{DISCUSSION} Shelf Overflow

Do you keep books you didn’t like?

I’ve moved… A lot. I’ve moved six times in the last three years and each time I do so, I must pack up my books, which ends  up being even more books than I packed up previously so I can’t even put them all in the same boxes. *sigh* And those boxes are not light things, either. They are seriously heavy to the point that I generally can’t lift my arms after one full day of moving (I have a lot of stuff. 😂)

Now, I don’t mind moving them all because books. Books are one of those things that are great for making you look intelligent, sharing with friends (if you trust them), they’re a good use of free time, and they are fantastic decorations. Honestly, having books is amazing. (That library thing still kind of baffles me because you don’t get to keep said books. 😒) But the problem now is finding somewhere to put all those books.

Back in time (a year), I bought a second bookshelf. It was great! I finally had room for all my books! Except… during this move, one of said super cheap, flimsy bookshelves snapped in half. So… I now have a half a bookshelf. Oops. Which means I have half the space to store said books and while I got a new shelf donated to me by my mother, I needed that one for my movie collection (I may actually have more movies than books. Crazy, right?!) So, now I have books just kind of haphazardly stacked inside each bookshelf and it looks… well, bad.

Last year we had an entire length conversation of organizing one’s bookshelf and if that conversation did nothing else, it made it very clear that people are particular about their bookshelves. They need to look a certain way, are organized a certain way, etc. They are important! And I’m very particular about my bookshelf so this haphazardness is killing me (softly with your love! Haha! Sorry. Couldn’t help it.) It’s because of this haphazardness and unfortunate lack of space that I have faced the ultimate question for every bookworm:

“Do I get rid of books?”

Wait.
Pause.
Every take a quick breath because I’m pretty sure half of you just had heartattacks.
When you’re back to normal pulses and adrenaline levels, please continue reading. :p

So, let me explain. As many of you know I don’t always like every book I read (or very few, really). I like to dislike books and I like to trash books and I like to rant about books. Thus, having books I disliked is kind of fun, but it also seems kind of dumb.

I mean, I’ll never re-read that book (not that I re-read in general). I’m not going to ever recommend said book or want to loan it out to a friend. Looking at it on my shelf just makes me remember how much I hated it instead of how much I loved it. And while some of those books may have gorgeous covers, uh… most people organize their bookshelves with only spines visible. Thus, the cover is a moot point.

Thus, I am back to the question of getting rid of my books. It seems only logical. I might even be able to make a little cash off them if I can find a used bookstore that might sell them and they’re extremely well cared for so that’s a good selling point.

BUT!

I am such a freakin’ hoarder. And I’m attached to inanimate objects for no apparent reason so while I have sorted out the books I want to get rid of… they continue to sit in a stack on my floor in front of my bookshelf instead of like… out of my life forever. *sigh* I know, I’m such a coward. 😦 Still, it needs to be done. Those books need to go. Which is why, I guess I’m more looking for support from you all (haha! I may not get it 😝) to help me get rid of books and make space for others.

Also! I’m curious to know if you plan to or have gotten rid of books in the past, how do you decide which books to get rid of? I mean, yeah we use a rating system for ourselves, but is that how you decide to get rid of books? What about the 3-stars that are iffy? I want to know! Don’t leave me hangin’!

What do you think about getting rid of books?
Leave your thoughts below!

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And check out my discussion from last week:
“Fiction Rating System“