Sara Reyes | A Painful Task -- Culling the Book Shelf

May 22, 2010

How I spent my Saturday...One winner to get signed copy of HIGHWAY TO HELL

Comments

61 comments posted.

Re: Sara Reyes | A Painful Task -- Culling the Book Shelf

When cookbooks reached 500, I stopped counting. I've let a few go on to good homes where they'll be loved. It's difficult to let go of books in general, because you just never know. Or, at least I want to hold them again to not suffer withdrawel symptoms.
(Alyson Widen 11:31am May 22, 2010)

If I've even mildly enjoyed a
book I won't let it go. I only
give up the ones that I didn't
like or don't want to try.
(Jacqueline Cook 11:44am May 22, 2010)

I have a hard time getting rid of books I expect to read again, books from favorite authors, signed books, and cookbooks. And, of course, my TBR stack is huge.
(G S Moch 11:54am May 22, 2010)

I have bookcases filled with books I won't get rid of, favorite authors, books that hit just the right note with me at the time, ones I look at and remember the time that I read them. The ones I don't keep are easy. I keep separate stacks of the ones I'm reading now. Ones I like, ones that are ok, ones I don't want.
(Lena Lee 12:04pm May 22, 2010)

Hello Sara, Please enter me in your fantastic contest and please let me know when I am a winner too! May God bless you with success always, Cecilia
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 1:04pm May 22, 2010)

A couple times a year I have to go thru my books and try to cull out the ones that won't be re read (not many since my daughter and I tend to reread ones we like). These unfortunate few are sent to our local Boys/Girls Club thrift store to find new homes. I still have one room in my house filled with filled bookcases!
(Elizabeth Parzino 1:05pm May 22, 2010)

i thought that I had a good system. Once the daughter went off to college I moved into her book shelves:>) I share books with some family and friends. Once we all retired and moved around some, I have piles of books 'to be returned' and piles of books 'to share' and piles of books 'TBR on our next trip' and... Well, I guess I got my piles mixed up and I shared a book that I was supposed to read and return. I have no idea where it is now. I just know that it is not here! If you have any ideas...
(Karin Tillotson 1:14pm May 22, 2010)

I seem to have a collection of books and sweaters. The books are mostly romance,mystery, and educational. This sweater collecting is new for me, but I like each one.
(Leni Kaye 1:25pm May 22, 2010)

I hate trying to cull my books. When we just moved I decided that I would take those books that I had not read in two years would go. Now I am finding that I want to re-read the books I just let go. I do not know what I am going to do other than try to find them again. LOL.
(Cindy Olp 1:33pm May 22, 2010)

It's hard to part with a book - it's like parting with a close friend - can't do it ;)
(Janice Crespo 1:54pm May 22, 2010)

I put books I want in separate boxes from the ones I will eventually sell or donate.
(Jane Cheung 1:55pm May 22, 2010)

I hate trying to get rid of books too. I dont have a lot of keepers but they are in a cabinet. Let's not even talk about my tbr.

Please count me in for the weekend draw.
(Pat Lieberman 1:56pm May 22, 2010)

I pass on much of my fiction to several friends, as they pass on their books to me. I couldn't begin to guess how many people read some of these books eventually. That makes it send them on their way.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 2:47pm May 22, 2010)

I wish I had more bookshelves... I love keeping every book I get my hands on... always love revisiting!
(Colleen Conklin 3:51pm May 22, 2010)

I wish I had more room for books. I pass my books to my sister then she sends them back. I box anything that is autographed up because I can't part with them. Others I send to work with my hubby and people there take them. I still have books from back in the 90's, I just hate giving them up. I am addicted!
(Gail Hurt 4:00pm May 22, 2010)

Ack! I'm way overdue for this chore even though I keep separate piles like those mentioned. My "keepers" are out of control and I'm running out room. Not to mention the 300-350 or so in my TBR pile. We addicts NEVER stop buying you know;)

It sounds like we all share the difficult (okay, almost impossible) task of letting go of books that have given us so many good hours of escapism.

Perhaps the obvious solution would be e-books but I'm such a print-ho that I'm just not there yet. Searching and acquiring the treasures on my mammoth TBB list is all part of the process that's fun for me.

Recently while I was visiting my sister, I struck gold;) I don't utilize the library at home but at her library there is a sale cart available ALL the time. Paperbacks were 50 cents. I had such fun and came away with some favorite author titles and some new-to-me authors to try. Made my whole day:)
(Nancy Bristow 4:12pm May 22, 2010)

This is too funny. I'm a big cleaner, I always want everything we will never use again out of the house immediately, so I rarely have this problem with books. I either give them away on my blog, sell them on half.com, trade them on swaptree.com, or donate them to the library.
(Jessica Badeaux 4:15pm May 22, 2010)

I hate culling my book shelves. I have finally realized that after I read a book- I should IMMEDIATELY put it into either the donate, return or keep pile. Donate and return piles are cleaned up every 2 weeks. But the keep pile will soon outgrow the shelves. sigh...
(Roseann Moss 4:19pm May 22, 2010)

I don't ever want to get rid of a book....sigh!!! But we are getting to that point where there is hardly any space left to keep them. I may have to do some culling this year. It is going to be so hard.
(Valerie Bongards 4:54pm May 22, 2010)

For many years, I was an "over my dead body" book collector; but I have discovered that I probably will not be able to reread everything multiple times and still read anything new! Reluctantly, I have started swapping with several like-minded reading friends and after that they go to the Library League, long-term care centers, etc. Finally, I keep a balance at the 2nd hand book store just for those rare occasions that I can round out a particular author's work (Everything ever written by Georgette Heyer, anyone??)
(Susan Driskill 5:33pm May 22, 2010)

i keep all my books
(Sagrario Vigil 6:11pm May 22, 2010)

I would be in sobs if I had to cull my beloved books.
(Mary Preston 6:53pm May 22, 2010)

I have books I keep becouse I love them or thay are TBR books but I also love donating them to worthy places like womens shelters ect. and doing that make me feel better about getting rid of some. Some I just can not part with and that happens to be about 2 to 3 hundred OH well those are the ones I do read over and over agin and love them each time.
(Vickie Hightower 7:26pm May 22, 2010)

I used to feel that my books were all keepers, but only a few right now have made it on that shelf. I trade them and share them with friends.
(Joanne Reynolds 7:29pm May 22, 2010)

I'm an avid knitter, so I collect pattern books. I also love to collect books about nature, and good novels. There's also a few of my quirky books that I've collected over the years that are from different authors that I've enjoyed reading.
(Peggy Roberson 7:38pm May 22, 2010)

I love books but I try to only keep the ones that are signed. I also have a favorite author that I keep her books that were my favorite so that yes I can reread them. The other books I pass along to friends and family because we are avid readers.
(Annetta Stolpmann 7:43pm May 22, 2010)

My room is covered with books an addiction.
(Catherine Myers 8:17pm May 22, 2010)

We have books in every room,and read some over and over again.
(Deb Pelletier 8:44pm May 22, 2010)

Books, books everywhere, they are filling up totes, bookcases and bags. I just can't part with most, but some have gone to used bookstores.
(Emily Nelson 9:09pm May 22, 2010)

The ones I can bear to part with I will turn in to the used books store. That way I can find new authors whose books I won't be able to to part with either!
(Erica Rogers 9:39pm May 22, 2010)

I use the public library whenever possible. Books I do aquire are donated to our lending library at work, after I enjoy the them.
(Sheila True 10:10pm May 22, 2010)

I keep my books until my Mother or Sister come from Iowa and then I pass them on to them. They give them to the local library when they are through with them. Before they get to Iowa, I have a few friends who like to borrow my "gems" and they give them back when they are done so I can send them on. I hate to give them up, but I don't have the room for all of the books I read, I read way too many to keep!
(Brenda Rupp 10:46pm May 22, 2010)

I seldom reread any books(I
have so many not read yet) so
I pass on all my read books to
other book lovers on
Paperbackswap or BookMooch. I
used to hold on to those that
were autographed but even that
shelf was getting unmanageable.
(Lisa Richards 10:56pm May 22, 2010)

I collect books!
(Sue Ahn 11:30pm May 22, 2010)

Get rid of books!?!?! NEVER! Buying a Kindle helped my home space issues. If book-space overload continues, buy bigger home. Please enter me in your contest so I may hopefully gain more books!
(Crystal Zimmerman 12:21pm May 23, 2010)

I share your pain. We have a big
house and there are books in every
room. I have over 40 bookcases and
they are all FULL. Most are double
filled. I still have 40 plus boxes to
unpack and no place to put them.
Many of those books are books to read
and discard. Unfortunately most are
keepers. I have one full bookcase of
signed books. I collect old books and
have some really delightful ones. I
have over 600 cookbooks. I do have
keeper authors and many I reread if I
get the chance. My biggest problem is
time to read. There are the ones I
know I'll keep that I want to read.
There are all those Harlequin Intrigues
I'd like to read so I can pass them on
to someone else. I have a large
collection of children's books.
I am in a sorting mood right now, but
am not sure how well I'll do. While
working in the storeroom the other
day I found several boxes of books I
don't even remember getting. My
biggest problem is finding a new home
for them. I already brought a bunch
to the used book store for trade credit.
Sort of counter productive since that
means I'll be getting more books. I
brought some to the library at the
local VA hospital. Our church women's
group is having a large rummage sale.
Unfortunately we will be gone when
they have it. I am hoping to find
someone on the committee to send
them to before we leave.
I know realistically I'll never be able to
read all these books, but I just can't
part with them. Hmmm, if I get ride of
the VHS tapes, I'll have a few more
shelves to put books on : )
(Patricia Barraclough 1:12am May 23, 2010)

Woohie! This is such a fun topic. I have had a love of books since I was a very little girl. I would drag my grandmother to the library every week to check out a new book. It hasn't changed for me in alll these years! I see there are many just like me in love with books & all the wonderful places they take us. My husband is a bit like yours in that he offers to help me cull my books (tongue in cheek!). It at least gets me aware that I need to share some of my treasures. I do as many of you all have said..loan, give to the library to resell (so that they can buy new books!), & beg for more book shelves :)
(Jean Merriott 2:08am May 23, 2010)

I recently had to move my library of books (over 750 paperbacks + some hardbacks & audio books) from my pool house to boxes....because my daughter moved back home and needed the house/and closet.

I'm thrilled to have her back and we are having a ball playing with our new granddaughter...but I must admit that I hate having my books packed away.

My hubby says....sell them and let someone else enjoy them...and I know I should...But darn it, I spent years taking care of everyone in the family and never had time to read...And now that I've had it...I don't want to give it up!!!

I hope that doesn't sound selfish.
(Mitzi Hinkey 2:12am May 23, 2010)

I'm running out of storage space for my books. I have given a few away to my friends. I started donating to libraries (books whose story just doesn't click with my personalities). I'm at the point where I'm still buying books but I do not have the time to read through them.
(Kai Wong 3:59am May 23, 2010)

I'm so out of space - all my bookshelves are full - books stacked on top of books! I do loan books out to family and friends, but when they return the books, I'm back at square one - no place to store them! I've started donating some books to the local nursing home. Still, I'm always open for more new books to read!
(Edwina Cowgill 8:22am May 23, 2010)

I love to read and I pass my books around the office!
(Mary Smith 8:24am May 23, 2010)

When I start running out of space, I start by looking for books that I'm unlikely to read again and/or have dropped off of the keeper list I have in my head.
(Maria Munoz 9:17am May 23, 2010)

I start to sort out with good intentions of clearing the clutter - however as I discover things I remember the memories to go with them and they go into the 'keep' pile. Usually very little foes into the 'go' pile, but I have fun remembering!
(Barbara Hanson 9:32am May 23, 2010)

I have two bookcases full of books - I guess I'm a hoarder. As I read them tho I do either give them away, donate them or take them to a used book store. (I confess to keeping any that I think I want to read again :o)
(Sandy Miresse 9:46am May 23, 2010)

I know how that feels. I've got too many books (I never thought that I'd say that). I'm currently trying to weed through my books. I'm going to do like you and keep the signed ones and the ones I'd reread but I'm also turning to ebooks (they take up space on the computer but not in my room).
(Jessica B 9:47am May 23, 2010)

I'm not very good at culling my hoard.
People know I like to read, so I receive
books as gifts all the time. If it's not
really my type of book, I have no
problem donating it to the library (for
their lobby sales). Or sometimes, I'll
by a bag of used book for $5, not
knowing what I'm getting - many of
those are give-a-ways. But, if it's part
of my collection of favorite authors,
even if it's not one of my favorites, I
just can't give them upl!
(Molly Wilsbacher 9:56am May 23, 2010)

This is one major reason why I read ebooks! I live in a Manhattan apartment. Part of the problem is there is nowhere to even give books away to!
(Robin Greene 10:04am May 23, 2010)

Due to lack of space I've been forced to give some books away. I donate them to the local hospital's waiting room. I remember when I was a RN (way back when) and I'd see people sitting there waiting and waiting with nothing to do. I hope this helps them pass the time.

I also divide my keepers, autographed(always kept), and giveaways. i donate to the Friends of the Library book store.

I wish I could keep a lot more but I just don't have any more room!
(Laurie Gommermann 10:23am May 23, 2010)

To be completely honest it takes a lot for me to let go of books. I mean, I give away/donate roughly 100 books a month on average, but I buy/receive about 50-60 books a month. A lot of times I will buy entire series or collections of authors if one of their books interests me just in case I enjoy that one book (so I don't have to go looking for all the others). And at Book Sales or Goodwill, where I can get lots of books really cheaply, if the blurb or cover so much as sparks my interest I will pick it up.
(Lexie Cenni 10:28am May 23, 2010)

Buy more bookshelves!
(Micheline Koop 12:29pm May 23, 2010)

Sara, I have the same problem. It's hard to give up books, but we just don't have the room for them. Maybe a bigger house???
(Darcy Odden 2:36pm May 23, 2010)

I have book shelves all over the house, but most of them are in my office. I still have boxes of books stored in my guest room closet as well. Get rid of books? Mostly I'll get rid of books I've read and don't want to keep - they usually go to my sister. I'll save them up until I have a box full, and then ship them to her via media mail a few times a year. I'm running out of room as well, but I think I can fit at least one more book shelf in my office. :o)
(Barbara Elness 3:27pm May 23, 2010)

I hold on to books from favorite authors that I know I will want to read again but others I donate to our local Library for their sale in the Fall
(Teresa Ward 4:14pm May 23, 2010)

Cull books & never see them again??? I'm the type of person who soon will have a third storage unit.....
(Susan Jeffers 4:27pm May 23, 2010)

I just got through culling some of my
books, I am getting rid of a box and a
shopping bag worth, it was very hard
to choose. But we are in the same
predicament, running out of bookshelf
space and running out of space to put
more bookshelves. I trade mine in at
two ubs's around me.
(Kris Marsden 5:29pm May 23, 2010)

We need more bookshelves also.
(Deb Pelletier 7:41pm May 23, 2010)

I collect books, fabric, and yarn. It drives my husband crazy.
(Lisa Garrett 8:51pm May 23, 2010)

Uh...I think I'd better not tell you how many books I have...and still buy more. Like others here, after I've finished reading a book, I can't bear to give it away, never mind throw it out. I've definitely got to learn to sell some or give them away. Currently, the latter number far too few.
(Sigrun Schulz 11:36pm May 23, 2010)

Why are all these conventions and such so far away. I live on the west coast and it seems like nothing is going to be out here this year.

I hate culling my book shelves and boxes, but it is necessary occasionally. Unless you can afford to move to a bigger house every few years, there is just so much room. I haven't had to do it for almost five years since I gained a whole room when the oldest daughter moved out. But now the younger one(19)is still living at home and going to make me a grandma in July. By fall we need another room(or at least half of one)for all the new baby stuff.
(Carol Cobun 12:17pm May 24, 2010)

I,too. have a bookcase in every place one could be built. I love to read and I can sympathize with you on how hard it is to give up books. But there are only so many hours in a day and one does have to stop reading long enough to eat and sleep. LOL
(Gladys Paradowski 12:25pm May 24, 2010)

I have two of the most expensive hobbies anywhere - reading and quilting! My books are everywhere and I find it really hard to get rid of any. I send them to my Mother to read and then I keep them to re-read. Eventually, I will let some go, but I've wound up buying a few of them again (Robyn Carr, for one. Books in the car, in the bedroom, by my chair in the living room, in the bathroom, everywhere! I hate to let them go!
(Sherry Moran 3:21pm May 24, 2010)

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