Several folks have used their bookshelves as a "selfless selfie" for our Thursday shots. But as I looked around my house today I noticed that bookshelves make up a huge part of my decor! I try and try to pare down my books, but they seem to multiply like rabbits when I'm not looking! I have banned myself from the close-out bins in bookstores, tried to remain optimistic when the Borders closed last year (This is good. Now I can't be tempted to go there and buy more books!), restricted the books I purchase to "gifts for others only", and I still have boxes in the attic I couldn't unpack when we moved here! I know I have to do some serious purging of those archived books and the ones I purchased for my classroom while I was teaching but it's SOOOOO hard!! Well, so much for a book lovers lament. On to the shots at hand. The two smaller segments here are my most-used bookshelves; my resource and research books and my photo albums which I used to scrapbook before I started 365 (who has time for that now?!). The first shot of the series features some of the books which have made the greatest impact on me, a few more of my favorite reference books, a bread book that my son and daughter-in-law gave me for Christmas, two books from my childhood, my go-to cookbook for all my cooking questions, and a figurine my sister gave me for Christmas two years ago. "This made me think of you when I saw it," she said. Hmmmm... I wonder what gave her that impression?
A lovely set of pictures. Like the pile on the first one! We seem to have way too many books too. Hopefully we can stop piling them now we both have kindles!
Oh I know the feeling Ann. When I went through the attic last week, I threw out at least 9 boxes of college books. It was hard throwing them out, but college psychology books and nursing book can become quite useless in no time with all the changes. My Wife has several boxes of old Halequin Romances that we need to purge. Good luck with all your books.
I do have a very large bookcase in my living-room, but I've banned all study books to the attic or the bin. Love a bookshelf, it says so much about a person!
@kerristephens Thanks Kerri! @jesperani Thanks Jennifer! I don't have a Kindle. I know they can be quite useful for opening more space up, but there's something about a book in my hand that I enjoy more. At this point I'd buy a better camera before I got a Kindle! lol @digitalrn Thanks Rick- yes- there's so many that I have that I could let go because the info is available on line. I've just got to get tough on myself, that's all!
A picture after my own heart. We gave up on the book situation years ago when it became obvious that a chain reaction had started and they were breeding without any outside help.
ack! i had the same thing in mind for today, as i know i would be coming home late. i have two big boxes still in storage, and there are more on the floor in the living room, in the bedrooms, by the windows. books everywhere! i just bought two today (said in whisper, head hanging down in guilt.) great collage, my friend.
What a wonderful portrait you have presented to us! The narrative really brings the pictures to life. Like you I am inundated with books. However I have very sneakily taken many to school and store them on shelves in the library workroom. Of course I offer them to teachers and it has become a mini library, especially before vacations!
Love this!! I love to see what others read. Like you, I want to hold that book ... no Kindle for me. I have pared down but have noticed that it's building back up again. Nothing wrong with that tho ... at least it's good to challenge the brain! We also use the library alot ... and I love Barnes and Noble.
Thank you for this. It seems a love of words and pictures go together, Yes? Perhaps obviously because we love stories and sharing our memories and those of others.
@summerfield Thanks Vikki! Actually this shot was taken just for you as you posted some of your favorite books last week (I think!) and asked me to do the same- so here it is. Of course after I shot this and made the collage I remember 3 other books that I should have had in there somewhere! @allie912 Thanks Allison! I have three huge tubs of books stored in my shed that were from teaching. Students in my Apologetics and World View classes could check them out for book reports. I've kept them because I'm always hoping that I will need them again- i.e. I will get another teaching job- but I think I must come to the realization that those jobs are not to be found. So, I will be giving those away soon. )o: @karenann Thanks Karenann! Once I do get my book situation under control I plan to implement a buy one get rid of one plan. If I can't think of one I can get rid of, I will not buy another! Of course this is going to be easy while I'm unemployed since I have no book spending money anyway! (o: @mrssmith Thanks Carla! Libraries are wonderful places!!
@pandorasecho I think they often do Dixie. Of course I would always hope that my words would be descriptive enough but now with 365 I find myself using the picture as a springboard for other thoughts floating around this head of mine! Well said Dixie! @kimmistephens Thanks Kimmi- and it's only the tip of the iceberg!!
From one book love to another I can totally relate to what you are saying. I just went through my books and gave some away to a church down the street from us that was having a garage sale to raise money for a missions trip this fall. They raised $4800 so I am glad that I was able to be a part of that. Makes it a little easier to get rid of books in a case like that. I am sure I still have well over 400 books in my own personal library
@lyoungs1023 Thank you Elizabeth! @bkbinthecity Thanks Brian- yes, our church has a small bookstore which has really become a ministry to the community. Many of my books will go there to help them.
Beautiful collage! So many interesting books :) I have the same problem - we had to buy new bookcases today because everything was already doubled up and there were piles around everywhere... Bookworms unite :)
Beautiful collection, Ann. I too love books but I don't buy books anymore. I read whatever I can burrow from public libraries or from my son or son-in-law or even from relatives.
Too funny. Sounds just like me. I have bookshelves in every room--except the bathrooms. My kitchen alone has abt 200 cookbooks. And in my bedroom the books are starting to stack up on top of the rows. I did get rid of some but then I buy more at the Library bookstore or Goodwill store--hardbacks in like new condition for only $1-$2....I just can't resist ;-) Enjoyed reading your story. Good photo idea.
@tanja_1211 Thank you Tanja- lol I used to think that but as I'm running out of space on my shelves, I'm rethinking my position! @deniseinindy Thank you Denise- it's only tidy because many of them are still in boxes in the attic! @alia_801 Thanks Alia! I wish lack of bookshelves was the problem! Alas, it is not. There are just too many books that are not being used and are no longer needed )o: I am going to find them a good home though... @sangwann Thanks Dione! I'm reading less too- I seem to be spending a lot of time with my camera lately. lol @cimes1 Thanks Carole! 200 cookbooks??? I thought I had too many recipes!! lol @summerfield Thanks Vikki! She should just set up a table at a flea market with a sign that says "free books". They'd be adopted for sure. But she'd have to do it over several months with that amount! @peterdegraaff Thanks Peter! I'm always "reading" people's bookshelves to see what interests them- that is if the books look like they've been used. You can always tell when a book is on the shelf just for show!
@wenbow Thanks Wendy- my dream has always been to put floor to ceiling bookshelves in my living room! But alas, that may never happen, so I must find a way to part with some of them!
@vposey Thanks Vickie- that's alright. You shouldn't feel bad. Sometimes there are weekly challenges that might be easier for you or you can even do this one for just one or two weeks on your own. It's your project and you should do it in a way that works for you so that it remains fun and challenging at the same time.
What a great collage. A nice display of your books. I too am a book collector. I haven't bought a book since Borders closed, but I was informed just last week that a new bookstore has taken its place. I know there is are a few new titles from my authors that I don't have since Borders closed, so I might just have to break down and go hit that store. Love how you did this. Great job, Ann. And reading is fundamental you know! :)
Completely buried under books. After two years worth of sorting and donating we are finally down below 3000 books. I'm not exaggerating. Most of my books came to me previously loved.
We do not have near enough bookshelves! Everything is stacked two deep and some are in boxes... Actually - you should do a bit of estimating - you'll find you have more books than you realize.
lol! at one point I ended up with 7 bookshelves in my five hundred square feet apartment. Since I go to the book thing in Baltimore, Md. I can pick up free books on a regular basis.... is there really such a thing as to much of a good thing like books! :)
@dmariewms lol Marie- you are probably right- but it's a scary thought, so maybe I'll purge some of them first! @salza Thanks Sally! I do love books, but I am realizing that I might have a couple too many! @potsbypam Oh my 7 bookshelves- well, I'm not too far behind you! Thanks Pam!
That's a lot of books! I had to finally just give a lot of mine away. I literally had no more room in the house. I can't entire collections of my two favorite authors and a few odds and ends but I still have a lot. And I can't get into the Kindle thing.
@juleswoome Thanks Julie! I can't really get excited about Kindle either. While I could see where it might be great for what I call "fluff" reading, I'm more hands when I read. I just like the feel of that book in my hands!
June 30th, 2012
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@jesperani Thanks Jennifer! I don't have a Kindle. I know they can be quite useful for opening more space up, but there's something about a book in my hand that I enjoy more. At this point I'd buy a better camera before I got a Kindle! lol
@digitalrn Thanks Rick- yes- there's so many that I have that I could let go because the info is available on line. I've just got to get tough on myself, that's all!
@allie912 Thanks Allison! I have three huge tubs of books stored in my shed that were from teaching. Students in my Apologetics and World View classes could check them out for book reports. I've kept them because I'm always hoping that I will need them again- i.e. I will get another teaching job- but I think I must come to the realization that those jobs are not to be found. So, I will be giving those away soon. )o:
@karenann Thanks Karenann! Once I do get my book situation under control I plan to implement a buy one get rid of one plan. If I can't think of one I can get rid of, I will not buy another! Of course this is going to be easy while I'm unemployed since I have no book spending money anyway! (o:
@mrssmith Thanks Carla! Libraries are wonderful places!!
@kimmistephens Thanks Kimmi- and it's only the tip of the iceberg!!
@bkbinthecity Thanks Brian- yes, our church has a small bookstore which has really become a ministry to the community. Many of my books will go there to help them.
@deniseinindy Thank you Denise- it's only tidy because many of them are still in boxes in the attic!
@alia_801 Thanks Alia! I wish lack of bookshelves was the problem! Alas, it is not. There are just too many books that are not being used and are no longer needed )o: I am going to find them a good home though...
@sangwann Thanks Dione! I'm reading less too- I seem to be spending a lot of time with my camera lately. lol
@cimes1 Thanks Carole! 200 cookbooks??? I thought I had too many recipes!! lol
@summerfield Thanks Vikki! She should just set up a table at a flea market with a sign that says "free books". They'd be adopted for sure. But she'd have to do it over several months with that amount!
@peterdegraaff Thanks Peter! I'm always "reading" people's bookshelves to see what interests them- that is if the books look like they've been used. You can always tell when a book is on the shelf just for show!
@melorac Thanks Carole! (Must be a world-wide epidemic!)
@salza Thanks Sally! I do love books, but I am realizing that I might have a couple too many!
@potsbypam Oh my 7 bookshelves- well, I'm not too far behind you! Thanks Pam!