What do you do with paperbacks?

[Sara Noel]

We don't have gazillions, but we have enough that I wish we didn't have any. lol

I think Gabe likes having them. I wish I could donate them all, but seeing as he seems to like them...where do you put yours? I currently have about 40 on a bookshelf and I see them daily staring me in the face. lol Granted, if I didn't have them then there'd be a big ole empty shelf. I have a lot of them big ole empty places because well frankly we don't own much to fill up those places. lol

So, in some ways they are filling an empty spot and Gabe likes them and on the other hand I don't like the clutter of them. Tossing them into a tote and shoving that into a closet seems even worse in a way. I'm sure he'd trade them in at a used bookstore, but then we'd have more books again.

Ok, I've rambled on once again. Books books books...where are your books?

Same problem with videos, dvd's, software, games, etc. I do have a built in cabinet in the familyroom, but it's full! The shelf next to the books has about 75 jewel cases of software stacked up. It's not pretty.

[SewCrafty]

Good question Sara, I think I am just going to donate mine to a used bookstore. You don't even want to know how many I have. I am a pack rat remember? And I belonged to many bookclubs for years, I received on average 20 paperbacks a month!

[paelthom]

for you Sara.

We have several and I do mean several bookcases full of books. I don't buy books for general reading much anymore but have lots that I have purchased in the past; most are hardback. I still purchase ones for gardening, quilting, etc. I really try to go to the library as much as possible. Ryan has enough that she could open a library. LOL We don't have a used book store nearby, or even far off, that I know of.

I have no solution for you Sara except maybe to make it a rule that for every book that does come in, one must be donated or tossed out.

[isaacsmommy]

I used to feel the same way I think Gabe feels...it feels great to own books, and I had a ton. I still have quite a few, but limit myself to only keeping those I haven't read or that I plan to re-read. There are a couple of used bookstores in the city and I always turn in my books for credit at the store. I like having my own stash of books to read at my fingertips, b/c I never know if I'm going to finish a library book before the due date.

[Katybird]

I donate mine to the local literacy council. They have a big fundraising rummage sale once a year and they sell tons of books at the sale. I bag mine up a couple of times a year and take them to their office.

[canadian gardener]

Hard to deal with dh's special clutter. There are bookcases that have glass doors (Billy bookcases at IKEA) and I often fantasize about getting the glass doors for our Billy bkcs and putting gathered muslin prints on the backsides

so all you see are pretty gathers of a nice printed fabric similar to what you buy for quilting.

[Sara Noel]

There used to be tons more, but each time we moved I managed to rid myself of some. lol

I'm building a library of children's books and they are all nicely placed on shelves. That's a bit different to me because the kids will listen to stories over and over and then eventually will read them over and over too.

But these paperbacks. UGH

I was also thinking about how I subscribed to all these free magazines and that USA Today etc. Now daily, I have STUFF coming in that I never did before. Why oh why did I think FREE was a good thing? lol

Gabe and I both are sorta anti-clutter freaks, so I'm trying to pinpoint the areas that need to be addressed, so I feel better about things. When we were in a smaller space, it was easier to just toss toss toss, but now that we have space...I notice we are starting FILL things and I am not liking it one bit.

I'm off to go clear off the catch all entryway counters. We have these built in half shelves in our entryway. (the shelf part faces the livingroom) Those counters get all the mail, all the school stuff, all the JUNK. I'm a pretty neat person, but have some hot spots that need some attention.

FLING FLING FLING. It's a sound and an action. roflmao

[canadian gardener]

how to? Those spring type curtain rods that are a long coil spring that you stretch to fit between two cuphooks.

Screw the hooks in the back side of the door above and below where the glass is.

make a "curtain" to fit but about 1-1/2 times as wide as needed for the gathers and feed it onto the top and bottom springy thingys.

hook in place.

Should hide the visual clutter.

[Darlene]

I'm afraid I'm the one who doesn't want to get rid of mine. They just make me feel so rich to have them. Jack wishes I'd get rid of them all. The paperbacks are in our room on 2 bookcases, I have over 200 of them & then there are my cookbooks, I have bunches of them too.
I'd so love a library room with a comfy chaise lounge and table right next to it. Beautiful wood bookcases filled with lovely books and bright, warm sunlight filtering in the windows...

[Missy]

I am like Darlene, I love having books around. Somday I hope to have a library or a book room. I read and re read my books all the time. one time i junked my books...now i regret it and have tried to re purchase those books.

[Guest1]

books - one more thing to dust......as a homeschooler, I obviously have my fair share of books.....when we were in VA, I had 3 (yes 3!!) 4' X 8' bookcases filled with books.....when we were PCS'ing, I wasn't going to be able to bring them with me & I was totally crushed ~ funny how things really aren't what they seem at times ~ getting rid of all those excess books was such liberation! As much as I love having books around, I've become a lot more selective about what I bring in now.....

I adhere to the "1 in, 2 out" theory.....works for us!!

[Karla]

I would see if any Veteran homes, nursing or retirement homes could use them if you are just going to get rid of them.

[MJsLady]

Well, be a strange person.... I read my books over and over and over and...you get the idea.
If it is one I have read and wont reread it goes on ebay then if not sold to goodwill. Nothing stays unless it is rereadable or a reference, such as a diy or cookbook.
Now MJ has his own office and keeps tons of pc books he will never read, and most of which he never has read.... but that is HIS place and I don't deal with it!

[missprimm]

I give my paperbacks to a childrens charity. I only keep my hardbacks now. I have about 12 feet of book shelves floor to ceiling in my library, and they are full! I have decluttered all my other rooms but I can't part with my books.