My brother and I were able to fantasize far more extravagantly about our parents' tastes and desires, their aspirations and their vices, by scanning their bookcases than by snooping in their closest. Their selves were on their shelves.
In her book "Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader," Anne Fadiman reflects on the ways in which she and her brother understood their parents through their collection of books. They found that by examining the titles and genres on the shelves, they could imagine their parents' personalities, dreams, and flaws more vividly than by looking into their closets. The books represented the essence of their parents, illustrating their thoughts and inclinations.
This exploration emphasizes the idea that a person's literary choices can reveal much about their character. For Fadiman and her brother, the bookcases served as a window into their parents' inner lives, allowing them to grasp the deeper aspects of their identities. This experience highlights the profound connection between literature and personal identity.
