RHYS BOWEN: I’ve been doing a lot of weeding out at home recently. After my husband’s passing earlier this year I’ve been doing remodeling and rearranging. My daughter Anne is moving in with me so she is getting her own suite downstairs. That means John’s office becomes my media room, my media room becomes the guest room etc. it also means getting rid of an awful lot of furniture and books. I have shelf after shelf of my own books. Another book case of reference books. Two of antiquarian or valuable books. John had two book cases of his reference volumes. There were three in the family room. And this after we did some serious weeding years ago.
So the question is what do I keep? We have gorgeous coffee table books. Lots of important reference works. It how valuable are they to me now? A pictorial volume on Tuscany isn’t exactly necessary now I can watch a YouTube video any time I choose. Another coffee table book is Great Wines of France. And I’m still drinking Californian plonk. Antique dolls? The British Raj? The fact is that many reference books are obsolete. I can find the info quick online.
When it comes to novels will I really read this book again? And if I do, I can read it on Kindle. My complete Agatha Christie collection is not going anywhere. But otherwise only books signed by friends and fellow authors are special enough to keep.
So, dear Reds, which books do you hang onto? Can you easily let the others go?
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I am having a very similar dilemma. Some days I feel like shouting: ALL OF THESE HAVE TO GO! Then I think...well, except for this one. And this one. And the Agatha Christie collection, exactly. And my own books, in every shape and language. And signed books. But...really? What if I just tear out the signature page and keep the signature page? And donate the book? Hmmm…?
Lisa Gardner has my favorite take on this. She says books are meant to be read, not sit one a shelf. So she says she is delighted to donate books–she feels as if she is saying, “Go books! Do your job!” And I truly love that.
LUCY BURDETTE: We had a big purge this summer too, though not a dramatic renovation like Rhys’s. I know I have a book “problem”--it’s so much easier to identify which of John’s books should go.:) I tried very hard to look at each book and ask if I would really read it a second time, or if I’d need it for a research reason, or if I had an emotional attachment, like it was written by one of my dear friends, signed by the author etc. If my answers were no, it went to the Friends of the Library to be sold for another reader to enjoy.
But I have another problem–I keep buying more books. So you would never know I’d purged anything!
HALLIE EPHRON: I’ve had what Rhys is experiencing… after my sweet Jerry’s death I sold most his collection (quite a few classic illustrated children’s books) which turned out to have a nice amount of value and hopefully went on to strut their covers on eBay or Amazon and make some money for the secondhand bookseller.
Three years later (like Rhys!) my daughter and her family have moved in with me… and I’ve liquidated my office and all the books in it to make way for her taking over. I now have a cozy work space in my bedroom, with about 10 linear feet of shelf space for books. So deciding which to keep was quite an exercise. But at least it’s easy these days to find texts online.
Keepers? Eclectic Here’s a sampling… A set of Harry Potters. THREE BAGS FULL. THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE. THE EYRE AFFAIR. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. DEFENDING JACOB. DOG ON IT. GONE GIRL. BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE. PRESUMED INNOCENT… And about a dozen more and that’s it.
So far I haven’t missed the missing ones.
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I did a similar thing with Ross’s collection of histories, warfare, etc. after he died, Hallie. A new branch of the local community college was opening, and they were asking for book donations to help expand their limited acquisition budget. I catalogued what I wanted to get rid of, and after looking the list over, they happily accepted about ⅔ of the collection. The rest I gave to Victoria to sell online.
Now, my OWN books are a thornier problem! I’m dealing with that by ignoring it entirely, and focusing on what children’s/middle grade/YA books I can pass forward (I like Lisa Gardner’s take) to other readers. Three bedrooms, three bookcases in each one, PLUS the stuff stored in the attic… I figure I can be happily and productively weeding for a while.
JENN McKINLAY: My parents were keepers so I grew up with an aversion to “stuff.” Sorry, Pop, you are not going to find a use for that six inch piece of wood that you’ve kept for twenty years. They weren’t hoarders or anything, there was just so much stuff acquired from their families that they just couldn’t part with because it belonged to someone they loved. I do not have that sentimentality. I keep nothing. One copy of each book I’ve written and unless it’s a book signed to me by a friend, it goes to the Friends of the Library as soon as I’ve read it. I don’t collect things and my favorite hobby is sending stuff to thrift stores or the dumpster, depending on the state said item is in.
RHYS: but Jenn what do you do with 25 copies of each of your books? Any suggestions anyone? And who else has done a successful book purge?
JENN: I send them to my assistant to giveaway in promotions!
How about you, Readers? Any suggestions for authors drowning in copies of their own books?
I am probably not the one to ask for advice when it comes to getting rid of books since I have a tendency to add more to the bookshelves rather than to get rid of them but Friends of the Library is always a good place to start. And Jenn's idea of using "extra" copies of her books as a promotion is delightful . . . .
ReplyDeletewe are kindred spirits Joan!!
DeleteAieeee you’re all fortifying me for the book winnowing that’s a-comin’ but at the moment I still love working in the old writing cave surrounded by four walls of mystery series from all over the world (including alla yours, Reds!) Recently I’ve felt so besieged by AI and the tsunami of iffy indie books that it’s a great relief and pleasure to pull a tried and true from one of my shelves and dive back into a well-written world with characters I already know I want to spend time with.
ReplyDeletethanks for the kind words, Jonelle. That's interesting about AI books. I guess I mostly buy and read books I've heard about so I haven't bought or even come across any of those.
DeleteI too had shelves and shelves of books before we moved. (2 years ago already!) Take advantage of those days where you feel they all have to go and get rid of them. It is easier to donate recent books than all the old dusty musty ones that no one wants. There are very few books you are ever going to re-read because there just isn’t time with all the new ones coming out. Someone else will enjoy them. Getting rid of stuff is a gift to your children so they have less to deal with when you die.
ReplyDeleteBrenda, such practical advice! Have you regretted any of your giveaways?
DeleteNo regrets in the book giveaways
DeleteI like to joke that it is a good thing I don't have kids because if there was ever a fire, they are on their own as I would be grabbing my signed books first. Yes, I'm of course being a wiseass, but that is how important those signed copies are to me.
ReplyDeleteSo any book I get signed is a keeper. Plus for the series I REALLY love, whether I have a signed copy of any of the books in the series or not, I really want to keep them. I mean, you gotta have something to show people who don't give a damn what books are in your personal library, right?
Since my reading time has slowed down in the last year or two, I have been accumulating more books than usual because I just have to have any particular book that strikes my fancy even if I don't know when I'll actually get to read it.
Weeding books is like pulling weeds indeed. Deciding what to get rid of might even be more akin to pulling teeth. It must be done but it hurts like hell and you want to put it off as long as possible.
When I do find some books to "get rid of", I usually bring them to the Mystery Book Club meeting and give the members first crack at them. Most of them usually go that way. But if there's something left at the end of the meeting I put them into the donation cart for the Friends of the Wareham Free Library book sales. (Which I also go to, so I end up getting plenty of other books that used to belong to other people...I think I see my problem).
But since I was jobless for 18 months or so, I didn't have the money to buy every book I wanted to read. And that's where the library came in handy. I got some books that I would normally buy through them and those HAVE to be weeded out because they need to be returned. Hey, any small victory in the never-ending book weeding war is a good one.
But I still have too many books. And in order to read them all, I'll have to live til I'm about 400 years old. But hey, I'm game if the books are as well.
This is so encouraging. I plan to pack up a box of books for the Friends of the Library today! I am not a re-reader, and there's always the library if I get a sudden notion to reread something. And next time I get a book signed by an author (unless they are a personal friend), I'll ask for signature only, so it's easier to pass along.
ReplyDeleteMy own books are another story. I keep meaning to drive around town with map of the Little Free Libraries in hand and pop my own books in them. Someday soon!
Hallie, how wonderful your daughter and family have moved in with you (I knew about Rhys's daughter, also wonderful).
Also, I am my father's daughter, and cannot get rid of a single reference book. On the floor in my office is the compact two-volume OED (yes, the one with the drawer that holds a magnifying glass). I haven't opened one of those books in years, although the magnifying glass gets way more use, but it was a gift from Daddy. Nuff said.
DeleteWhen I moved, I had to purge books and I kept a few signed books and now have one row of books in my bookcase. I mostly read my kindle so those discarded books are sitting electronically for access if I want to re-read. For my signed copies, I actually ripped out the signed page (and scanned them) before I donated those books to the library.
ReplyDeleteYes, Dru! I have done that too. I have them in a file folder. I’m not sure it makes sense :-) but they are wonderful souvenirs.
DeleteIf I wore pearls, I would be clutching them in abject horror right now. You tore a book? The horror!
DeleteSome years back I read on someone’s blog (who was a great reader and owned many books) that she had counted up and realized that at her normal pace of reading she already owned more books she hadn’t yet read than she could finish in a usual life span. And she wasn’t even counting the possible re-reads! That has stuck with me and for some years now I have donated books as I’ve finished them. There is a local church that has an absolutely ginormous fund raising book sale once a year so they get many, with the local library Friends bookshop as back up. It makes me happy that others will enjoy them now. If there’s anything I think I really may re-read I invest in an e-book copy. But coffee table books are a big problem. I just love all those gorgeous photos, especially the ones on art and on gardens.
ReplyDeleteYes, going forward after the big purge, donate the books as you finish them. So much easier!
DeleteIt is so hard to part with books that are like friends to me, but I have only two short shelves of such books; those are the books I go to for my re-reading pleasure. Other books that I bought meaning to read them or reading them only once-and-done, those books I pack up twice a year and donate to the children's hospital book sale fundraiser. Knowing the good end makes parting with the books very easy.
ReplyDeleteI regret only two books I have given away. From my mother's bookshelf, the two graphic novels by Art Spiegelman, Maus. Mum had them, along with newspaper clippings and even a tape-recorded interview from CBC Radio, on her bookshelf. When clearing out her suite after her death, I decided I didn't have room for those items in my "keep" boxes. What an idiot I was. Every now and again, I have such a longing for those books -- not even because I want to read them, but because they were once held by my mother and she thought highly of them. Sentimental? Maybe, but also illustrative of the power of books and what they can evoke in, and for, us.
I find myself in the same position. Would anyone like a complete collection of Shakespeare (unread)? I can recycle old and damaged school books – really no need for them. Also, the coffee table ones – flip though, say good-by and now gone. I do not need multiple bibles especially since no one is religious. I gave the really old family one with all the old names to the archives. Magazines were already purged a move or two ago, and now if I read them, I read them through the library.
ReplyDeleteThe hard ones, and I hope there will be comments, are the ones that were self-published by my father or myself with local or family history. My head says save 1 or 2, as there is always the chance that some of our progeny may learn to read something other than their phone and want a paper copy. (All are also on the hard drive of my computer and some are in the local Archive or library). However, as family falls off their perch, it seems ‘their’ copy gets returned to me “in case I didn’t have a copy”. Somehow it seems sacrilege to use them as fire starter, but I don’t need them taking up space.
I think: keep two. It’s not your responsibility to be the book repository, but it is very comforting to know that the books will not vanish. If you keep one, Something might happen to it. But you’ll be fine with two of each.
DeleteWhen we moved to this house I consolidated most of our family's shelves of bedroom books in the basement, essentially panelling 3/4 of the basement in bookshelves as a library. I also have history reference books in my office and my husband has his mountaineering books in a huge Victorian glass-fronted bookcase in the living room. As we have aged I am suddenly looking at these thousands of books and thinking, "Oh, dear." I don't have the mental/emotional strength to deal with the issue at the moment, but as they say, the first step is acknowledging you have a problem.
ReplyDeleteRhys, your point about reference works becoming obsolete is certainly true. I just finished reading a great book about the evolution of apprenticeship in America in the 18th and 19th centuries, and I was fascinated to learn that the apprenticeship system was dealt its death blow not by the egalitarian movement inspired by the American Revolution, though that certainly rattled it (much less willingness to obey a master), but by the upsurge in printed instruction manuals in the 1820s. Who wanted to pledge seven years to learn a trade when you could read a book and learn it on your own in seven days? It seems new access to information has always supplanted old ways. (Selden)
Keep or toss? That's the question my late wife used to ask about me during our fifty-plus years of marriage.
ReplyDeleteAs for books, I used to keep everything. Early in our marriage I realized that there just wasn't enough room, so I got rid of several thousand books. And then we kept moving and more books had to go. Over the years and through many moves, over 90% of my books were shed. After we moved in with my daughter during Kitty's final illness, I decided I did not have to keep that books I had read; exceptions being a number of reference books and some of the signed books. Aside from the several hundred books I have lying around my room, there remain about 100 banker's boxes of books which I am slowly getting around to. One of my granddaughters has already told that she will be taking possession of all y books once I die; happily, she is not planning to anything to make that time come any sooner.
Jerry - how lucky are you to have someone who wants your books!
DeleteRegular readers may recall that my husband and I did a big downsize in 2024. I was pretty ruthless in dipsatching books to the Friends of the Library. I held onto a few devotional materials and other than that, mainly books I loved so much it caused me physical pain to think of parting with them. Thus my (few) shelves are heavy on childhood classics like a very battered LITTLE WOMEN and HEIDI, both the print and audio versions of the HARRY POTTER series, a few from great authors like Jane Austen and Margaret Maron, and a few very idiosyncratic favorites from various genres from younger years. Two years later I'm happy with those choices, as I have occasionally picked up one or another of those as a "comfort read."
ReplyDeleteThe only regret I have was not of my own choosing. I used to own the entire collection of Anne George's SOUTHERN SISTERS mysteries in paperback and I lent them to someone and did not get them back. I have recently found that the library no longer has them all available on audiobook. I re-listened to one of the two they did have and I wish I still owned the full set.
In the years since our purge, I mainly get my books from the library. I buy a few Kindle books, usually when on sale, and usually save those books for travel. I recently struggled when a couple of books I really wanted to read just kept having impenetrable wait lists at the library (THEO OF GOLDEN and THE CORRESPONDENT) so I finally bought them in hard copy, read them, and gave them away. Since I know the REDS release dates well ahead, I am usually able to get on the wait list at the library before they are released and thereby have only a reasonable wait.
A few years ago we went thru shelves of books and donated them to the local library for their annual sale. Yet all our shelves are again full! Not sure where they all came from but suspect there’s a lot of “book shelf” hopping and breeding going on in the middle of the night.
ReplyDeleteAs for my personal books, almost all are in my Kindle library. And I share that with family, no need to cull there. The only hard copies I keep are signed by the authors, hoping at least one will earn a Nobel or Pulitzer or other prestigious award and make my great grandchildren wealthy at a Sotheby’s sale someday.
My newest acquisition. In that category just arrived in the mail from Winnipeg. Someone named Amanda de Rougetel. Has anyone heard of her?
lol
We're academics (in our 70s, but still "working," so to speak). When my husband retired, he didn't bring home too many books, so his office is manageable. Mine, not so much. It has hundreds of LPs we haven't gotten rid of, probably several hundred notebooks, etc. I got rid of a lot of books, but there are still probably too many. My husband also refuses to get rid of all of the "Limited Edition" books he inherited, which live in the other two bedrooms. At least he's reading them now. CDs are downstairs, and not really listened to, so I'm trying to decide what to do with them. A good many of them are from when I was teaching opera literature. So, yes, too much stuff. Most of my reading is done on my Kindle, for my pleasure reading, or I listen to an Audible recording. I still have a few mystery series, and a few other categories, which I'm not yet ready to part with. Oh, I neglected to mention my fountain pens. They are all over my desk, and my inks live in two different rooms. My favorite time of the day is at night, when I sit down with some pens, often copying Mansfield Park by hand. So my pens aren't going anywhere. I already had "too many," and then "inherited" many, many more. So pens can be a problem as well as having too many books. I neglected to mention the cookbooks, of which I have many. They live in two other rooms!
ReplyDeletePut me in the "too many books" category! it's hard to know where to donate. I've tried selling to Powell's, but they really don't take much. Friends of the Library has a lengthy list of restrictions. They will take:
ReplyDelete:Popular fiction published 2016 or newer
Paper and hardcover classics (nominated and award-winning authors, any year)
Science fiction, graphic novels, and comics
Children’s Picture books in good condition
Most Nonfiction (see below)
Vintage and rare books (and more non-applicable categories)
Most of my books are popular fiction published before 2016, but looking at this list is a good reminder that I could donate some books to FoL At least they are taking donations now, sometimes they cut it off entirely.
Another good way of purging books that I have learned works is that I asked myself – – could I get this exact book again if I wanted it for some reason. And if the answer is yes, how it goes. I also think: I have read this, would somebody else enjoy reading it? And that is good impetus to donate it, as well. I have to say that this very blog has inspired me, I now have five full bags, that I sorted out in about three minutes. It’s easy to do. And now I have bags in every room that there is a bookshelf, and when I go into the room, I make myself fill one up. I think one of the problems is that it can be daunting. And by cutting it into doable pieces – – i.e., putting a book bag at the ready – – there’s only that one bag to fill and that’s not hard.
ReplyDeleteBook by book, that’s what I say, book by book.
Remember, we are making someone else so happy by sending those books into the world!
RHYS first of all did you create that book design, looks like a dominos swirl, love that. Put a glass piece over it & make a table… I keep children’s books forever, ones my son had & then my own favorites.
ReplyDeleteI've kept all the cherished children's books, too. My sons want them for their future children.
DeleteWe moved multiple times during my formative years and then I moved several more times during my 20s and 30s, so I have purged my books multiple times, yet still I have more books than shelf space once again. I do have one or two other suggestions for places who might love the books you choose to share. I know that some of the hospitals in this area have volunteer groups who accept books and freely hand them out to patients and families. In this part of the world there are always new senior step communities (independent living through memory care) that have libraries on si
ReplyDeleteWe moved multiple times during my formative years and then I moved several more times during my 20s and 30s, so I have purged my books multiple times, yet still I have more books than shelf space once again. I do have one or two other suggestions for places who might love the books you choose to share. I know that some of the hospitals in this area have volunteer groups who accept books and freely hand them out to patients and families. In this part of the world there are always new senior step communities (independent living through memory care) that have libraries on sit
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWe moved a lot during my formative years, then I kept it up for the next 20 years, so I have purged my book collection multiple times. I have sold, lost, lent, and donated thousands of books over the years. I discovered the library is not terribly accepting of donations and the used book stores have become pretty picky about what they will take, but hospitals, nursing homes and senior communities are often thrilled to have something new to them. Additionally, there is an organization, Operation Paperback that is always looking for people to send books to deployed troops and veterans groups. All it costs you is media mail postage. Best of luck to you all, I know it can be a painful exercise at times, but I always find it pretty freeing! (I still have shelves of book that I do keep, especially for all those signed books!)
ReplyDeleteSame problem...what to do with so many books. I was a food & drink editor for 15 years and so I have tons of cookbooks--none of which I use. I have favorite authors and their collections are organized on the shelf, but the rest of the books...why are they still there? My husband built more shelves and then we filled those. I just returned from a book signing and bought the authors books. Fortunately, I have a secret weapon--a granddaughter who has excellent purging skills and very good reasoning. She'll be on college break for about a month over the holidays and I'll be making many trips to the Friends of the Library.
ReplyDeleteI love books - paper ones that feel so regal to hold. But the time of easy reading eyes has mostly passed by so I have lots on Kindle. However, I still have paper ones. I use some of my favorite hardbacks under lamps and pottery, etc. It’s a joy to just see them there. They bring back such lovely times. AND, I purge now and then making room for more books with print that’s not too tiny. Purging = more space for books. I find it easier to send cookbooks forward to other readers, keeping those that suit me now. And by the way, I’m an avid book person in any form. And I love a good cookbook with a story to tell.
ReplyDeleteSince I am only doing one thing at a time now and can think, I was reminded of all the essays that have passed through our eyes. My father loved history and, in his way, collated a lot of local history either by reading or ephemera or just listening. That meant that we as adults either heard about it or read it. My job with the local newspaper also meant that I saw a lot either because we had to interview someone for their story or that they called to tell me that the article brought back memories and they wanted to tell me about them, or for any other reasons to talk and reminisce. All this was collated in my head – not a great place to reside! People would send my father notes that they had put together to share with their families – not to be shared with all, but they would reside in our head. He would also pick up and save all pamphlets and little historical papers on whatever was local. Some we still have, some not.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was giving away a lot of his things to the local archives and just chit chatting about things, the receiving archivist on seeing large pictures on the wall of local swordfishing (my grandfather was a buyer in the heyday), she mentioned that she was teaching a class on the swordfishing industry at the local university, and wondered if we had anything on it - pictures, clippings, stuff? I said sure and proceeded to bring out a booklet that my father and I had put together on the subject, as well as his book on the history of the local town of Louisbourg as he had grown up in it. She was stunned that it was all put together and so accessible. I loaned her the paper copy of each booklet/book, and forwarded her the electronic file complete with all the notes that we had not published.
I guess that is a reason, not to get rid of books – but still, what do you do with them?
Oh, and I like to donate to the local hospice store for resale. They sell hardbacks for 2$ or so and the proceeds go towards hospice care. They are a 401?, 501?, 601? Whatever store so nobody pays tax. A win/win.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea, Paula! And having spent over a week with a loved on in hospice, I can't think of a place where the chance to escape into a book would be more welcome.
DeleteThis is going to be a long post!
ReplyDeleteRhys, are there fundraisers at your local libraries? Perhaps you could donate your extra copies to that fundraiser? Or is there a book club who would love to have your books? I am thinking that there are some people who cannot afford to buy books. Does the local public high school have history classes studying British history or 1909 American history? Perhaps they would like donations of your novels? Another thought - would the local senior citizen center like copies of your books?
Welcome to the club! I am going through the same thing. I have too many books. I keep books that are now out of print, books that are impossible to find at the local bookshop (more mysteries by men than women), and books signed by my friends. And for the moment, I am keeping the books that I need for my historical research and for my writing. I am STILL writing my novel.
When we moved to this tiny condo, I donated Most of my books to the local library. We would buy new books and donate them to the library as soon as we finished reading the books. Unfortunately, we fell back into the old habit of keeping books we bought. And now there is no space for a Christmas tree!
Really hard to get rid of books. I want them to go where the books will be appreciated.
Diana
Diana, there's only one solution. You need to Google "Christmas tree made with books" and follow the directions!
DeleteDid my post get lost from earlier today?
ReplyDeleteIt seems to have, Jay. I hope one of the Reds will retrieve it out of the Spam folder!
DeleteI found it and changed it to published, Jay! I wish I understood what it is that triggers the spam filter in Blogger.
DeleteI keep one copy of each of my books (out of my author copies - the rest are given away for promo). Everything else is either a) something I read over and over for comfort (like Agatha Christie or Harry Potter), b) something signed to me, or c) something I absolutely adored - which means I'll probably read it again. Although lately I've been asking people to only put their signature in books so if I do have to purge it, it won't have my name on it.
ReplyDeleteOh, there is the shelf of "friend's" books, but these are mostly from my critique group partners.
We purge on a regular basis - but since there is at least one bookshelf in every room (except the bathroom) you'd never know it because as fast as the books go out new ones come in.
That's the problem with being a book lover, Liz! I set a one-book-in, one-book-out policy for myself, but sometimes I acquire faster than I reduce my TBR pile.
DeleteI am in need of a book purging right now. My brother-in-law's comment,when he helped me move, was it was either a box of books or a box of yarn That's all I seem to have to him - books and yarn. I am careful not to give them books for Christmas or birthdays so that they can't accuse me of overloading their bookshelves. Now you know that when we moved my mother to my sister's house, my mother's books went there. I have no idea what my brother-in-law's problem is, he lives with more books than his house than what was in my house when he moved me. That being said I do need to purge. I would donate to the friends of the library, no problem, I've done it before. But I do know that after the book sale, the books that are left over are not always saved, they are sent to the landfill. They don't have the storage space, so I sometimes hesitate to donate to the library. They just had their sale, now should be a good time I think. And just an FYI: purging yarn is harder than books. Not all donation sites will accept yarn.
ReplyDeleteDeana, I know several passionate knitters, and I'm pretty sure their stashes will be buried with them. They are ATTACHED to that yarn!
DeleteI suspect your B-I-L's comments had more to do with the weight of moving boxes of books than any aversions to the contents per se. I always keep my stored books in milk crates - I can't put so many in that I can't pick the container up, and the bottom never falls out.