Since he passed away his wife owned everything, including the bookshop (once library) but somehow his children were left all the books. Locked in a fight over who should own it all, the shop was locked up and closed down. Years started to pass and still the doors remained locked. Until I learned to pick them. As a young teen I would sneak in with a large bag and carry what I could out at night. For two years I did this. I was never caught and no one went to the shop. (Part 2)
Okay, I’ma need you to write a book because this is beautiful! ❤
WAIT THERE WAS A 3RD PART
I donated all the books. Only keeping one for myself. I gave the books to homeless shelters and women’s shelters. I left them in donation boxes for children and random places in town or the coffee shop. One night the shop was burnt down by the owners son for insurance money – angry his dad left books and not money. Nothing survived the fire. I’m much older now and I know stealing is wrong but I’m glad I did because I know the books I stole got a chance to live on in other hands. (Part 3)
NOW I REALLY REAAAALLY NEED YOU TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT THIS. So sad that they burned it down, wow 😦 You’re a wonderful person, Nonnie, honestly. This is amazing!
MORE MORE
Sometimes when I see my kids reading their books I can’t help but smile and think back to the nights I would pick old locks to climb through old windows with a duffel bag much bigger than myself that weighed twice what I did. My kids think I’m lame and silly and only good at cooking spaghetti but they have no idea that the book I read to them at bedtime is my only souvenir of a much dangerous and exciting life I lived so long ago. (Part 4)
For clarification, I was 10 when the shopped closed, 13 when I first broke in and the two years that followed for twice a month every month I would carry out my weight in literature gold. Sometimes I miss being young. (Part 5)
PLEASE WRITE A BOOK
also, we should all carry our weight in literature at least once in our lives
YOU ARE GOALS, NONNIE
I WANT TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND
What book did you keep though?
The Book Thief kept a leather bound collection of stories by Hans Christian Andersen 🙂
Reminder that this is one of the best stories I ever got here and it needs a million more notes.
I have a story for you. I was once a book thief. There is this gorgeous building a few hours drive from where I used to live as a child that once was a city library. Inside are endless rooms of books, large fireplaces, stain glass windows, spiral staircases and a tower with glass floors. When I was a kid my aunt would take me and walk among the shelves and pick out books. I went for years and it became a haven from the world I was growing up in. When I was ten, the owner passed away. (Part 1)
Published
knitting in the dark 