Immortal books....

[AllGoodDogs]

Now E-Readers are so popular, and less books are being printed each year, which ones (standalone or series) would you want to have on your shelf, if printing stopped tomorrow? Aside from the obvious classics such as Shakespeare, Dickens etc. I mean more modern books really.

I would have Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, The Red Tent, and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (I know it may be frivolous, but I adore it, and it's one of the few paper books I own, and will never get rid of it!).

I read the Essex Serpent on my kindle then bought the hard back because I loved it and the cover is just so pretty.

Mostly I have books on my shelf that I've not read and then ditch them once I've read them unless they were 5*.

I'm trying to collect the Fontana Agatha Christie's as the covers are so awesome

Now E-Readers are so popular, and less books are being printed each year

Is that true? The printed book trade has very successfully fought back by making books look like desirable objects again. Printed book sales have been rising in the UK.

I've really gone off my kindle. It is OK when travelling and for straightforward novels but writers such as David Mitchell, Kate Atkinson or Justin Cronin, who use complex structures, and time frames don't work well on e-readers.

As to what I would keep? There must be 1000s of books in my house- so all of them. I don't keep everything I read so any I don't want to keep get recycled when I finish them.

I read a lot on Kindle and also listen to a lot of Audible so I suppose I am in these statistics.
I actually do like the poster above and if I have particularly enjoyed a book will buy a quality edition - usually hardback, because much as I love my kindle there is nothing more beautiful than a well stocked bookshelf.

If I read a book I think dh will enjoy I'll get a paperback, he won't read on kindle, and I am trying to get him back to reading after a bout of depression. He is currently sat next to me reading a thriller, the first one since his mum died in Jan,

In answer to the question though, I would have on my shelf:
Harry Potter
Lord of the rings and the hobbit
Pride and prejudice
Shakespeare
Some of the classic dystopian novels such as 1984, Fahrenheit 451 and brave new world
The Belgariad series by David eddings
Chronicles of narnia
To kill a mockingbird
The warlord series by Bernard Cornwell
The mists of Avalon

I'm not sure what point is in having them on shelves, really.
I used to trawl thru my parents' shelves for good books, but DC simply do not do that. They read a lot, but they never look at our own shelves. I don't like to re-read things either (generally).
So there's no point in having my own copy, it doesn't encourage anyone.

I would have Emma ,

Pride and Prejudice (not modern I know but I re read them) I always find something new in them)

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, and all the others by her that I can't remember off hand
The Morville Hours a modern brilliant gardening / history book.
Does it have to be fiction? I have so many reference books for herbalism, essential oils etc. from Nicholas Culpeper to Tisserand etc.I 'd keep them. As well as gardening and cookery books by the ton!