By that I mean not only the beloved words within, but also just the physical 'thing' and the meaning it holds. Possibly because of what it taught you, how it soothed you, or from whom it came to you.

I have three books that I treasure. The first is a collection of poems by Robert Frost.

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I'm not a poetry guy. Except for Frost. So much so that, as you can see, I marked the cover in blue to let everyone know who this book belonged to. I wasn't concerned with preserving the exterior--I was concerned with KEEPING as mine what lived and breathed between the covers.

The next book is a huge departure from Frost. The Amityville Horror.

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Why treasure a paperback copy of a discredited 'true' story? Well, first of all, true or not, the book scared the crap out of me when I was younger. But the main reason is that I was able, way back when, to score an advance copy of the book from a reseller, so I had it before it ever hit the shelves.

Finally, and possibly the book that means the most to me, I give you an academic look at Science Fiction.

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Within are several stories by masters such as Bradbury, and discussion of each, but why this has meaning to me lies just within the front cover.

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This book was given to me upon my graduation from Junior High in 1979 by one of my English teachers, Ruth Russell, who encouraged me greatly just as I was beginning to imagine myself a writer. She has since passed away, but I have this, and I am grateful that I was smart/lucky enough to hang onto it.