books! About 5-6 years ago I decided I had to do something about all the books - bookshelves in every room, books piled up by armchairs and bedsides....and it was brutal!
First thing was to decide how much space I really wanted to devote to books, then I sorted. I had a book party, where I invited all my friends and family to come take books - it was so much fun to have people browsing and being so happy to get some of the books. I had taken ones I knew I couldn't part with, but left most of the books out, including ones I thought I wanted - but when someone would come up with a book I thought I didn't want to part with, it was really easy to let it go because they wanted it.
People still talk about that party!
It was the best thing I ever did - I probably got rid of 300-400 books and I have not missed one! After that I sorted again, boxed up books and took them to either a used bookshop or a battered women's shelter.
Now I have one 6 foot bookcase, and a small bookcase in my bedroom, and a shelf in the kitchen for cookbooks. I also keep a box for books - if I bring them home, I have to get rid of an equal amount and those go in the box - or after I've read the book I can toss it in the box, too. I'm not super strict about this, but...and people coming over scrounge through the box to see if there is anything there that interests them.
Also, I use the library alot.
I wanted to also tell you that although I had lived with so many books for so many years, and loved books, and still love books, and liked seeing books in the bookshelves,etc, I was totally shocked by how lighter the house felt without all those books! It was as if I had punched in new windows in the house.
ok, there is ONE book I miss, it was a book about weeds and how you could tell what your soil was missing by what weeds were growing. Since I moved 3 years ago, and have "new" gardens, I would love to consult that book again.
anyway,here's hoping you can experience that lightness of being!
Books??? What books???
I have the same issue with books,..I LOVE them. My big thing is I buy a ton of them,..new used,...blah, blah,..then I get overrun with them. I am a very organized type individual and having piles of books laying around irritates me to no end. So I have a system now,..well a half baked system I should say,...if I don't look at that one book for at least six months,...I give it away. I have two big box fulls right now going to our local senior center,...I also do this with my magazines,..the ones I don't keep. I had a real BIG problem with buying cookbooks,....I think I have that nipped in the bud,....maybe.