I love my books. My husband loves his books. My daughter loves her books.
Unfortunately, it got us into this mess.
My grandma asked me if we always stored the books on the floor. Of course not. Mostly, we had way too many cheapo Target shelves stacked three rows deep. And some under the bed. And in the crawl space. And for a brief time, in the trunk of our Hyundai.
It took us way to long to realize that you can’t read what you can’t see.
Enter this project. My superman hubby made me these shelves for my birthday. They’re awesome! And the time is now to go through each book and donate the titles that no longer serve us.
Despite my goal of simplifying life, my goal with our books wasn’t to get rid of them. I’ve wanted a home library for as long as I can remember.
After touching every title (aside from a box of cookbooks I still need to go through), these became my rules for deciding whether a book would stay or go.
DO: Keep it classic.
If it’s such a good book that you’re likely to read it again, it’s a keeper. If it’s a book you probably should have read in college (or did read and can’t remember) and there’s a chance you’d like to have at it, keep it. Or if there’s a chance your child may someday need to read it in college, save ‘em a few bucks. Keep it.
Don’t: Save every paperback you’ve ever bought.
In terms of popular titles, I asked three questions: 1) Would I read it again?; 2) Would someone else like to read it?; and 3) Is this a writer I’d like to study more? (I’m looking at you, Rainbow Rowell, John Greene, and Nick Hornby!) Two or more no’s? Then it’s got to go.
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| There's a person on her way to the beach that needs these books! |
DO: Consider whether Google could answer your question better than the book in your hand.
There are still many among us who prefer a book in hand to a cold, web-based search. But a Research Strategies book published in 1996? It’s only good for laugh. Or a trip down memory lane to the dark ages when we actually (gasp!) had to set foot in a library to find an answer to our questions.
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| Yes, this coupon expired in 1996. And the "E-Marketing" title was written in 1999. Me thinks a few things have changed. |
DON'T: Get rid of any books you’re still paying for or you’ve obviously stolen from a friend.
E.g, hubby's law books. And Ali, guess what? I found your copy of The Stranger. And Janel, I have your stats book (the one I def recall you lending me 10 years ago and saying, I'd really like this back!).
DO: Connect with your past.
Will I ever need The Elk Hunter’s Cookbook? Let’s hope not. But I will need a laugh someday – a laugh that will surely come in remembering my late father-in-law’s stories and taste in books? Do I really think I’m going to start quilting? Not likely, but I cherish the time my Grandma Vi spent teaching me. I kid you not – it was so fun to touch each title and recall the who, what, when, and where associated with each book. I laughed. I cried. I sneezed from all the dust. An awesome Saturday night, indeed.
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| Do we hunt? No. Do we smile at the memory of PuhPa? Yup. Keep. |
DO: Keep titles you know a visitor to your home may love.
When your romance loving friend comes for a long weekend, you can hand her a Jojo Moyes to read before bed. When your sister needs to escape a crowded-with-family week in Colorado, you can hand over This is Where I Leave You. And when your bro visits, he may enjoy something titled Uncle John’s Reader...just be clear about where it can be read.
DON'T: Keep books out of guilt.
Well-meaning loved ones often give you books they think you’ll enjoy. But you don’t. And you keep them, for fear they may one day scan your bookshelves and wonder where the copy of Driven to Distraction with the little note that says, “ask your therapist about this” resides. Be okay with saying, I asked her, she said I don’t have ADHD, so I passed the book along.
DO: Toss damaged books.
Even though she’s well past potty training, my daughter still occasionally brings me My Big Girl Potty. Which wouldn’t be so bad, but there’s a page missing. And that page is when the little girl finally goes pee-pee and poo-poo in the potty! It’s frustrating. Also, I wish this could go unsaid, but the person checking my work called me on this: If the book is moldy, it needs to be trashed. No matter how much more interesting your collection is with this title.
DON'T: Get rid of it just because you fear people will think less of you.
Judge me, judge me, judge me, but my Twilight collector’s edition was a stay. Say what you will about the writing, but those stories capture me and got me through a really bad week in my life. So they were saved, with a mental note to reconsider if not picked up in another few years.
DO: Remove duplicates.
Enough said.
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| Ali, your copy of the Stranger shall be returned shortly. Promise. (love that your maiden name is printed inside!) |
DON'T: Kid yourself.
After years of trying, I’m still unable to get off the ski lift on my snowboarding without bowling over entire families. As my daughter sings Every. Single. Day. Let it go! The universe wants us to keep things moving and so many others may be able to use what you’re not!
Happy book hoarding, my friends!
Next stop. Getting these things off the floor and onto shelves.
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