After
seeing how good the desk looked clear of the piles of books I started thinking
it was time to re-organize. I still do not know how many books I have TBR. I am
afraid to find out.
Last
week I decided I would pack the books from the TBR piles into boxes and store
them where they were easily accessible and make a commitment to keep the desk
clean.
This
week I have packed the books into 5 cardboard boxes (3 boxes of fiction and 2
boxes of non-fiction). They are now organized alphabetically so I can actually
find a book quickly. Some of the boxes will go downstairs into a storage area
and the others to my law office. I will actually be able to browse among my TBR
books rather than gaze at haphazard tottering piles that usually just made me
feel guilty.
At
some point I may list the books. Up to now I have never assembled the titles
and authors of books I have acquired.
I
will keep the one or two books I am reading at any given time with me. I will
put a few books I intend to read next on a shelf near the desk.
Books
I buy or are given or are sent to me by publishers will go into the boxes. I
hope, but doubt, I will have the discipline to shrink the TBR boxes.
On
the other bookshelves around me in the den I am vowing to myself that if I want
to keep a book after reading it a book already on the shelves will be removed.
We shall see how well that promise to myself works.
Books
not being kept will be exchanged for credit at my favourite used bookstore in
Saskatoon, Westgate Books, or given to the local public library where I have
been a member of the board of directors for over 30 years. I already have a
credit at Westgate of about $100.00 but I consider a growing credit at a
bookstore good rather than bad.
For
most of my life I have been prone to clutter. I finally cleaned up my law
office when we renovated three years ago. I have backslid a few times but have
managed to get organized again and keep my desk clean.
It
is nice to see just one book, The Skin
Collector by Jeffery Deaver, beside me. It also reminds me that for many years, until I was in my 30's, because of economics and availability my TBR pile was 1-2 books.
Wish
me luck!
Bill, it seems to me that you manage to read far more books from your TBR pile than I do. I don't have a TBR, I only have a pile, and I read from them at random.
ReplyDeleteYou read books from specific genres like detective-mystery and legal fiction which, I feel, goes a long way in keeping one's TBR pile on a leash. Besides, you are also consistent in reviewing the books you finish reading. I fail on both counts.
Five cardboard boxes of books isn't much. I think mine would fill as many if I include my collection of comics. I don't have much nonfiction. I had a dozen books on philosophy which I gave away a couple of years ago. Today, I find managing legally-free downloads of ebooks and those that I buy online a more serious challenge.
Prashant: Thanks for the comment. I doubt I read more than you from my TBR books. I do work at reviewing after reading. When it sometimes happens that I delay a review may be long delayed or never happen. I have no ebook management problems as I have but one ebook.
DeleteI was delighted to read this - I am going through a similar process myself, and it is always interesting and helpful to find out how other keen readers cope with the problem. AT the moment I am having a concerted effort to reduce the TBR pile: I am trying not to buy any more books (though they do turn up anyway). I did corral my TBR into a few specific places a while back, and now I am tackling a shelf at a time. We'll see how I get on. Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteMoira: Thanks for the comment. Discipline and book acquisitions do not go together for me. I will be interested in an update on your progress on tackling the TBR in due course. Good luck to you too!
DeleteBill - I'm impressed. I think it's sometimes a great feeling to clean up the clutter and get everything into order. I felt the same way when I built my home office almost two years ago. Everything was new and neat and clean. I like your idea of putting your books into alpha order too, so that you can get to them when you want them.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the kind words. I feel better now sitting at my desk. I will do my best to remember this feeling as I deal with books acquired in the future. It was frustrating at times trying to find a book from TBR when they were unorganized.
DeleteI'm just coming back to the land of the living after being sick and I'm desperate to do something about the teetering mass of TBR books that look even more overwhelming now that I haven't touched it for weeks - you've inspired me. My time when I used to only have a TBR of 1 or 2 books was only about 5 or 6 years ago...I'm feeling very nostalgic for it
ReplyDeleteBernadette: Thanks for the comment. I am sorry you were sick and am glad to hear you feeling better. I am equally surprised at how my TBR books grew in number so quickly. When I had but 1 or 2 TBR I believe my anticipation was heightened as I knew exactly what I would be reading.
DeleteWell you're a lot more disciplined and organized than me. Alphabetized boxes of books - bravo! For almost a year there were multiple piles of books in almost room of our home. The only "book free" rooms are the bathrooms. It can sometimes be a daunting task getting organized. Last month I spent an entire day decluttering the house of book piles. Some books actually got reshelved. A miracle there was still room! As for the boxing books I tend to group them by author and, believe it not, by size! I want the job done quickly so it's all about fitting as many as possible into a box and less about thinking about how easy I'll be able to relocate any given book. Alphabetizing? I spend too much time doing tiresome tasks like that at my day job. Dislike feeling like I'm at work in the comfort of my own home.
ReplyDeleteJohn: Thanks for the comment. You have a lot of books! I had not thought about grouping by size. It would speed the packing process. I also spend a great deal of time at work on organization. We have to be able to find files at the office. I would not want to re-organize often but freeing space of cluttered and unorganized piles of books lifted my spirits when the job was done.
DeleteOh, it's good to see this organization going on. I had only three stacks of unread books. Then, some lovely bloggers sent me books. Now I have so many that I can't use my foyer/dining table at all. It's nearly covered.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a downstairs or an office. So, it's just a question as to where to put the books. I have so many boxes already due to acquisitions of family items. It's quite amazing at this point.
Someday I will tackle all of the books and boxes. Until then, there they sit.
Kathy D.: Thanks for the comment. It appears you are approaching a dilemma in your home. I was feeling the books were taking over the space. When Sharon cleared them away for cleaning I realized I did not want them back around the den. Good luck with your books and boxes.
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