Markings of a True Bibliophile

I love books more than anything. Most of my earliest memories and most home videos from my babyhood involve books and this love affair has continued well into my pseudo-adulthood. (I acknowledge that although I may have a lot of adult-like tendencies I am still seventeen). In order to feel like my self-proclamation as a bibliophile is accurate, there are a few important things that I must do.

First, I believe it necessary to have experimented with a variety of literary styles and types. I have read everything from Russian Literature (Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment) and Shakespeare to more modern authors like Tamora Pierce, J.K. Rowling and Christopher Paolini. The key to being a true bibliophile is reading from a variety of genres and recognizing the artistic beauty in all of them. You cannot be a snob who refuses to read anything published after 1950; the true bibliophile recognizes that differing audiences and differing cultural contexts can alter the style and tone of a book.  The bibliophile appreciates this instead of feeling like one genre is superior to the other. (Exception: The Twilight Saga should never appreciated under any circumstance.)

I also believe it is necessary for a true bibliophile to find it close to impossible to name a favorite book. You can always discern those who are widely read because they find it difficult to narrow down their love to a single volume. My favorite books differ depending on who is asking or my mood at the time. If I'm feeling nostalgic or indifferent I generally choose "The Sun Also Rises". In my best moods I normally choose Henry IV Part I (specifying which part is important). Regardless of my mood I give "The Stand" and honorable mention because of Stephen King's powerful story telling. These books seem to have no real correlation but I have really read and loved too much for me to pick three favorites that bear similarity to each other. 

Third, a lover of books should have an illogical affection for a specific author. This love cannot originate with physical appearance; the author should become beautiful before you see his or her face and physical beauty should only become an object of affection if you happen to find beauty from your unadulterated love.  My two great loves are Stephen King and Ernest Hemingway. Both are tortured souls, and only one is alive. I discovered my love of Hemingway from his short stories and I fell in love with Stephen King after a particular disturbing scene in "Firestarter".

Look how earnestly he stares at the camera

My affection for Ernest Hemingway is derived from the way he conceals complexity within deceptively simplistic language. I love the characters he contrives; the way they can seem so perfectly unlikeable yet you find yourself rooting for them and urging them to succeed. When I think of Hemingway's face, there is one stereotypical image (left) that always comes to mind. I imagine being able to see his suffering with alcoholism and depression through his eyes. I imagine what it must be like to hold so much genius inside and only be able to truly express all his thoughts through words that can express emotions meagerly at best. I can almost feel how his depression would have set in, and ultimately I understand why he was driven to suicide. A sort of immortality resides in his work; immortality that I admire and almost envy.

Another pun. Perhaps about Kings.

Stephen King is different. I have always perceived him as some sort of paranoid sociopath who has somehow found a way to function. I imagine him resenting that the darkness of his mind has become popular fiction consumed by the obviously inferior masses. I imagine that when he encounters each person he cannot help but think of their inevitable deaths; I think that he must have such great awareness of mortality that he cannot help but write about it, if nothing else to feel a sense of control over the lives of his characters. Of course, Stephen King may not agree with my perceptions of him; he may be a total normal genius but I find it more exciting to love the construct of a dark and mysterious genius whose mind is plagued with apocalyptic thought. (Gratuitous picture of Stephen King)

I have suffered a brief digression, fueled of course by my literary passion. Getting back to the topic at hand: I have taken a number of steps to becoming a true bibliophile, but I feel incomplete. I have yet to come up with a suggested booklist. You know the ones I mean - "1001 books to read before you die", "20 great 20th century novels" - that kind of thing. This post has gone on too long. I am going to publish it without editing and then begin working on my own grand list. I hope someone out there appreciates my crazy love and digressions and of course my biblophilia (which is apparently not a word).