You see we've been renovating. Not adding on rooms or knocking down walls, but doing some maintenance, including new carpet (and unpacking everything so the furniture can be moved), oiling the wood on our massive sideboard and bookcase before we fill them again, and replacing the air conditioner - just for starters.
So there we were with our back room clogged full of tables, bookcases, other lounges and the contents of half the cupboards in the house. I was slowly starting to move it all back when we realised the new air conditioner to be put in that room (it was okay - there was a track leading to the spot between the stacked furniture) wouldn't fit. Well, it fitted but only if we moved one of our big bookcases, and having moved it we needed to move others to fit it in, which meant one of the smaller bookcases had to go.
Crisis! How can we lose a bookcase? Giving up any of the precious books we've acquired over the years would be like losing a limb. But I ask myself what the future will hold. A future in which I hope there will be more books given, bought and received as well as borrowed. Ideally I'd have a library. I fantasise about it sometimes - a massive room upstairs (we don't currently have an upstairs, but that's a mere fribble). There'd be full length bookcases on all the walls. My writing desk in one corner. A long comfy lounge for lolling to read and a couple of big cosy chairs ditto. There'd be a high ceiling with fans and maybe a window seat. Sigh. Yes please.
On the other hand it may be simpler and cheaper to manage without. Maybe I should be looking at ebooks instead of real hold-in-the-hand books. After so many hours looking at a computer screen I prefer reading on paper, rather than downloading but I'm wondering if that has to change.
What are your solutions to the book-space problem? Do you cull your books regularly? Do you only read ebooks? Do you read mainly ebooks and buy paperback keepers? How do you store your books?
Oh, Annie, a library of one's own! With a ladder to scour those top shelves filled with forgotten treasures. Then again new carpet sounds pretty good to me, right now =)
ReplyDeleteGood luck finding room. I gave a lot of books to the school fete, particularly kids' reads.
Robbie, aren't fetes great for donating and acquiring?
ReplyDeleteHow did you know I've always had a yen for a library with a ladder running all around the side? I must have seen one in a film when I was young and latched on to the idea. That's exactly what I'd like in a library.
Annie, I dream of a library too. I fear I'll end up as the old lady that the district nurse can't get into her home because of the piles of books!
ReplyDeleteMe, too, for a library, Annie! Though as I look around my room at the bulging shelves of the 3 largish and 2 small bookcases I already have in THIS tiny room, I fear that a library would mean that my book buying would get right out of control!
ReplyDeleteOh, for a gorgeous library with lots of wood panelling and wrought iron scrollwork. Frankly, I'd settle for turning the garage into a some kind of compactus arrangement. But then, what to do with the car...
ReplyDeleteSo, I am going to dip my toes in the ebook waters this year. Shall see how I get along. :-)
Hi Annie, I, too, have an excess book problem--it's so hard to throw them out. (Ones I never dispose of are books by my author friends--let's get that straight from the start!).
ReplyDeleteI have multiple book shelves in the house and also in the garage. It really is getting ridiculous!
There was an article in the newspaper over the weekend about people donating used goods to charities. There was a comment I found sad--the charity said they no longer want second-hand books as they can't sell them since so many people have e-reading devices. Wonder if that's the same elsewhere?
I am definitely an e-book convert, especially for novels. But there will always be room for print books too. Which means the bookshelf people aren't likely to go out of business any time soon!
I just buy more bookcases. We have them everywhere.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, I notice the prominent Anna Campbells on your bookcase - what exquisite taste you have, my dear! LOL! Oh, I hear you on the books issue. I don't drive which currently leaves a big garage free for my books. But they're all just stuck in piles in there and I can't find anything. Really need to do something about storage. I have recently sorted out some for the charity pile but not enough to make much difference.
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to all the Love Cats!
Annie, your fantasy library sounds fabulous. I hope it'll come to fruition some day soon!
ReplyDeleteMy study is jam-packed with books because I can't enter a bookstore without buying something. I'm planning to donate some books over the Christmas break to free up shelf space...and make room for new purchases! But like Kandy, I'm also an e-book convert. I can't get onto Amazon without buying something...
Merry Christmas to you and all the LoveCats!
Scarlet, I'm smiling at your image of being hemmed in by books so the local nurse can't visit. So long as they're good books...
ReplyDeleteSharon, you could be right about a library being a licence to buy books, but that only makes it more tempting!
ReplyDeleteMichelle, the car can definitely live in the driveway. Plenty of room then for books. I'll be interested to hear how you go dipping your toes into ereading.
ReplyDeleteKandy, my fear is that once I start I'll be acquiring both ebooks and paperbacks. That IS sad about the charities not accepting books. I always like donating in the hope they'll go to a good home.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested that both you and Michelle mention shelves in the garage. I haven't tried that yet.
Mary, you're a woman after my own heart!
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to you too, Anna! Laughing - I'd forgotten just what was on that bookcase when I posted this. Trust you to notice the Anna Campbells.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you need to buy some shelves for the garage.
Vanessa, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Thanks for the good wishes.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about not being able to go to a bookshop or to Amazon without buying. That sounds so familiar. Hope you acquire some lovely books over the festive season.
I have no answers (sigh). I have over 2,000 books and ran out of space ages ago. I like being surrounded by books and sharing them and that doesn't work with an ereader.
ReplyDeleteI still prefer a print book to electronic, mainly because I haven't got an e-reader yet.
ReplyDeleteMy bookcase in the lounge with its mix of coffee table books and hard covers is gorgeous, although most of my paperbacks are in the bedroom - better access to them when I feel like reading a keeper! And I've still got some bare walls should I require more bookcases in my future!
Annie, I *love* the look of bookcases in a room, but mine are starting to overflow too. I've culled some and I'll be buying another bookshelf soon... and looking for a spare bit of wall space to fit it.
ReplyDeleteI have an ereader, but when I find a book on it that I love, I buy the paperback version as well - partly so I can share with friends and family, and partly so I can have the pretty on my shelves. :)
Hi Catslady. I know what you mean about being surrounded by books. Isn't that a wonderful feeling? Hope you get to spend time with them over Christmas.
ReplyDeleteJoanne - I love the fact that you have spare wall space for bookcases! That's excellent. Personally I love having books in our lounge and dining rooms. Often over dinner we end up in a conversation which leads us to checking something in one of the books.
ReplyDeleteRachel, that sounds like a great approach. I have to say I love being able to handle a 'real' book, especially one I want to share with others. Good luck finding that spare wall space.
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