German - A Structural Approach

There isn't an inscription in this book, but whoever owned it wrote down several quotes and then translated the quotes into German. This book was published in 1967 and it is the most thorough book on German I've ever seen and I took three years of it in high school. Two professors from Stanford are the authors it is still in print and available for purchase as a 4th addition for the low, low price of $80.

I hope whoever owned this book is fluent in German now, because almost every single page of this book has writing and translations. There was a pressed flower between the pages too.

The best thing about this book though is the smell. It is just about the mustiest book I've come across and it instantly took me back to 9 or 10 years old to the original library of my hometown. The building was old and grand and the stacks of books towered over my head. A person could get lost in the building and being a kid, I imagined myself on quests all the time. The lighting was dim and the smell of musty books was almost overpowering. I loved that place.

 

Translated as best as I could:
Quotes read:

"When women fade, the men vanish (or slip away) (make off)"
"Wenn Frauen verduften, verduften die manner!" Rheinfall
From Google translate: Wenn Frauen verschwinden, verschwinden die Männer

"Humor is when one laughs in spite of it"
"Fridnse offire - Finanz ant humor ist, wenn man trotzdem lacht!"
From Google translate: Humor ist wenn man trotzdem lacht es

"Do as the sundial, count only the bright (clear, sunny) hours"
"Mach es wie die Sonnenuhr, zahl die heiteren stunden nur!"
From Google translate: Machen Sie es wie die Sonnenuhr, zählen nur die hellen Stunden

"Always when you believe it is not possible, comes hither from somewhere as little light"
"Immer wenn Du meinft es gehr nicht mehr, koment von vigendwa ein lichtlun her"
From Google translate: Immer, wenn Sie glauben, dass es nicht möglich ist, kommt von irgendwo her so wenig Licht

Atlas of Man

This book reminds me of another post I did, The Living Races of Man. It is exactly the same concept - an encyclopedia of the all the races of human beings on earth. This book was gifted to a young man on his 17th birthday by his grandparents. Why this particular book? And why did he give it away? Sadly, there are no names given in the inscription.

 

Inscription reads: "With best wishes to our grandson on his seventeenth birthday, June 7, 1986. Grandpa and Grandma."

Rachel & The Royal Garden

The inscription in this book is calligraphy. It is very pretty and it makes me wonder if that is why "Abby" wrote Xmas instead of Christmas, because Christmas is so much longer.

This book was published by Cape Perpetua Press, a division of the Central Oregon Coast Writers' Co-op. I find an extraordinary number of books by local authors that have been inscribed.

 

Inscription reads: "For Sean. From Aunt Abby. Xmas '97."

Expresso for a Woman's Spirit

There isn't a date for this inscription; just an occasion, Eileen's 22nd birthday. There is a lovely inscription which makes it that much sadder that I found this book.

 

Inscription reads: "To Eileen on your 22nd BD. Love Mom & Dad. Cherish each day as memories are worth their weight in gold."

The Millionaire Kit

The inscription for this book was written on post-its. I find that really funny. It sends the message that everything is disposable, even book inscriptions. Steve, the giver, didn't want Todd, the receiver to have a book that was written upon.

The way the message is written, it makes me think that this is author inscribed, because it states, "probably my most poorly titled book" and it is signed by a Steve and the author of this book is Stephen L. Nelson. The back of the book states that that the author lives in Redmond, Washington, a distance of 183 miles from Portland, Oregon, my location. So it is quite possible that this note is from the author.

 

Inscription reads: "Todd, Here's the book I mentioned...probably my most poorly titled book. Really it's about using your computer to make smarter money decisions. E.g., see p. 120 for the end effect of some of my former and current bad habits. Steve. P.s. Crazy idea - maybe you should think about writing a book about money. I'd talk with you about co-authoring or publishing such a title."

The Window Ledge

This little book of poetry is inscribed by the author to his niece. It's seems so sad that she got rid of it so soon.

 

Inscription reads: R.E. Smith. Robyn: Thanks for all your support in my artistic endeavor. I feel the same way about encouraging yours. Uncle Rick"

Fire on the Mountain

The inscription in this book is so sweet. It is from "Granny" and it makes me think of a stooped, little lady with glasses hanging around her neck and who smells like rose water and cinnamon. I like to think that "Granny" was a wise woman because her words are so meaningful.

 

Inscription reads, "1982. To Silmene. Life is sometimes not as good as one would like it to be. Yet life is about what we strive to put into it. As you can see here within the covers of this book...Always be mindful of this. Love Granny"