In My Library....

I drafted this meme more than a year ago, but never published it. Five questions on my library:

1. The oldest book in my library: Myths of the Northern Lands, published 1895.

2. The book in my library I've owned the longest: St. Exupery's The Little Prince. I own the copy I read in grade school 38 years ago. I own a copy in French I bought in Paris 28 years ago.

3. The book in my library I've read the most : Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. I read this book as an assignment in Jr. High, High School, and two college courses. I taught this book many times too. I've lost count how many times I've read it. While I wouldn't say that I know it by heart, I can open to almost any page and by reading a sentence or two, know exactly where in the book I am reading, what action has taken place, understand the tone and nuances of the specific scene, as if I had just re-read all of the preceding pages.

4. The most unusual book in my library: A musty-smelling book with a beautiful hand-painted front cover, a copy of Hawthorne's Mosses from an Old Manse, found at a garage sale. While I've read stranger pieces of writing, the care that went into painting the book, and the neglect that let it molder intrigues me and earns it the 'most unusual' nomination.

5. A book everyone should read: whatever informs their lives, enriches their soul, forces them to think, or makes them smile.

No tag; you're it. If you want to do this, feel free.