So, what books did I get with that very generous gift certificate to the Concord Bookshop that Jim gave me? Here they are:

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner (in paperback)

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Fire by Kristin Cashore

The Children’s Book by A.S. Byatt

Chez Jacques: Traditions and Rituals of a Cook by Jacques Pepin [my hero]

Lisa listened to this list, then said, “Abby, you DO know that you can get all of those books here at the library, don’t you?”  Yes, I do know that.  But I’m a book-a-holic, and I LOVE having my own copies of some books.  I baby them, I take very good care of them, and then, sometimes, I take them to the used bookstore and sell them when we start to run out of space in our house.  I love libraries, of course, but there’s nothing quite like having your very own copy of a favorite or much-anticipated book.  It’s the combination of the two, libraries and personal copies, that makes the literary world go ’round.

Thanks again, hun, for the gift certificate!