Boston Birder Posted September 9, 2008 #1 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Books are one thing more to pack and track, and I would have left all mine behind except one for the plane, with this advance information. Majesty's library was surprisingly well-appointed. A tea and coffee nook, a few games, comfortable chairs, and good lighting made this a premier place to pass the time during rough weather or while your roommate slept in. I witnessed a steward dressing down a subordinate for some undetectable (by me) error in tea layout one morning. There was diverting popular and literary fiction to suit a variety of tastes. I might have added more books about destinations, specifically, "The Last Pink Bits," by Ritchie, which treats several British island possessions, including Bermuda. I did see a beautiful "coffee-table" book on Peru. The glaring omission was a field guide to fish, not even a framed wall chart. A space saving solution would be a collection of waterproof laminate cards (which could be framed, if they didn't want to check them out) . An example is Reefcomber's Guide to Florida, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean (Seahawk Press, Miami, 1982). Another solution is to color photocopy selected pages of your own field guides, which I did for seabirds I hoped to encounter. (Note: Most fish we saw in Tobacco Bay were young, and varied from the field card depictions a bit.) Organization was roughly alphabetical. I ached to put the collection in order, but after a day or two, the compulsion subsided. Instead of making a list while on board, I photographed about a third of the shelves. I know Majesty faces retirement, but I imagine the libraries of other boats may be similar, and perhaps this post will inspire other cruisers to capture their impressions of the collections aboard. Here follows a list: Ambrose, Stephen The Good Fight Baldwin, William P. The Hard to Catch Mercy Burton, Levar Aftermath Bradley, Marion The Mists of Avalon Berlitz, Charles The Dragon's Triangle Cambar, Kathleen In Sunlight, in a Beautiful Garden Davies, Norman Rising 44 Doherty Ray Fairy Tales Doyle, Arthur Conan The Sherlock Holmes Mysteries Dailey, Janet 2 complete novels - Crazy in Love Dixon, Franklin W. The House on the Cliff Douglas, John Journey into Darkness DeLillo, Don Underworld Eagle, Kathleen A View of the River Elroy, James The Black Dahlia Green, Rita Notes from the Underbelly Grimes, Martha The Anodyne Necklace Guilaume, Geri Unconditional Hamilton, Laurell K. Kravings Hamilton, Laurell K. Bloody Bones Hamilton, Laurell K. Nightseer Hawthorne, Nathaniel The Scarlett Letter Hiaasen , Carl Flush Holmes, John Clellon Go Hiro, Dilip Secrets and Lies Horowitz, Anthony Snakehead Icilyn, Sonia One More Chance Johnson, Susan Seized by Love Jones, Edward P. All Aunt Hagar's Children Kent, Alison The Samms Agenda Kelman, Judith The First Stone Kersote, Ted Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog King, Jonathan The Blue Edge of Midnight LaHaye, Tim F. The Mark LaHaye, Tim F. The Indwelling 2 other vols of The continental drama of those left behind Laird, Elizabeth The Garbage King (Barron's) London, Julia Jonathan's Story McMillan, Terry Disappearing Acts McGarrity, Michael Under the Color of Law Myles, Douglas Kraken Neri, Penelope Double Play Ojito, Mirta Finding Manana Parker, Robert B. Back Story Patterson, James Along Came a Spider Pearson, Barry Peter and the Starcatchers Peel, John The Choice Roberts, Nora Morrigan's Cross Scott, Michelle Murder by the Glass Shaara, Jeff The Rising Tide Squatrito, Joseph Code Name Ginny Stacy, Judith Maggie Sweet Star Trek DS 9 The Left Hand of Destiny Strohmeyer, Sarah Bubbles Unbound Topping, Keith Hollywood Vampire: A revised and updated unofficial and unauthorized guide to ANGEL Tunis, John R. Rookie of the Year Tunis, John R. World Series Tyner, Marilyn Love is Not Enough Wall, Kathryn R. Sanctuary Hill, A Bay Tanner Mystery Walls, Jeannette The Glass Castle West, Joseph A. Gunsmoke: The Last Dog Soldier Wharton, Edith The Age of Innocence Williams, Stephen Invisible Darkness Young, Christine Dakota's Bride Kids' Books ---------------- Silverstein, Shel Don't Bump the Glump Miyazki, Hayao Howl's Moving Castle Picture Book Foxworthy Dirt on my Shirt Forbes/Searle Beastly Feasts Lies, Brian Bats at the Beach Wiesner, David Flotsam Auer, Chris The Legend of the Sand Dollar Taplin, Sam Pirate's Handbook Goldman and Katz The Best Hanukkah Ever Kneen, Maggie The Very Special Valentine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted September 9, 2008 #2 Share Posted September 9, 2008 In other words, most should bring their own books!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadaboutgal Posted September 15, 2008 #3 Share Posted September 15, 2008 I think most ship libraries and their shelves have continued to decline in both number and quality-especially on the newer ships. I guess they don't think people read much anymore:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fann1sh Posted September 15, 2008 #4 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Thank you, Boston Birder. Like you, I itch to organize shelves, and have from time to time given in to the impulse. Unlike CB at Sea I could imagine myself reading a number of these volumes. Back in 2001, aboard Holland America Volendam, I was utterly shocked to find a volume I wasn't even aware had been published in 1998 - Thrones, Dominations - unfinished Dorothy L. Sayers completed by Jill Paton Walsh - and in Large Print for the visually challenged, which meant my mother could read it as well! The only problem with ship's libraries is they tend to be frozen in the time of the ship's commissioning. If you demand the latest releases, bring your own. If, like me, you're content to discover overlooked volumes, you can be pleasantly surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare silentbob007 Posted September 15, 2008 #5 Share Posted September 15, 2008 I always get a sad smile when I'm on ships where "library" has transformed into "internet cafe." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaK Posted September 17, 2008 #6 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Lately, I've found that the ship's library often has a wonderful shelf or two dedicated for a book exchange. People can leave behind paperbacks they've read on the cruise for others to pick up. These are often more current "best seller" types of books. I've both left some gems, and picked up a few from the library of recent ships I've been on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Been There, Planning That Posted September 17, 2008 #7 Share Posted September 17, 2008 I've found on our two longer cruises that I relied more on the free book exchange than on the library itself. On these two cruises we had extended post cruise travel and so I visited the library on the last day to find some great reads. And most international hotels have a 'library' exchange. My best book story was leaving a couple of paper back books at our hotel in China. I carefully balance them on the garbage container. Our cab was just pulling away when a hotel employee chased after us waving the 'giveaway' books. In advance of a long trip I do 'garage sales' looking for good paperback books, knowing I'll leave them somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoofingPrincess Posted September 18, 2008 #8 Share Posted September 18, 2008 I was shocked on the Carnival Ecstasy to find that their books are behind locked cabinet doors! Evidently they only have someone there at specified times to act as librarian and check them out.... there must've been pilferage issues. In contrast, on the Explorer of the Seas two years ago, the shelves were open at all times, PLUS there was an area for a book exchange. I tend to hit my local library's "Friends of the Library Bookshop" right before I go, picking up paperbacks for a dollar or less, and then I leave them in the ship's library when I'm done with them (saving one for the plane ride home, of course!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 19, 2008 #9 Share Posted September 19, 2008 HAL ships have a decent selection in Exploration Cafe. It isn't the Library of Congress but I think it adequate for most people to find something to read that interests them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waryman Posted September 21, 2008 #10 Share Posted September 21, 2008 That is what I plan to do! I'm taking 3 paperbacks (recent) and 2 Bird books. I will "exchange" the paperbacks for others. The bird books stay with me! :D Lately, I've found that the ship's library often has a wonderful shelf or two dedicated for a book exchange. People can leave behind paperbacks they've read on the cruise for others to pick up. These are often more current "best seller" types of books. I've both left some gems, and picked up a few from the library of recent ships I've been on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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