The books

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Started 1 year ago by JuliaJayne
Latest reply from charmed2482
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JuliaJayne
Member

I've been mentally decluttering my bookshelf. There are a lot of books on the shelf that I will not read or reference again, but I keep them because the bookcase is part of the decor and it looks good right now. However, while laying in bed this morning, I thought I would have a practice go at it... sorting out the keepers from the rest and arranging the keepers on the shelf. If I can live with it, I will get rid of the other books. If I don't like how it looks, maybe I'll keep the books, or if there aren't enough books to justify keeping the bookcase, then... (breathes deep) maybe I'll get rid of the bookcase. I can't believe I am contemplating that since it was the first piece of furniture I bought. It was a nice piece, still is, but I think I've outgrown it. It doesn't fit my needs anymore except that it looks good.

There... I got it out of my head an onto a page.

I think about the unwanted books too much, they have to go, but I have resisted taking action for a long time. I can get rid of other unwanted things around the house with ease, but those books seem to have a hold on me.

I could use some encouragement.

Posted 1 year ago #
ninakk
Member

The words of an incredibly brave woman, JuliaJayne. I think I feel what you feel right now and have to say that I read your whole post without breathing almost at all. I don't know what else to offer you than there will be another, equally meaningful bookshelf for you in your future. Letting go of something that once has meant a lot is huge, but it also opens doors to new opportunities. And a new chapter with only your best friends singled out, those you will still consult and share many great moments with, can be similarly exciting. I speak of friends, because that's what some books are to me; when nobody else can say what I need or want to hear, I turn to them. It's unconditional :) With the unwanted books removed and you letting go of them will probably make you very ready for the next step. Good luck and please keep us posted on this very exciting event!

Posted 1 year ago #
Netleigh
Member

Books seem to be a special category of stuff for a lot of us.
I'm working on the thought that if I had a kindle which of the classics, which I reread from time to time, that are on my shelves, would I no longer need to keep in print. I's only a thought at the moment.

With your idea of a practice go at it,you are splitting the task into bite sized chunks.
Remove the ones that aren't keepers to a box, rearrange the others. Procrastinate for a short while then get rid of the first box.
Repeat until you feel comfortable with keeping just the remaining few or getting rid of the bookshelf completely.

Posted 1 year ago #
trillie
Member

Would it help if you knew that the unwanted books came into the hands of a good person? You could invite friends over for a book party and everyone gets to take as many books as they want from the uncluttered pile.

Or if you feel that you cannot summon the energy to declutter all at once (and oh how I know that feeling), maybe it could be good for you to simply to tackle one shelf a day, or to simply declutter one book a day. Also, you won't have to give them away right now - you could also put them into a box, label it with the date and then find out how much you'll miss them within the next months.

Oh, and you don't necessarily need to get rid of a bookcase if it isn't filled to the brim with books... There are many different uses! And who knows, maybe it looks nice to have a bit of breathing space between the books, and you could put a few decorative items (ones you already own would be the uncluttered approach, lol) there - vases, framed pictures, and so on.

Good luck! :o)

Posted 1 year ago #
Periwinkle
Member

Ditto using the space for something different - ornaments, or move some stuff from another surface (so keep current magazines there or something).

Also, try http://www.bookmooch.com - it's a book exchange site. You might have more fun getting rid of the books if you're exchanging them for ones you'd like.

Posted 1 year ago #
chacha1
Member

JuliaJayne, one of my 1Q2011 goals is to empty and get rid of a bookshelf in my bedroom. It's probably not as nice as yours (my nice ones aren't going anywhere!) but still, the very thought of giving up a bookshelf!! It would have been anathema a few years ago.

If you are truly not loving the books (OR the furniture) any more, it is perfectly okay to say goodbye. Think about what a great big piece of art could do on that wall instead, or a grouping of some favorite small pieces. If there are only a few books you want to keep, where else could they go? In a closet, or a recently-uncluttered kitchen cabinet?

I don't actually advise using a bookshelf for other decor; unless it's glass-fronted, it's just a dust trap. If you have a few display items like vases, I'd suggest instead grouping art and a curio shelf on the wall.

Get those unwanted books out of there. You will REALLY breathe more freely! :-)

Posted 1 year ago #
luxcat
Member

First, I agree with chacha that
"If you are truly not loving the books (OR the furniture) any more, it is perfectly okay to say goodbye"

but if you are just holding onto the books because you love the bookcase and you don't want to get rid of it... you could get rid of the books or a portion of them and use the bookcase for something else. They are quite handy and can be used in place of a dresser in a closet or even to hold dishes or in a mud-room for boots and dog leashes... all sorts of possibilities!

Posted 1 year ago #
Parsifal
Member

Perhaps it is just me, but it sounds like you are more concerned with the bookshelf than the books themselves. If you know you won't use them again, I say toss the books and use the shelf as an attractive place to store things you do want.

I'm currently battling a large library in a small apartment. I have 6 large bookshelves, books stacked on the tables, on the backs of both toilets, in boxes... so far I've gotten rid of at least 100 lbs of books and I have yet to need a book only to realize I've gotten rid of it. In fact, I can't even remember the titles of many of the books I've given away.

Don't be afraid to let go! Reclaim your space and enjoy it.

Posted 1 year ago #
bandicoot
Member

i agree.
let the books go, and simply keep the bookcase if you love it.
bookcases don't have to be merely for books.
mine has a piece of china on it and an oil burner and three balinese offering boxes filled with textiles, along with the culled books (that are due for another culling)....and 20% empty spaces as well (it's an IKEA 5 x 5 expedit).

i do a lot of "mental decluttering" too.
i think about it long before i do it.
it makes it very easy for me....mentally, i am already "there".

Posted 1 year ago #
JuliaJayne
Member

I appreciate everyone's comments. Very helpful!

I pulled out about half the books. The bookshelf now looks cluttery as it no longer looks library-ish. As tempting as it is, to get that library-look again, the books are not going back on the shelves, and I will be adding more to the piles. Funny how that works -- removing obvious clutter leads to the discovery of more clutter.

Aside from needing to get some boxes, and dropping off the books at Goodwill, I don't know what will happen next. I do know now that I have truely outgrown the bookshelf. It's time for something new. I don't know what that is yet, but I'll never know if I don't consider other possibilities.

Posted 1 year ago #
Julia
Member

Like so many of us, I've struggled with this for years. But I'm down to 4 large bookshelves, two smaller ones, and two "CD" bookshelves (just right for some paperbacks.)

I've given a lot to family and friends. I've taken several boxes to the library, and a few more to used bookstores. That helped a lot. And, yes, I do use the gaps to put other things. I don't care if they get dusty; dusting is cheaper than buying shelves with glass doors - that is if I ever really notice the dust!

But I think I need to give more thought into the items that go on each shelf. A childhood photo with classics, some Japanese things on the Asian shelf, things from my grandmothers with the women's studies/women's history books.

We always talk about clutter vs things we love. An old paperback that has been with me for 25 years is more important, even if it's easily replaced and I haven't read it for 10 years, has a lot more space in my heart than a hardback I bought on a whim and haven't got around to reading yet.

For some of us, books are not things, they are companions. And that's just fine - but we don't need to 'friend' all of them! And that's the true trick, for me - identifying the reason I want to keep something somehow makes it easier to decide what to do with it - and very often makes it easier to give away.

Posted 1 year ago #
khagee
Member

There is no law saying that bookshelves are just for books. I have a four-shelf built-in bookshelf in the family room of my home. Two full shelves contain DH's collection, one shelf is split between cookbooks and pet equipment, and the bottom shelf is books. I will also say that I have very little fiction left after multiple purges.

Posted 1 year ago #
Ginger
Member

JuliaJayne, just an idea to get a more library feel with less books- I found a small wooden "bookstand" and placed that in an empty shelf space to display and set out my favorite book. It looks pretty nice!

Posted 1 year ago #
Kamakazi
Member

Yeah the little book displays can be a great way of showcasing your favorite books while at the same time looking good.

Posted 1 year ago #
JuliaJayne
Member

Thanks again for all your thoughts and ideas.

I wasn't quite sure how I felt yesterday after dropping off the books. My feelings about it vacillated between exhilaration and wondering if I had went too far. Last night I looked at the remaining books and realized I could have gotten rid of more.

Posted 1 year ago #
aari
Member

I hope that is how I will feel. I plan to get rid of 6 shelves of books, that I am attached to and have lived with me, some for 20 years. I think it is time to let go but I am holding off until I have a friend to help me so I don't start making excuses for them. I am glad it has worked out.

Posted 1 year ago #
JuliaJayne
Member

Keep in mind what Julia said that "we don't need to 'friend' all of them!".

I don't become emotionally attached to books in the way some people do because I read very little fiction, however, the books that I had could always be justify as useful or interesting. Either way, books are one of those things that are so hard to get rid of for many of us.

I wish you the best of luck in your efforts. I'd like to know how it goes for you when you get started.

Posted 1 year ago #
pkilmain
Member

When i went to work in a public library, I pretty much stopped by books for myself, especially fiction. Ou bookshelves stayed static for almost ten years! Now however I'm retired and I've begun to let book buying creep back into my life. When I read about a book, I do try to find it in the two library systems I have a card for. Or I decide if I want to listen to it, or read it. Then I'll buy it from audible or kindle.... The bookcase has stayed pretty much the same, but I really need to weed my cookbooks. They share a bookcase with our photo albums (a large project for the future) and it's now too full. I see lots of decluttering when I go home...

Posted 1 year ago #
snosie
Member

Thank you Trillie for the party idea - I think that could really work!

Posted 1 year ago #
Gypsie
Member

Once again, Im going to mention http://www.bookcrossing.com/ to release your unwanted books into the wild. It'll be fun to find out where they ended up!

Posted 1 year ago #

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