One piece of advice I’d give to fellow readers is to carefully curate your print book collection.
I love books and I find it very hard to throw out ones I’ve enjoyed reading. I always think I’ll read them again—but I rarely do. There’s always a new book wanting my attention!
So what happened when it came time for me and my husband to downsize? Hundreds and hundreds of books (both fiction and non-fiction) and limited space to put them! Even the garage was overstuffed.
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| Just two of the jam-packed bookshelves, double row packed on each shelf |
I’ve had to get tough. Ruthless even. But I still find it heartbreaking to throw out a book. Charity shops. The re-use shed at our local tip. All are potential homes for my pre-loved books. A favourite destination is the small street library near home. Off they go.
While getting rid of so many books, do I stop buying new ones? Of course not! I buy more e-books these days, but when I do buy a new print book I think carefully about its ultimate destination. My much-reduced keeper shelf? A friend who I know would love a particular book (I stress I’m giving it, not loaning it.) I have to get those newish books out of the house before I weaken!
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I like walking around my neighbourhood and have discovered more street libraries to donate to—while maintaining the discipline to leave a book and not then walk away with one!
Now I just have to continue to take my own advice…
What do you do with books you have no room for?
Kandy Shepherd is a best-selling, award-winning author of contemporary romance. Her heartfelt, passionate stories are set in exciting locations around the world and are published in multiple languages. Kandy believes in love-at-first-sight and real-life romance—she and her husband of many years decided to spend their lives together after three days! She loves it when readers tell her that her books make them laugh and make them cry. Kandy lives near Sydney, Australia with her husband and numerous four-legged friends.
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