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!
My Lost & Found category contains 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
Lorraine Devon Wilke says
August 21, 2015 at 4:17 pmWhat a great idea! I, too, have found books like that over the years but didn’t have the clever idea you’ve had about collecting them. I will now keep a better eye out and if/when I find any, will report back! 🙂
Donna Quixote says
August 21, 2015 at 5:25 pmLorraine,
Please do! It’ll be great to have you as a participant in this little project. I know we’re both FoDs (Friends of David); he’s been instrumental in the book quest.
Also, you should know that I’ve read several of your articles over the years. I relate to your point of view and admire your writing, That makes hearing from you all the better.
Tracye Sowders says
August 21, 2015 at 6:20 pmOne of my most favorite inscribed books, A Collection of Walt Whitman, was from you, Miss Q.
Donna Quixote says
August 21, 2015 at 7:06 pmAwwww, I remember now. Only my favorite people are gifted with Uncle Walt.
John Bellamy says
August 24, 2015 at 9:16 pmAnd my Walt is where? JOKING. I gave Tim a Whitman quote to celebrate our Blessing.
John Bellamy says
August 24, 2015 at 9:17 pmHey, where’s my Walt? JOKING. Interestingly, I did give Tim a Walt “Leaves of Grass@ quote to acknowledge our Blessing ceremony.
Donna Quixote says
August 24, 2015 at 9:43 pmYou merit an entire library, John, but…you already had an entire library by the time I met you. Leaves of Grass: awwww. I’ll never outgrow my Walt Whitman phase.
Lisa Countiss says
March 11, 2016 at 4:35 pmDonna,
I just discovered your blog and your inscription project. I really am an ardent fan of both, now that I know about them. Modesty has always been one of your greatest virtues.
You just added value and deep thought to my sparse Whitman collection, mostly those few inscribed by my Aunt Evelyn, now deceased. She was a high school civics teacher and an avid reader, and she gave me classic books way before I could understand their significance. I now ponder how they molded me and what impacts they had without my even thinking about it, as Sherry elucidates in her wonderful letter.
How serendipitous that I have these thoughts after finding this blog, only moments after a discussion about Muslims, in which I said they must feel like the Jewish neighbors who were graced to live next door to my very open-minded Aunt Evelyn in the 1950’s and early 60’s. She treated them to cook-outs and the best of our family gatherings, while the rest of the neighborhood acted as if they were intrinsically evil.
I am saddened that people do not inscribe books like they used to do. I just got an insight into why we met at the Human Rights Commission—and the insight that I never made the connection that I can thank my Aunt Evelyn for that fine occasion, as well as many other things I had not attributed to her.
Donna Quixote says
May 11, 2016 at 1:11 amLisa,
I just discovered your message, which had gone errantly into a spam folderThank you for the kind and thought-provoking comments. Your Aunt Evelyn was a wonderful example and inspiration, it seems. Lovely.
Best to you & M.
Suz (DQ)