Hello, world!
What do you get when you mix a book lover and a minimalist?
Me! (My original punchline was going to be “a paper weight.” Then I reminded myself this is why I am not a comedian. Haha!)
If you are a book lover like I am you have shelves full of books. You gaze at your bookshelf in utter joy of your collection and find it calming to reorganize your books. Every time you walk into a bookstore you know there will be a minimum of three books leaving with you. When someone is giving away books be it the grouchy neighbor or the free box outside the library you seize upon it with zeal. At every holiday you request books and, in a conflicted disappointment, you smile while accepting a $20 gift card to Penny’s or a label maker.*
At this point in my life I have over 200 books. When I moved to Arizona there was a limited to how much I could fit into my suitcase. The bulk of my books, at least 180, are in boxes with my family in California. During this move I realized the volume of books I owned went against what I have been working towards these last two years. In pursuing a minimalist life I have decreased my anxiety and increased my happiness. Books had been my blind spot. I don’t want to be weighed down** by objects or be the warden of books that should be free.
These are some of my ideas for letting go of my beloved clutter:
- This year buy no books. (This will be a challenge and I consider this my 5th New Year’s resolution).
- In 2020 have 100 books or less.
- Possibly buy an e-reader.
- Immediately upon finishing a book decide its fate (e.g. will it be given to a friend, brought to an used book store for credit, donated, etc.)
- Only keep the books you plan to reread in the next two years or have significance.
- When reading a book type up or take a picture of your favorite sentence(s) or thoughts.
- When purchasing a physical book pencil in when you bought it or if its sitting on your shelf what day it currently is.
These are my thoughts and feelings. I don’t expect everyone to understand. If you were to travel back in time and inform my high school self I would do this I’d think you were insane. Insane because “I could never give up my books” and “time travel can’t work, Police!”
Please leave your thoughts down below with how you feel about this topic or if you have any good ideas on downsizing one’s bookshelf.
Until next time,
Rey
*I did receive a label maker for my 18th birthday along with Slim Fast and a hat box.
**This is why I thought my punchline would be funny because books are made of paper and weight can understood as being a burden or an object when placed after the word paper. Comedy 101 is knowing if you have to explain something then it’s not funny.
sloths. sweets. stories. 
Wow I wish I had this problem! I don’t own nearly enough books! I go to my library multiple times a week to get books to read, and don’t have a job so I can’t afford to buy new books very often =D Good luck with downsizing! =)
LikeLike
Good for you for supporting your local library! And thank you 🙂
Roughly 50 books are old textbooks. Another 80 books I received in 2014 when my grandfather passed. The other 70 or so books I bought at my local used bookstore. If I had $10 I could typically walk out with 3 to 7 books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha Yeah I support them with all my late fees too….I forget to renew books and so I think last year I paid nearly $100 in overdue fines *cringe* (Mind you I had a balance on an old library card that I renewed…so…) I have a TON of books in the house, but only a few of them are actually mine =D Once I get a job I shall buy all my favorites! I love my local used book store! (We have a few actually) and normally the books (at least the ones I want) are 50 cents to a dollar fifty! =)
LikeLike
Ouch! Those are hefty late fine. Late fees is one of the reasons I decided to buy books. I can never remember to renew books either :p If I had an used book store that only charged 50 cents I would be in more trouble then I am now. Haha!
I wish you success in getting a job when you are ready! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, my dad has it set up to where he gets emails to remind him to renew his books…I don’t know how to do that and I never remember when I’m at the library to ask XD Thank you! =)
LikeLike
If I received an email I would probably not return the book on time. I am so bad with deadlines when it comes to reading. I might plan on reading one book, but then completely be uninterested.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand this. I decided to do a book buying ban for the first couple months of the this year. Turns out, it’s not so hard after all! Don’t know if I could do it all year, though. Good luck!
LikeLike
Thank you! It will be a challenge. If there is a new release I really want to read I will go to the library.
LikeLike
So having moved *a lot* in my lifetime, I can relate. Everyone wants a tonnage of hardcovers and paper-backs to fondle and file, I agree! But when you have to carry over thirty boxes of very heavy books on every move, you learn to love packing up your Kindles. Now I carry my library everywhere I move! And… about forty boxes of books I don’t always unpack. 😦 But please do consider an e-reader! Life without books is less vibrant, yeah? But, either way, good luck!
LikeLike