago. I read the first couple and thought, “Well, they’re fine, I guess, but I wouldn’t rave about them like everyone else does.” Then I read Small Gods, which so far is my absolute favourite Pratchett book. And suddenly the light clicked on, I thought, “Oh, now I get it,” and I’m steadily reading through all the rest of Pratchett’s books and having a wonderful time. (I suppose it’s no coincidence that the “hook” was the fact that Small Gods deals with mythico-religious subjects that are dear to my heart. Whatever works, eh?)
Maia also introduced me to another writer whose books I really enjoy: Kim Harrison. It began with Maia coming to visit, with a few books that she didn’t want to carry back home with her, so she asked if I’d like one of them - Dead Witch Walking, by Harrison. The books have a strong paranormal component, but the stories are fun and intriguing as well. Ms. Harrison can thank Maia for the fact that I’ve becomen a regular buyer! I believe I have five of the books so far. And yes - I’m perfectly aware that there’s at least one more, and I’m keeping my eye out for when it comes out in paperback.
The academic interests have continued, though, even if I’ve been out of university for a few years. One subject I didn’t take in university - yet it too relates to the religious studies and the passion for mythology - was archeology. But as I mentioned very early in this blog, talking about Leonard Cottrell’s books about the early archeologial discoveries, ancient, buried history is another of my passions. So knowing this (how well my friends do know me, I never fail to be astonished by it!), a friend nicknamed Ms. A sent me this book through Amazon: Nineveh and Its Remains, by Austen Henry Layard. Layard is one of my favourites among the pioneering archeologists, and the story of his discovery of ancient Nineveh is full of politics and intrigue and a fair bit of adventure. So I was delirious to receive one of Layard’s own books, and remain deeply grateful to Ms. A for giving it to me.
One of my other huge interests - the writings of the forgers of modern democracy as well as great early American writers and thinkers - has been and is still being indulged by my friend Mark, who has been sending me gorgeous hard cover volumes from the American Library. So far, I’ve got the writings of Jefferson, Franklin, Paine, Cather, Thoreau, Parkman, O’Connor, and James. Most of them come in a lovely protective display box, so they will stay in pristine shape for many years. I’m gradually working my way through Thoreau and Jefferson, and have dipped a toe into Franklin. My favourite thus far is Jefferson - mostly because he agrees with me in so many things! 
And as I continue exploring another fairly recent interest, learning more about the early science fiction writers, my friend Tim has maintained quite a steady stream of second hand books as he discovers them in garage and library sales. It’s because of Tim that I finally received again my long-lost favourite, City at World’s End, by Edmond Hamilton. And discovered the wonders of Leigh Brackett. Just for starters. The books in the photo are just a small (believe me, a small) sample of the books Tim has sent me. They’re from Del Rey’s “Best of…” series. So far, I have the “Best of” Stanley G. Weinbaum, Jack Vance, Cordwainer Smith, C.L. Moore, John W. Campbell, L. Sprague de Camp, Edmond Hamilton, and of course, Leigh Brackett. Thanks to Tim, I am immersed in the grand, heady spirit of new discovery that inspired so many of these writers.
I would not have half the mind I do, I suspect, if not for the generosity and sharing of all these friends, and countless others whose gifts I haven’t had time or space to mention. It hasn’t just been the physical books either. With these friends, I have talked about these books, and others like them, about the ideas and concepts, about the stories and what makes them so enthralling. I have so many intellectual parents that I feel like the Norse god Heimdall with his nine mothers!
I have truly been blessed, both in my friends and in the great gifts of the mind that they have given me. I’ve lost touch with some over the years, but I hope all of these friends, past and present, are having a wonderful Christmas and are as blessed in their gifts as I have been in mine. Merry Christmas!
Isn’t it nice, when you look back and realize just how much you’ve benefitted from people’s gifts of books? I can almost think to myself, “So-and-so was the midwife for this type of interest I developed here, and that person took that interest in a different direction…”