Simplifying Life

rosieben

:hello: I've spent most of the day putting together my new bookcase, but stopped for :coffee: its hard work on my own. Once I've got that done, Ican sort my books. Only the books I really really want are coming in to the new shelves and whats left in the spare room will be sorted between my ds and my sis for her charity sales. I'm going to be really ruthless about this - its well overdue.

The 2 shelves units in the spare room are open pine ones, I'm using one for my 'pantry' and the other will be for my crafting supplies. When I've got it all the same place I'll be having a major sort out. Progress :j

mary43

I still need to sort our bookcase out roseiben............well there's two .......one has some of my books in but mostly OH's, the other is a smaller one and is full of my books.........I've been through them endless times to try and thin them out but cant being myself to do it. They're not novels, but some are presents (can't part with them) others are just one's that I like - mind you I haven't looked at them for I don't know how long which speaks volumes really. Normally I grab a book from the charity shop, read it and then take it back so they get the money twice over but when it comes to books on flowers, poetry, histories of towns I've lived in, art books........well I just can't get rid. Have managed it when one has ended up as a pressie for someone...........then at least I know where it is and that it'll be looked after.
Must nag OH this weekend about his paperbacks.............if he thinned them out they'd be more room for mine...................lol

rosieben

hi Mary, I know exactly what you mean about hanging onto books for sentimental reasons. My tastes and interests have changed so much over the years; I rarely read novels now, have just a few favourites - horseman riding by, terry pratchett, douglas adams, and of course the harry potter series other than that my shelves are mostly full of 'how to' books, County Series and social history (my family history research!) and poetry. I've just given away a 3 foot high pile of computer books, programing etc to my son :j

My very favourite book is a very well worn 1960's penguin copy of Darling Buds of May which I cant bear to part with as my kids and I all read it often and it was a 'family favourite'

I've finished the bookcase and so far I have [STRIKE]3[/STRIKE] 4 books on it ...

[STRIKE]runs off to find Pop and Ma Larkin .....[/STRIKE]

vivw_2

Know what you all mean about books...they are so hard to part with. As an English teacher books are all rather part of the job, so I have quite a few book cases scattered round the house all bursting with books.

rosieben

vivw wrote: »

Know what you all mean about books...they are so hard to part with. As an English teacher books are all rather part of the job, so I have quite a few book cases scattered round the house all bursting with books.

What age group do you teach Viv? If I was teaching older kids and they didnt agree with my thoughts on my favourite books I would probably want to beat them about the head with it! so its a good job I didnt go into teaching.... :rotfl:

Why dont we all share our favourite books? I've mentioned some of mine above - another favourite is Wuthering Heights. Poetry - Goldsmith The Deserted Village and Tennyson The Brook (the whole thing not just the 'I come from haunts of coot and tern' or whatever bit) but also have 2 Wendy Cope books which always make me smile.

mary43

I love to read all the social history books especially if they're linked with what my ancestors did for a living (mostly ag labs and domestic servants). Have managed to get rid of some flower arranging books - I had three.....they all said much the same so I kept the one I liked best. Theres a whole load of gardening books that could do with sorting out..........bought them years ago and seldom look at them anymore. Maybe if I look them out and put them in a box someone on freecycle will take them off my hands...........it's got to the point where there are books laying horizontally on top of the upright books...........lol
Old cookery books are on a shelf in the kitchen where they're meant to be (even though a mean a la Mrs. Beeton is hardly likely to be cooked in our household..............lol)
You're right though........tastes do change over the years. I've read endless books about kids in care, historic ones that always seem to revolve around someone in the workhouse and anything by Helen Forrerster.......but the next one to read is Terry Wogan 'Is it me ?'.................for a bit of light relief. I managed to find Larkrise to Candleford -never read the book but been watching it on T.V. so might as well wait until the series is over for that one.

vivw_2

rosieben wrote: »

What age group do you teach Viv? If I was teaching older kids and they didnt agree with my thoughts on my favourite books I would probably want to beat them about the head with it! so its a good job I didnt go into teaching.... :rotfl:

Why dont we all share our favourite books? I've mentioned some of mine above - another favourite is Wuthering Heights. Poetry - Goldsmith The Deserted Village and Tennyson The Brook (the whole thing not just the 'I come from haunts of coot and tern' or whatever bit) but also have 2 Wendy Cope books which always make me smile.

I teach 11-18yr olds. They rarely agree with me about books but thats the way it goes. Most would much prefer to watch a film or just play on a pc.
One book I read recently with my 11-12 yr olds was The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boy-Striped-Pyjamas-Definitions/dp/0099487829/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202491113&sr=8-1
I had one girl with tears in her eyes when we read the last chapter. I'd really recommend the book both for adults and children

Ellidee

Hello all. Funnily enough I am in the middle of a big book declutter. I took some to a local 2nd hand shop a while ago but only got £10 for all of them. Last weekend bit the bullet and listed some on Amazon for the first time. Fingers crossed some sell. I have used Greenmetropolis before for paperbacks and have sold a few so have listed a few more on there. Haven't made any money really - used the proceeds to buy more ! Think if they don't go by the end of this month I will take them to the Charity Shop.

mary43

Never sold anything on amazon, e bay or greemetropolis...........I think I'd be the one left with a box full of books no-one wanted..............
Daren't even think of greenmetropolis...............Ive such a wish list on there....got carried away when I first went on it. Really I ought to check it out again. ......................oh dear...........now I'll get tempted

ceridwen

mary43 wrote: »

Never sold anything on amazon, e bay or greemetropolis...........I think I'd be the one left with a box full of books no-one wanted..............
Daren't even think of greenmetropolis...............Ive such a wish list on there....got carried away when I first went on it. Really I ought to check it out again. ......................oh dear...........now I'll get tempted

Repeat after me "credit card/I dont own any credit cards/therefore how can I buy any books...on greenmetropolis or otherwise". Repeated at 10 minute intervals - you might convince yourself

And for anyone who is getting short of reading matter - believe I mentioned this guy on my $12,000 a year thread - but he bears mentioning again. Reason - he is the founder of Freeconomy and he has now started his epic trek across the world - from Britain to India (without ANY money at all) to highlight his belief in a moneyless society (as in he believes that "money is the root of all evil" - cant exactly dispute that one!). The blog he is maintaining about his trek is on:

www.justfortheloveofit.org/blog.php

When it comes to inspiration - there is plenty of it there. He has now started to provide his itinerary for the next couple of days or so on there - which I shall watch with interest to see if he is anywhere near "my neck of the woods" at any point.