The wife "advised" me to clean my study some time ago. I tried to put it off. The shelves were a mess. Finally, not able to put it off any longer, I began dusting the shelves, pulling books out and cleaning underneath, blowing, and wiping the dust off of them; going through the process of taking books to the thrift store. I made two piles on the floor. One were the books I was planning to keep, the other were book I was never going to read--duplicates, and old Dutch books my father had. Those two piles sat in the middle of the floor for almost two weeks before she once again "advised" me that I'd better do something with the books before the planned Renos in the bathroom took place. (I still have two bags of duplicates sitting in a corner she hasn't noticed--as well as books in the back of my car I haven't taken in yet.) She tells me I'm a hoarder, to which I respond: "It's not hoarding if it's books."
I might get some flack for this, but I can't begin to tell you how many books I've thrown away in my life. I'm pretty much the opposite of a hoarder. If it gets in my way, I throw it out. I've donated books to libraries and thrift shops, too, but the dumpster is SO much closer.
Paring down our possessions has not thinned our library very much. I did let go of my father’s medical texts after much internal debate. Now to dump my dated nursing texts…. I just can’t let my novel friends go!!
Almost all of my books went into the Little Free Book Library down the block over the several months before we moved from Oakland to Spain. In most cases I have thought that I could always buy a new copy if I miss it. But if I could, I would live in a library... :)
I understand completely, Martine. I have for years boxed up books and headed to Goodwill, simply unable to toss them into the trash. While you're right when you say this might be passing the buck, I always hope someone will read a book I've donated, forestalling that trip to the dumpster.
The wife "advised" me to clean my study some time ago. I tried to put it off. The shelves were a mess. Finally, not able to put it off any longer, I began dusting the shelves, pulling books out and cleaning underneath, blowing, and wiping the dust off of them; going through the process of taking books to the thrift store. I made two piles on the floor. One were the books I was planning to keep, the other were book I was never going to read--duplicates, and old Dutch books my father had. Those two piles sat in the middle of the floor for almost two weeks before she once again "advised" me that I'd better do something with the books before the planned Renos in the bathroom took place. (I still have two bags of duplicates sitting in a corner she hasn't noticed--as well as books in the back of my car I haven't taken in yet.) She tells me I'm a hoarder, to which I respond: "It's not hoarding if it's books."
I might get some flack for this, but I can't begin to tell you how many books I've thrown away in my life. I'm pretty much the opposite of a hoarder. If it gets in my way, I throw it out. I've donated books to libraries and thrift shops, too, but the dumpster is SO much closer.
P.S.: I also prefer to read eBooks.
Paring down our possessions has not thinned our library very much. I did let go of my father’s medical texts after much internal debate. Now to dump my dated nursing texts…. I just can’t let my novel friends go!!
Almost all of my books went into the Little Free Book Library down the block over the several months before we moved from Oakland to Spain. In most cases I have thought that I could always buy a new copy if I miss it. But if I could, I would live in a library... :)
I understand completely, Martine. I have for years boxed up books and headed to Goodwill, simply unable to toss them into the trash. While you're right when you say this might be passing the buck, I always hope someone will read a book I've donated, forestalling that trip to the dumpster.