Friday, September 29, 2017

Book Blogger Hop No. 107: Books I Have Cuddled With



Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @


For more information, and 
to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.


This Week's Question

Have you ever slept with a favorite,
beloved book under your
pillow, or cradled in your arms?

(Submitted  by Maria @ 





My Answer

Oh, yes!! These are part of my treasured childhood memories!

The first book I remember doing this with was Heidi, by Johanna Spyri. This book not only tells a WONDERFUL, very sweet tale, in which a little girl goes to live with her grandfather, but it also has sentimental value  for me.

When I was around 10, I came down with the measles, and had to stay in bed for a few days. Of course, I could not go to school. Well, one night, I got a very nice surprise...... When my dad came home from work, he went to see me in my bedroom, and presented me with a copy of Heidi! I had been feeling glum because I was bedridden, but Dad really cheered me up by giving me the best gift a bookworm could ever hope for!! So of course I started regularly sleeping with this beloved book in my arms! 

I wish I knew where it disappeared to..... it got misplaced somewhere along the way.... I LOVED it so much, too!! I would really love to get another copy of it, although it won't have the same sentimental value of the original. However, I've looked all over the Internet, and have been unable to locate the same edition. I wish I could go back in time and thank my Dad again.... that was such a thoughtful, loving thing for him to do! I have never forgotten this, either! 







This is not the original edition my dad bought me, but I have just ordered it from Amazon, as it expresses my feelings toward him. When my dad hugged me, I felt safe, loved, and that all was right with the world.

The edition pictured above has a rather poignant feeling for me, too, because I wish I had had this kind of relationship with my maternal grandpa, as well. Sadly, he was never affectionate with us kids, and was always very serious. I realize that he had a lot of stress related to our forced move to this country, but still.... I do wish we could have been closer to him.

Another book I can remember cradling in my arms was Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell. Mom bought me this one. I saw this book at a Winn-Dixie store. It was very reasonably-priced at the time. Well, I began to pester her to buy it for me, and she laughingly gave in. This book marked the beginning of my great love for horses, which has stayed with me to this day, although, alas....I have not been lucky enough to actually own a horse.... Still, I treasured this book, and also went to sleep with it cradled in my arms. Oh, how I wish those days were back.......                          
             


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6309695-black-beauty



This is the EXACT edition Mom bought me. It, too, disappeared. I have not been able to find this one online, either. However, I do own another, very beautiful edition of this childhood gem. It doesn't have the same sentimental value, of course.

At least I still have the books I was able to bring with me from Cuba, when we came to the States! 





https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1146374.Black_Beauty



This is the edition I own now. I really must re-read this novel, especially since it holds such special memories for me.

Some of the most wonderful, touching memories in a bookworm's life have something to do with books. That has certainly been the case with me, and I'm sure there are many of my fellow bookworms who also have precious bookish memories! 

Although I haven't cuddled with books again since I grew up, I have from time to time HUGGED beloved books! And there have been several of them, too, such as the books of The Twilight Saga, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter books, as well as some HIGHLY beloved classics such as Jane Eyre!! 





What are your thoughts on
this topic?
If you're participating in this hop,
I'll go comment on your 
own BBH post.
If not, I will then comment on one 
of your blog posts!
Thanks for visiting!!!  
 





14 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful post Maria.

    Sometimes I wish that I could go back to childhood just to appreciate such warm moments and gestures. Events, such as your father bringing you the Heidi when you were bedridden, turn out to be profoundly important to us throughout our lives.

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Brian!

      Thank you so much!! <3 <3

      Yeah, it sure would be nice to go back to childhood again.... And it's really wonderful to be able to reminisce about these warm moments and gestures.

      You're so right, too, that these special events are very, very important to us through the years. They are really treasures to hold close to one's heart!

      Thanks for such a lovely, touching comment, Brian!! <3 <3

      Hope you're having a great Saturday!! <3 : )

      Delete
  2. I need to reread Heidi and Black Beauty someday. Great answer!

    Here’s my Book Blogger Hop!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Ronyell!

      I would like to do the same! These are special books to be treasured forever!!

      Thanks for the compliment and the nice nice comment!! <3 : )

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Hi, Nicki!

      Thank you! I'm glad you like them! These are very special memories!

      Thanks for the nice comment!! <3 : )

      Delete
  4. What sweet stories, Maria.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Always love your answers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Elizabeth!

      Awww....THANK YOU!!! Yes, these are very special memories I treasure!

      You're very welcome for the sharing! And thanks for ALWAYS leaving such nice comments and compliments!! HUGS!!!!! <3 <3 <3 : ) : ) : )

      Delete
  5. What a treasure trove of memories, Maria! Your father's love for you shines through. I am glad you were able to find a copy with the same cover of Black Beauty your mom gave you. That would make it extra special.

    Both of my parents were avid readers. My dad during his life and my mother still to this day.

    I remember loving Heidi when I was a child. I read the book, but was more enamored with the movie, I'm afraid. Same with Black Beauty.

    Thanks for sharing, Maria.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Wendy!

      Awww....you're SO SWEET!! Yeah, my dad definitely loved me.... This incident is something I have never forgotten, and will never forget. Dad was a wonderful, kind, quiet man, and I miss him so very much....

      While I did find the edition of "Black Beauty" that Mom gave me -- on Goodreads -- I have so far not found it for sale either on Amazon or eBay. But I will keep looking!

      Saturday night, while talking to Mom on the phone, I asked her about "Heidi". I wonder if it's somewhere around the house (although she's not living in the same house we were living in when Dad gave me the book). She promised to ask my sisters to look for it. I'm crossing my fingers!! If they find it, I'm bringing it back with me to our condo. Ditto with "Black Beauty"!!

      Both of my parents were readers, too, except perhaps not to the degree that I was, and still am. Oh, I just remembered! Several years ago, Dad asked to borrow my copy of "Les Miserables", which is a two-volume, slipcased edition. And he read it. Now I feel bad, because I have yet to do so myself.... : (

      Oh, are you talking about the Shirley Temple movie? I don't remember if I ever saw it. Nor have I seen "Black Beauty". I have, however, seen "The Black Stallion", as well as "National Velvet". As you know, i ADORE horses!!

      You're very welcome for the sharing, Wendy!! And thank YOU for such a lovely comment!! Hope the week ahead is a GREAT one for you guys! HUGS TO YOU AND MOUSE!! <3 <3 <3 :) ;) :)

      Delete
  6. I've seen the Shirley Temple version of the movie Heidi when I was a kid, but I had no idea it was a book! As for sleeping with books, I've never really slept with a book before. That sounds so dirty haha!! But I have fallen asleep while reading, and have dreamed about scenes I've read. I feel like if you're dreaming about a book, then you know you're in love with it.

    My BBH-http://poemsbyayoungartist.blogspot.com/2017/10/bookbloggerhop-september-29-october-5.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Dani!

      I don't remember seeing the movie, but I did read the copy of the novel that my Dad brought me. It was a lovely story, and I do want to reread it!

      Many people fall asleep while reading in bed, and so end up sleeping with the book! Lol. In my case, though, I purposely slept with favorite books, such as "Heidi", cradled in my arms.

      You're SO LUCKY to have dreamed of scenes from whatever book you were reading at the time..... Now that's something I wish would happen to me!

      Thanks for the nice comment!! <3 <3 :) :)

      Delete
  7. I remember Heidi *.* but it's a blurr memory and I don't think it was actually something from "my generation".
    I can't sleep easily so I will (probably never) be able to doze off with a book next to me xD Some people sleep with their treasure next to them, so having a book while sleeping is quite normal ahahah But I'd never do so.. I'd be too scared to scratch or damage it during my sleep

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Sandrine!

      Sorry for the reply.... I'm now trying to catch up with all of your comments! :)

      I remember loving "Heidi" as a child, but don't remember much of the plot, so I would have to reread it. but I treasured it so much, because my Dad brought it to me when I was sick. At that time, I never thought about damaging the book while cuddling with it. Lol.

      Thanks for the great comment!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete

THIS IS NOW AN AWARD-FREE, AND TAG-FREE BLOG. Thanks for the compliment, though! : )

As of today, 9/23/18, I have permanently enabled comment moderation, due to a sudden rash of SPAM comments. I appreciate your patience!

Thanks for your thoughts on my posts! I always reply here, as well as comment back on your blog. Have a WONDERFUL day!! :)