I came across a little leather notebook that was filled with books read by the previous
owner. The listing begins in 1936 and ends 1999. There are also little tidbits included within the pages: how-to shorten pants including drawings, a list of who to invite to a card party, barometer information (rising and falling), books to be on the watch for. There is also a separate tally of how many fiction and non-fiction books were read per year. The lists were faithfully keep throughout until I’m assuming the book was filled. Which it is.

I thought it would be interesting to see what this woman read in 1936. I wonder how old she was and what her life was like. Maybe we can tell by the titles/authors. Here it is as she jotted it down:

“Books Read -1936 – Beginning Nov.

• IF I HAD FOUR APPLES, J. Lawrence
• SPRING COMES AGAIN, Bess Streeter Aldrich
• HEAVEN’S MY DESTINATION
• B.C., Bernard McFadden
• MISS BISHOP, Aldrich
• NOW WE SET OUT, Susan Ertz
• SKIN DEEP
• BRAIN TESTS, Gibson
• THOSE FITZENBERGERS, Martin
• THE EXILE, Pearl Buck
• MARRIED SWEETHEARTS
• NOW IT CAN BE TOLD, Philip Gibbs
• CHARM OF THE ANTIQUE, Shackleton
• GONE WITH THE WIND, Marg. Mitchell
• SUMMER LIGHTENING, Corliss
• THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET, J. Lawrence
• EDNA: THE WIFE, Harriet Ayer Barnes
• THE CLOCK BOOK, Nutting
• AROUND THE WORLD IN 11 YRS, Abbe
• CANDLE INDOORS
• MARRIAGE IS POSSIBLE, Widdemer
• WOMAN ALIVE
• THE MAINSPRING

Total read: 23
15 F.  8 N.F.”