Interesting Book Dedications?

[Kylie]

I read a great dedication in The Black Day Book, which is a book about feeling depressed and giving up. It's a very humorous read with loads of cute animal pictures, and I presume the dedication is tongue in cheek (if it's not, I'll feel very bad for laughing!):

 

To my parents, Fran and Taggart Briefs, who were kind enough to wrap me in a blanket before they left me on the steps of the orphanage, twice.

[smilerbabeuk]

I hardly ever read the dedications, even the one to me had to be pointed out to me. Oops.

[vinay87]

I find the books without dedications a bit weird.

 

Me too! I find it hard to understand why a person would write so many words and not want to gift that to someone, or maybe himself?

[bree]

Old thread. But a nice one.

I'm another who loves reading dedications.

 

And the book I'm reading now - What Katy Did - has a dear little poem for one~

 

 

TO FIVE.

 

SIX of us once, my darlings, played together

Beneath green boughs, which faded long ago,

Made merry in the golden summer weather,

Pelted each other with new-fallen snow.

Did the sun always shine? I can't remember

A single cloud that dimmed the happy blue,–

A single lightning-bolt or peal of thunder,

To daunt our bright unfearing lives: can you?

 

We quarrelled often, but made peace as quickly,

Shed many tears, but laughed the while they fell,

Had our small woes, our childish bumps and bruises,

But Mother always "kissed and made them well."

 

Is it long since? – It seems a moment only;

Yet here we are in bonnets and tail-coats,

Grave men of business, members of committees,

Our play-time ended: even Baby votes!

 

And star-eyed children, in whose innocent faces

Kindles the gladness which was once our own,

Crowd round our knees, with sweet and coaxing voices,

Asking for stories of that old-time home.

 

"Were you once little too?" they say, astonished;

"Did you too play? How funny! tell us how."

Almost we start, forgetful for a moment;

Almost we answer, "We are little now! "

Dear friend and lover, whom To-day we christen,

Forgive such brief bewilderment, – thy true

And kindly hand we hold; we own thee fairest.

But ah! our yesterday was precious too.

 

So, darlings, take this little childish story,

In which some gleams of the old sunshine play,

And, as with careless hands you turn the pages,

Look back and smile, as here I smile to-day.

[Deborah]

What a great post! I always read dedications.

The first that comes to mind is A Series Of Unfortunate Events, Snicket's dedications to his beloved Beatrice manage to make you smile, even though they convey such sadness in reality.