Packing My Library: An Elegy and Ten Digressions

Packing My Library: An Elegy and Ten Digressions

by Alberto Manguel

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	962 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	155 pages

FREE

When I was a child, my family moved a lot. We lived in seven different houses before I was in high school. Each time we moved, I would pack up my books with great care. I knew that they were my most precious possessions.

As I got older, my library grew. I collected books on every subject that interested me. I had novels, biographies, histories, cookbooks, travelogues, and more. My books were my friends. They were my teachers. They were my companions.

I thought I would always have my books with me. But then my life changed. I got married, had children, and moved to a new city. My new house was smaller than my old house, and I didn't have room for all of my books.

I had to make a decision. I could either keep my books and find a new home for them, or I could sell them or give them away. I decided to keep them. I rented a storage unit and packed up my books.

Packing my library was like packing up my life. Each book held a memory. Each book was a part of me.

I packed up my childhood books. I packed up the books that I read in college. I packed up the books that I read when I was first married. I packed up the books that I read to my children.

Packing my library was an emotional experience. It was like saying goodbye to a part of myself. But it was also a necessary experience. I was moving on to a new chapter in my life, and I needed to let go of the past.

I packed up my library, and I moved on. But I never forgot my books. I knew that they were waiting for me, in storage. And I knew that someday, I would find a new home for them.

A few years later, I did find a new home for my books. I bought a house with a large library. It was the perfect place for my collection. I unpacked my books and arranged them on the shelves. I was finally home.

My library is more than just a collection of books. It is a reflection of my life. It is a reminder of all the places I have lived and all the people I have loved. It is a source of comfort and inspiration.

I am grateful for my library. It is one of the most important things in my life.

Ten Digressions on Books and Libraries

1. Books are our friends. They are our teachers. They are our companions.
2. Libraries are sanctuaries. They are places where we can go to learn, to grow, and to be inspired.
3. Reading is essential. It is the key to knowledge, understanding, and empathy.
4. Books can change our lives. They can make us laugh, they can make us cry, they can make us think.
5. Libraries are community centers. They are places where people can come together to learn, to socialize, and to be inspired.
6. Books are a gift. They are a way to pass on knowledge, ideas, and stories from generation to generation.
7. Libraries are a vital part of our society. They are a source of education, information, and inspiration for all.
8. Reading is a lifelong activity. It is something that we can enjoy from childhood to old age.
9. Books are a treasure. They are something to be cherished and passed down to future generations.
10. Libraries are a legacy. They are a gift that we can leave for our children and grandchildren.

Packing My Library: An Elegy and Ten Digressions

by Alberto Manguel

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	962 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	155 pages

FREE