Miembrokirat

It's small but growing.

When I was a teenager, I'd read hand-me-downs that would then get passed on to the next person or borrow from the Marine Parade Library.

When I was an English major at university, I borrowed some of the books on the reading lists from the library, especially those of authors I knew i didn't like (such as VS Naipaul) and bought others.

When I lived in Vancouver, it became a hobby to scout used bookstores, thrift stores and - my favourite - the Vancouver Public Library book sale, for great deals and that unmistakeable feel of a well-thumbed-through volume. When I came back to Singapore in January 2006, I brought only one book with me (Alice Walker's The Colour Purple) and left the rest in boxes with friends. Now I'm pretty much starting from scratch again.

I feel one's 'library' should not be constrained by the books one currently has ownership of. Some people just don't have the space; some don't have the money to own the books they want to; others enjoy giving books away; and yet others are unable to hold on to them as their property for whatever reason.

I am placing here any book that's left an impression on me that I've read. Those not in my physical library are tagged 'nimp' (Not In My Possession).