I love books. I love reading. I have a Kindle, but there is no comparison to a physical book. There is just something about them. I love browsing the bookshop, reading the backs of books and even taking a peek inside. I love reading to learn new things, brush up on old things or to escape to a new romance or solve a mystery or even living in fantasy land. Which brings me to my problem - I have a lot of books. Some of them are old friends, others are waiting to be read. I really want to get rid of some - and have managed to donate/resell quite a few - but I'm struggling to let go of more.
I pull out a whole bunch, read the backs and decide it's something I really want to read. The problem is that there are so many of them! Grrr…am I the only one that has this problem? I suppose there could be worse things than being a book-a-holic, but they certainly take up space! I suppose I could keep going as I am, making sure to read them and then let them go but it seems so...slow. Or I could just purge completely - though that would not be easy at all.
Anybody have any tips? If you're a booklover, how do you decide what to keep or let go of? Do you have lots of books in your house?
The good news - I did take two bags and two small boxes of books to the library on Thursday! Woo!
I used to hold onto books like my life depended on it but now I have no problems letting go. There are a couple I keep as I like to read them at Christmas but any new ones I buy get read and go off to the charity shop.
ReplyDeleteEven cookery and craft books go if I find I don't use them any more.
Hugs-x-
Wow! Good for you! I wish I could bring myself to do that.
DeleteI started placing the books on the shelves in the order I acquired them. Although they were all books I ‘wanted’ to read, I soon realised that each time I chose my next book it was always from the newer end and the ones I’d had the longest were never selected. In the end I had a good clear out and donated to the charity shop and/or friends. I have one shelf of treasured books that I want to keep (school prizes, HP collection) and I allow myself the other two shelves in the bookcase for books I acquire. My sister passes all her books to me and each time I get a box load, I clear out some of the ones I haven’t got round to reading.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea. Unfortunately I have more books than I have more books than bookshelves so books tend to get tucked away in nooks and crannies. It's the reason I want to get rid of a lot. That does sound like something I'd want to do when/if I do get things to a manageable amounts.
Deletegood luck. Getting rid of stuff isn't my strong suit either - that is with my own stuff - I can clean out, set up estate sales and sell like no ones business when it comes to others.....tehee
ReplyDeleteLol. At least you can relate
DeleteI love books, too, and I, too, find it hard to get rid of them! I have stopped buying books and will only borrow from the library, now. I have read almost all of the books on my shelves, but still hold onto them! I have told myself that I am going to re-read a few and then, donate them. Until then, they may stay on my shelves! By the way, I have a total of 8 bookcases in my house! 5 of them are tall (5 shelves or more), 3 of them are short (3 shelves, each) and, in addition, I've two wall mounted shelves of books, too! :D
ReplyDeleteI need to stop buying them. The good thing is that I rarely buy new ones (only a few special authors), most are used books. I have a lot of bookshelves too. I think if I was by myself I'd have even more but I've got to leave husband some space lol
DeleteI love my books and do have trouble getting rid of them. But - I do have limited space so - some of the mysteries that I know I won't read again I now pass along to a friend - with instructions that she in turn passes them along. I am also using the library more - but it is difficult.
ReplyDeleteI do like knowing others will read them. I do pass some to MIL and a friend. I find it difficult to let them go though. I might want to read/re-read them someday!
DeleteI think the answer is 'with the greatest difficulty'. I have a stack of them in the car boot at the moment, ready to drop off at the local charity shop, if time permits.
ReplyDeletexx
Hello. I have bought only one book since being made redundant in 2009. My public library and its online books provide enough to keep me going. Recently in preparation for retirement I have significantly downsized my "library". I still want to cull my recipe books and then that job will be crossed off the list. Every day I am thankful for a great library system.
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