How much do books mean to you?

My downfall has always been books. I hang onto all sorts including the rubbish ones. I occasionally have a clearout and due one soon, but it does astonish me how attached I have become to them. Mind you, The Da Vinci Code I offloaded as soon as I read it although the 'Holy Blood & Holy Grail' I kept for years until I lent it out. The most well thumbed award goes to 'The Collected Sherlock Holmes'. I thoroughly enjoy anything Holmes, books, TV series, films. One book
I recently read and can reccomend is 'From the Holy Mountain' by William Dalrymple. Briefly, he follows in the steps of a sixth century monk through the middle east, making connections from the past to the would make interesting reading for some of those who hold trenchent religious and political views on the middle eastern situation. I have numerous assorted novels, Stephen King, John le Carre, Tom Clancy, quite a few historical, murder mysteries, books on British and world history. A few children's ones that belonged to my boys which will stay indefinitely or at least I give them to any potential grandkids. Edgar Allen Poe is a favourite too, well worth reading again on cold, dark winter evenings with a decent drink to accompany it.