Gone!
I am so thrilled. I have managed to rid myself of a whole bookshelf of books. This is the second big cull I have done in six months, but I confess I still own hundreds of books. I L.O.V.E. books! Initially saying goodbye to them was not easy. It is a relief to have discovered that they didn't have the hold over me that I thought they did. I haven't really thought about the ones I have given away. I am quite sure if I went around the house again I could give away another significant amount of books.
The books I have kept are mostly reference and inspirational books, books filled with beautiful words and images, that excite me and that I return to over and over again. Of course I have kept books for purely sentimental reasons. I have a box of my childhood books, and the children have their own favourites stored away too.
I am wondering if it would be a good idea to toss the favourites that are falling apart (like our 'The Hobbit') and to replace them with a hardback, or a first edition, or a leather bound copy instead. Is it really worth keeping an old, mouldy, yellowing and torn paperback?
I am fortunate because I work in an environment where I am surrounded by books (a library). I feel so rich, so full. I have also acquired a Kindle. I have so many books on there and it takes up no room at all. It isn't the same as a paper book though (it is cold and doesn't smell bookish and there are no pages!)- and I feel quite sure that my favourites will always be in a print edition.
The (almost) empty bookshelf.
Now the hard work begins. If I thought the hard work was in de-cluttering the house I think I might have been wrong. I suspect it is keeping 'stuff' out that is going to be the challenge, and I am not just talking about the things I will personally bring into the home, but gifts given in love... Oh how to deal with them?
