As I have said, I have far too many books. So, I bit the bullet and today a man came and collected twelve boxes of my books. And I would be lying if I said I had culled enough. I ran out of boxes, and the will to continue. Most of the bookcases are still stacked at least two deep. I would like to cull the smaller portion's books because he does not reread. But neither does he relinquish any of them.
Later we had to go into one of the town centres. We both had things we needed to do. The smaller portion suggested we met in QBD bookshop. A big mistake. He was late and by the time he arrived I had bought another four books.
We came home again to be delighted by our avian visitors.
And Jazz. Jewel is ensconced in the wardrobe which he has snouted open for her.
And the garden. Spring has indeed sprung.
PS: I met the lovely Ampersand Duck this week and was thrilled to find that she is as interesting and engaging as her blog. And then was more than chuffed to discover that she liked meeting me too.
Later we had to go into one of the town centres. We both had things we needed to do. The smaller portion suggested we met in QBD bookshop. A big mistake. He was late and by the time he arrived I had bought another four books.
We came home again to be delighted by our avian visitors.
And Jazz. Jewel is ensconced in the wardrobe which he has snouted open for her.
And the garden. Spring has indeed sprung.
PS: I met the lovely Ampersand Duck this week and was thrilled to find that she is as interesting and engaging as her blog. And then was more than chuffed to discover that she liked meeting me too.
I love it that you went out and bought more books right after getting rid of so many. One of the things that helped me cut down on my book habit was the realization that, even if I died at a very old age, I still wouldn't have sufficient time to read nearly all of the books that I owned. This thought enabled me to keep reference books and some others, and get rid of the rest.
ReplyDeleteYou're as bad as me! I cull, I buy...
ReplyDeleteJazz opened the wardrobe for Jewel? That's so sweet! He's such a gentleman.
Your daffodils look like my fried eggs. Golden and sunny.
Snowbrush: I think I have about 100 - 120 or so unread books. I intend to live more than long enough to get through those. And the other ones I buy along the way... Culling is always very hard though.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I am glad I am not alone. And yes, that particular clump of daffodils makes me smile. Jewel is much smaller than Jazz so she relies on him for things like cupboard opening. Regretfully he also taught he how to open the fridge (which now has a child proof lock).
Bookshops are like opium dens...dangerous. As for fellow bloggers being amazing in person, I've acquired a "smaller portion" of my own - fresh from the blogosphere!
ReplyDeleteMitzi: Ah. I was always interested in opium (though haven't found any to try). Books are a sublimation perhaps? And I hope you are going to tell us about your own smaller portion in your home space.
ReplyDeleteI thought that point of the cull was to allow for more acquisitions. What fun it is to get new books.
ReplyDeleteI've been buying second-hand(English) books here like a woman possessed. Not only because I'm starved for the English Written Word, but also to fill up our one and only bookcase which looks very sad sitting there empty.
ReplyDeleteLove the cat photo!
I am helpless in a bookstore, too. I have been culling my books but only to make room for MORE. And I would never get rid of a book I haven't read at least once! I see your dilemma... :-)
ReplyDeleteI used to regularly weed my book collection. I now have a Kindle...it will hold 3,500 "books"!
ReplyDeleteHi EC,
ReplyDeleteMrs PM is always trying to cull my book collection - but I love them - and I am running out of excuses.
I'll have to start hiding them.
:0)
Cheers
PM
I try to stick to the same authors but it doesn't always work out that way. So far i've not needed to cull any books :-).
ReplyDeletei too have stacks of books, i cleared quite a lot when i moved to the house (10 years ago this december), but of course there's always new books... and having found the delight of charity shop books for next to nothing, these past few years, i tend to but far more than i read. and having lost my reading mojo doesn't make it better.
ReplyDeletei should probably clear some more books - and give them to the chairty shop where i then buy others...:) - and why i've kept quite crappy literature for so many years beats me (simply because they fall into the category of crappy classics i guess). it's both sad and liberating to give away books.
you should have a go at bookcrossing with some of the books you're giving away anyway. it's great fun! www.bookcrossing.com
meeting fellow bloggers (or twitterers) that turn out to be exactly as nice as they are in their blogs, is a delight! (since it can be pretty awkward too...)
What a lovely place you have here to visit!
ReplyDeleteThank You
Aloha from Waikiki;
Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >
Sorry I have got behind in responding.
ReplyDeleteCat Drawings: The purpose of this cull was to allow me to see the bookshelves again. Not really a success.
Kath: An empty bookcase would be both a sad thing, and a challenge that had to be met.
DJan: I only cull books I am pretty sure I won't read again. Which means reading them at least once to be sure. A quandary.
Karen: I am pretty sure there are more than 3500 books in the house. I haven't yet warmed to a Kindle but it may be coming. Soon. Though there is something about the feel and smell of books...
PM: No matter how much we would like to, the smaller portion and I have come to an agreement that the only person who can cull a book is its owner.
Windsmoke: I am jealous. I need to do a book cull quite regularly (about six months to a year before I do).
Pia K: Bookcrossing has interested me for a while. I might have to look into it. And yes, being an anti-social sort of person I was a bit anxious about meeting Ampersand Duck - but it was lovely.
Cloudia: Thank you so much.
OMG, you have more books than i have cats! We could do a trade?
ReplyDeleteCongrats on cleaning out though. I pass open garages in my neighborhood and they are so crammed with boxes and belongings, that opening them even slightly to allow cooling in our current hot temps, threatens a cascade outward onto driveways. These are unusable garages they are so packrat full.
ReplyDeleteI always love the clear out stuff that makes me feel like I am lighter, cleaner....That is my hang up though. I still love the spring pics!
ReplyDeleteOne of the purposes of our new condo is to house all the books I can't bring myself to part with.
ReplyDeleteI love to cull books. That means I have room for the new ones.
I lost my black kitty. The photo of yours gives me black kitty envy.
That's lovely you met a blogging buddy. I shall have to go check out her link. We're in the same boat as far as the books are concerned. Every bookcase is full and we need to start getting rid of a lot of them.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: Much as I love cats, I am not going to swap with you. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteKim @ Stuff. The place is certainly lighter, but more needs to be done. Much more.
Anne: A big condo? I am sorry about your black cat - they wind their paws into your heart strings don't they. I should warn you though, Jazz is not as nice as he looks. Jazz aka Spike aka Slasher. He has a spectacular purr though.
Denise: It was lovely. I was a bit anxious about the meet and felt as comfortable as if we had known each other for ages. A treat.
" I would like to cull the smaller portion's books because he does not reread. But neither does he relinquish any of them." - Welcome to my world. Hahaha. I did the same about 6 months ago and still have tons of books, but at least the extra ones have gone to a good home. The extra oxygen they take up is welcome I find when briefly free before replacing them.
ReplyDeleteAll Consuming: Nice to hear I am not alone.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of books! I too would have great difficulty in letting mine go. I now have a Kindle because the bookshelves are groaning...
ReplyDeleteaaaaah I am a book hoarder as well.
ReplyDeleteWow, EC, this post certainly got a big response! But what can you expect when you include something about books, cats, flowers AND a successful in-person blogfriend encounter?
ReplyDeleteIt makes me smile that your handsome Jazz is such a devil. I had a gray boy whose nicknames were "The Viper" and "Dracula." The first time I left him home alone with my then brand new smaller portion, I returned to find boyfriend walking around in high mud boots to keep his lower legs safe from slashing!
Have a great weekend.
ladyfi: fron ponds rock: Two Tigers: Book addicts all. Welcome aboard.
ReplyDeleteI am running out of book shelf space, too. I have a few unread books, but mostly I only buy books that I've already read, loved them and I want to keep them... which makes it nearly impossible to let any of them go.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI just made my way over via Ampersand Duck and I've enjoyed reading your archives.
Can I ask which bookshop took your books? I am about to embark on a pre-moving cull and I'd like to get a bit of money for the vast amount that will have to go.
Hope you're having a lovely day.
muminsearch: It is never easy. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteQuatrefoil: Welcome. Ampersand Duck is amazing isn't she. This time I donated my books to Lifeline. In the past I have discovered that most of the second hand bookshops are prepared to take books. But be warned - they pay a fraction of the book's cost. Last time I think it worked out at about $2 a book.
Thanks for the info. $2 a book isn't great, but it's better than paying to move them again. But I'll think about Lifeline too.
ReplyDeleteLate as usual... hey, what's not to like about you? (or me! heh, only kidding)
ReplyDeleteThe best bit for me was actually having Jazz yowl at us through the window before realizing that I'm a stranger, at which he disappeared totally. I'm astonished that he can open the fridge... don't tell my cats that, they don't need any ideas!
Have you read any Connie Willis? I want to lend you 'Passage', which I just finished. I'm just working my way through a steampunk novel (The Difference Machine) and then I'll cleanse my brain with Tove.
Ms Duck: No I don't think I have read any Connie Willis. Would love to read Passage. I am, as usual, reading a complete mixture of things. Some 'good' literature and some agreeable trash. Would love to hear what you think of The Summer Book.
ReplyDeleteI was appalled when Jazz learnt how to open the fridge. And gobsmacked when he taught that little stunt to Jewel.
It is always a pleasure to buy books, but after..too much..Your blog is lovely, wonderfull cats, bet regard from Belgium.
ReplyDeleteLouisette: Welcome and thank you.
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful daffs. I'm busy planting mine, planning for them to come up and look a bit like this!
ReplyDelete