Donna Quixote

The musings of a disappointed idealist

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Lost & Found

A year or so ago, my friend David found a really touching inscription inside of a great NPR book that he picked up at a used bookstore. It was amazingly heart-felt and honest, this inscription from a son to a father. When we read it, we were of course very moved, and then we thought, "Oh no, I bet the father was ill, passed away, and someone just traded or gave the book away. How sad." And then it made us wonder how many other inscribed books are just sitting around waiting to be read and pondered? Well, we started searching for them in earnest a little while ago, scouring used bookshops, antique/thrift stores and the like. We're amazed at how many we've found so far!

The following posts contain a variety of books and inscriptions, and we’ll keep updating as the quest continues. Please have a look through them. I encourage you to share your own thoughts about them. And if you have found some inscriptions of your own, by all means, click here and share them! I’d love to be able to include them!

Thanks!

- Donna Q

Coming soon, over 20 new and amazing book inscriptions!

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Coming soon, over 20 new and amazing book inscriptions!This past Sunday, my friend David and I spent the afternoon rummaging around the book section of one of our favorite antique haunts. The results of our combined effort are truly amazing, and we can’t wait to share them with you all. While we of course remain thrilled with our NPR and Sketch Book(s) finds, we really think we found some inscriptions that are even more impressive and touching. We’d love to know what you think – and why.

So please stay tuned, tell your friends, share your thoughts and, by all means, share your finds with us as well! We know you have them, you’ve told us (you know who you are!) so take a minute or 10 and share ’em

Thanks!

Open Secrets by Alice Munro

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Open Secrets by Alice Munro
Open Secrets by Alice Munro

One of our new favorites. We found a love note turned bookmark within the pages of Ms. Munro’s wonderful short story collection, and there’s no secret about the feelings of this note’s drafter. We’re hoping the recipient has lots of these romantic missives and doesn’t mind misplacing this one!Continue Reading

The Gourmet Cookbook

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The Gourmet Cookbook
The Gourmet Cookbook

Cookbooks certainly can make good Christmas presents and, with over 1,000 recipes, The Gourmet Cookbook is a very nice choice. But look closely at the inscription. We’re hoping that Keith was a little hurried or harried or something (perhaps Jack Frost was nipping at his nose?) because, while he surely loved Keeva,  and maybe even cooking, he just as surely butchered (ahem) the spelling of Christmas….Or, as an alternative theory, perhaps he and Keeva celebrate a lesser known, similarly spelled – but equally as gift-worthy – holiday of their very own.
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