I’ve been trying to sort through my last remaining bookshelf, but book sorting is difficult. I’d like to radically reduce the number of books I have, but I’m having a lot of difficulty with the final steps.
The books seem to fall into categories: Books for leisure reading, reference books, quirky books, and sentimental books.
I had already decided years ago that I would not keep books for leisure reading any more. Once I’ve finished reading them, they may be donated to the second-hand stores.
My reference library contains books about my various hobbies. I have cat books, home improvement books, aquarium-keeping books, gardening books. I haven’t looked at any of them in years, so I think I’m ready to get rid of them. I have decided to keep the home improvement books. I may actually use them again.
The quirky books on the shelf are all manner of funny selections – question books, joke books, cartoon collections… Again, I haven’t looked at them in years. These were harder to decide to eliminate. Some of them were gifts. Some of them are really funny. But I don’t use them.
The sentimental books are the ones I’m having the most trouble with. I have a large collection of fairy tale books that I’m struggling to let go of. I haven’t read them for over ten years. I don’t anticipate reading them again, but what if I want to? I love the stories in them. It’s folk wisdom from all over the world. But all they do is sit and collect dust. Also in the sentimental category is a small collection of books I loved when I was very young… “Put me the Zoo”, “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”, “The King, the Mice, and the Cheese”… looking at these books makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. I haven’t looked at them since I put them on the shelf in 2001. But can I part with such happy books?
I’m putting off the final decision until I return from Nebraska. Perhaps taking some time to think about it will make the choice easier.
Um, speaking as someone who is housing her husband’s hundreds and hundreds of books, I think you could just keep those books and be fine.
…unless you’re doing this to make room for more gargoyles – then toss all the books.
My two denarii on this topic: Don’t get rid of the folkstory books! I have a large Golden Book replacement of a book I received from my maternal grandmother (I think) when I was very young: The Snow Queen and other Russian Fairy Tales (great pencil illustrations, too, but I digress). I had given the original to my cousin’s 6-year-old daughter (hoping to see it again some day, but…) and my dear husband hunted and hunted until he found an exact copy of the one I had. I still occasionally (read “every few years”) sit down with it and flip through, re-reading and at least looking at the photos. I would have been so sad not to have it back. I fear you’d regret purging those.
…and what the heck are you making room for anyway – more books? Go to a library forcryin’outloud!
…and have a safe flight to Nebraska – see you later int he year, I guess…?
Since you don’t reread fiction. I can see getting rid of it.
But are you moving? That’s the ony good reason for getting rid of books.
Whew! You scared me with that title! My advice…just pretend 1/2 the books have tails that you don’t like…and the chore should be a snap.
I agree with Carol – don’t ditch the sentimental books. You’ll regret it later.
I third that. And keep any really ‘good’ books too. People that survive you will have fun looking at your collection.