What a fun way to think about reading what I own. I bought more books last year from library book sales than I’ve ever bought. So now I’m aiming to make my personally chosen books ones from my own shelves that either compliment or provide a complete contrast to the books I read for three reading groups.
I recently invited my friends over to shop my shelves. I gave away about 75 books, donated another couple hundred, and kept a couple hundred. My New Year's resolution was to only purchase books I couldn't borrow from the library or otherwise get for free. It's hard!
I enjoy gifting books I like, either to friends or to strangers by placing them in Little Free Libraries close by. The latter is risky: My tastes don't seem to be shared by readers who frequent those. I can't assume that something I left a month ago hasn't been taken is rejection of me. Sometimes I redistribute books from one site to another and that gets them in the hands of somebody who is more similar to me (maybe). Keeping books moving from one reader to others pleases me. I buy too many to keep withthat in mind.
I only buy my favorites that I’ve read. I probably only have 3 books I haven’t read. I’m fascinated by people who can buy a book and not read it. Even my kindle books have all been read. Some 3 times or more. Maybe I’m cheap??? 😅😂 This was the cutest video…how fun to shop in your own library 👏👏👏
Fun video, Eric! I loved reading The Nix when It came out, and I read Hill’s second novel, Wellness, and loved it equally. What a terrific writer. Also, I just got a copy of A Guest in the House after reading excerpts. I’ve never read any Emily Carroll, and this looks so intriguing.
I've been doing this for 2 years now and reading over 75% of what I've on my shelves. My tbr books have reduced significantly, but I still need to keep going on the same track . But you've made your selection " like bookshop buying " some had fun. Doing a few Instagram challenges is also a way of making me pick from my shelves e.g. Reading the world ( minimum 24 this yr) , reading big chunky novels ( one per month) Non fiction pick ( one per month) , neglected faithfuls ( one per month) , add in my monthly book club . This makes at least 6 per month - I usually can fit in 8-10 per month .....so I can pick 2-4 more from my shelves . I'm focusing on Irish fiction this year too .
Such a fun idea! And also I really appreciate your sharing what your bookshelves look like and how they are organized. A great glimpse into a reader’s mind!
Grear video Eric. Book collectors like myself have many books we picked up with the intent of reading them. I have many that are unread and you have supplied the incentive to start reading these neglected books. Keep up the good work. Your show is my favorite book program.
I know I just can’t not buy any - but I hope to read some more of my existing bookcases! Discovered Edward Carey last year and love him. I have Edith Holler in the queue.
Hilarious! So many of us should do this! I have my more recent acquisitions in main living room, my mysteries and scary books in a bedroom and our combined other novels in the basement library. So I guess that makes me a multi bookstore owner? 😂😅
This is a great idea! especially really having a library of books it seems like it can trick you into being more invigorated about each title. One of my goals this year is to get to books I think have high potential of being new favorites, finally getting to titles I've put off, things like that because I get too caught up in reading them at the "right" time and being so influenced by my mood and season/time of year.
This is an absolutely lovely idea and charming to watch. I must shop in my own bookshop (shelves) now.😊 You have reminded me that I have A Month in Siena on my shelf and now I really want to read it!📚 I await with impatience to hear what you think about these books. 📖
I loved this! I only rarely keep a book that I have read because I don't have much space and because I am somewhat of a minimalist. Somehow, though, I have accumulated about 40 unread books. I am also planning to shop my shelves this year 😀
I have the same resolution as you, to finish all my physical tbr this year! Though mine is of course not as many as yours 😂 I'm confident I can finish them
I'm looking at doing a book cull myself. I think that could see a pretty cool video from u too. Where can we best recycle our books? Asking 4 a friend.
While I didn't mean to pick 25 books off my shelf that I want to get to by the end of the year. It just so happened to be the number that worked well for getting some of my other reading goals done.
My aim is to also read more books off my shelves this so this was the video I needed. I recently had a nasty accident and need to take some time out to recover so lots of time for reading. I just finished a historical fiction book, A Bakery In Paris by Aimie K. Runyan which I loved. I saw a book on your shelves, I think it was called Violets, is it about violets or something else?
Thank you for your review on My Friends by Hisham Matar, I just finished it in three days and I loved it very much. I wish there would be a similary narrated book about Iran.
I grabbed about 20 of my books and put them on my desk(in my bedroom). I have to get through those in the next few months. Tbh that was too much lol. A bit overwhelming to have in my room all at once. Next time I’ll do a little shopping trip like you but I’ll only grab 3 max.
As a variation on this, I'm planning on reading some of the classics I've accumulated over the years. I was surprised to discover the number I've accumulated primarily from library sales.
Hi Eric, yes, I had the same resolution as yours which is to select books to read this year from my own bookshelf and I found quite a few unread books that have accumulated and finally decided not to purchase any books this year (hopefully)😂. Most of the unread books are non-fiction history and biography books and hopefully I can get to it by end of this year. Nice video Eric and thanks for sharing. ❤😊
The book ladder!!! 🪜😍 Edith Holler … Gem just got that for Christmas!! I really want to read Alain Mabanckou’s new novel. I hope you enjoy all of these Eric.
I don’t use this word often - your video was charming. It put a huge smile on my face.
😊📚
It is a lovely idea!!...and you can avoid other customers!! 😂
That was so cute! Great idea, Eric!
What a fun way to think about reading what I own. I bought more books last year from library book sales than I’ve ever bought. So now I’m aiming to make my personally chosen books ones from my own shelves that either compliment or provide a complete contrast to the books I read for three reading groups.
What a wonderful idea! 😃 And what a glorious wall of books! 📚 We used to be double-stacked too… could have been triple-stacked! 😆
😊📚
Great idea, I need to take a book bag to my shelves.
What a delightful video! I loved it! 😊
I recently invited my friends over to shop my shelves. I gave away about 75 books, donated another couple hundred, and kept a couple hundred. My New Year's resolution was to only purchase books I couldn't borrow from the library or otherwise get for free. It's hard!
I enjoy gifting books I like, either to friends or to strangers by placing them in Little Free Libraries close by. The latter is risky: My tastes don't seem to be shared by readers who frequent those. I can't assume that something I left a month ago hasn't been taken is rejection of me. Sometimes I redistribute books from one site to another and that gets them in the hands of somebody who is more similar to me (maybe). Keeping books moving from one reader to others pleases me. I buy too many to keep withthat in mind.
LOVING the idea and loving the bookshelf set up too. :D
Thanks! 😊📚
I only buy my favorites that I’ve read. I probably only have 3 books I haven’t read. I’m fascinated by people who can buy a book and not read it. Even my kindle books have all been read. Some 3 times or more. Maybe I’m cheap??? 😅😂 This was the cutest video…how fun to shop in your own library 👏👏👏
Thank you! And I’m impressed by your commitment.
I buy books at the thrift store. So a lot can be like $2.50, it makes it easy to grab more.
This video was a joy to watch! I read Swift River last year and learned a lot about New England history.
Fun video, Eric! I loved reading The Nix when It came out, and I read Hill’s second novel, Wellness, and loved it equally. What a terrific writer. Also, I just got a copy of A Guest in the House after reading excerpts. I’ve never read any Emily Carroll, and this looks so intriguing.
I've been doing this for 2 years now and reading over 75% of what I've on my shelves. My tbr books have reduced significantly, but I still need to keep going on the same track . But you've made your selection
" like bookshop buying " some had fun. Doing a few Instagram challenges is also a way of making me pick from my shelves e.g. Reading the world ( minimum 24 this yr) , reading big chunky novels ( one per month) Non fiction pick ( one per month) , neglected faithfuls ( one per month) , add in my monthly book club . This makes at least 6 per month - I usually can fit in 8-10 per month .....so I can pick 2-4 more from my shelves . I'm focusing on Irish fiction this year too .
I love this concept! More people should do this!
😊📚
Such a fun idea! And also I really appreciate your sharing what your bookshelves look like and how they are organized. A great glimpse into a reader’s mind!
Intriguing way to chose a book!
Grear video Eric. Book collectors like myself have many books we picked up with the intent of reading them. I have many that are unread and you have supplied the incentive to start reading these neglected books. Keep up the good work. Your show is my favorite book program.
Thanks so much! Hope you get to some of your unread books. 📚
I know I just can’t not buy any - but I hope to read some more of my existing bookcases! Discovered Edward Carey last year and love him. I have Edith Holler in the queue.
Hilarious! So many of us should do this! I have my more recent acquisitions in main living room, my mysteries and scary books in a bedroom and our combined other novels in the basement library. So I guess that makes me a multi bookstore owner? 😂😅
This is a great idea! especially really having a library of books it seems like it can trick you into being more invigorated about each title.
One of my goals this year is to get to books I think have high potential of being new favorites, finally getting to titles I've put off, things like that because I get too caught up in reading them at the "right" time and being so influenced by my mood and season/time of year.
Oh I loved on the chapel sands as well as Lauras non fiction book.
How fun! Thanks, I'm a fan. ❤️
You aren’t kidding, those are some very high shelves!! Bookshelf goals🥰 loved going book shopping and browsing with you❤️📚📚❤️
This is an absolutely lovely idea and charming to watch. I must shop in my own bookshop (shelves) now.😊 You have reminded me that I have A Month in Siena on my shelf and now I really want to read it!📚 I await with impatience to hear what you think about these books. 📖
Lovely bookshelves
Fabulous video - love this whole idea so much!!
Thank you! 😊📚
I liked seeing your worn copy of Flannery O’Connors Complete Stories much like my own.
This was great fun. Thanks, Eric.
😊📚
I loved this!
I only rarely keep a book that I have read because I don't have much space and because I am somewhat of a minimalist. Somehow, though, I have accumulated about 40 unread books. I am also planning to shop my shelves this year 😀
I have the same resolution as you, to finish all my physical tbr this year! Though mine is of course not as many as yours 😂 I'm confident I can finish them
Lol. Fun video:) I've made a commitment to 'shopping in my bookstore' for at least 1 book a month as well.
Thanks! And that’s a great resolution.
Great idea, Eric! 🎉🎉🎉
😊📚
I'm looking at doing a book cull myself. I think that could see a pretty cool video from u too. Where can we best recycle our books? Asking 4 a friend.
This was fun. I often think of my shelves as my own personal bookstore. I need one of those ladders though. 🪜😊💙
What a wonderful idea and what a great selection of books.
Well this was a delight.
Thanks for the Edward Carey novel recommendation. My Dad grew up in and around Norwich so I always love reading books set there.
Ah, lovely! It’s a fine city. 😊
While I didn't mean to pick 25 books off my shelf that I want to get to by the end of the year. It just so happened to be the number that worked well for getting some of my other reading goals done.
My aim is to also read more books off my shelves this so this was the video I needed. I recently had a nasty accident and need to take some time out to recover so lots of time for reading. I just finished a historical fiction book, A Bakery In Paris by Aimie K. Runyan which I loved. I saw a book on your shelves, I think it was called Violets, is it about violets or something else?
Thank you for your review on My Friends by Hisham Matar, I just finished it in three days and I loved it very much. I wish there would be a similary narrated book about Iran.
I’m so glad you loved Matar’s novel so much!
This is so fun!!
😊📚
I grabbed about 20 of my books and put them on my desk(in my bedroom). I have to get through those in the next few months.
Tbh that was too much lol. A bit overwhelming to have in my room all at once. Next time I’ll do a little shopping trip like you but I’ll only grab 3 max.
As a variation on this, I'm planning on reading some of the classics I've accumulated over the years. I was surprised to discover the number I've accumulated primarily from library sales.
I loved Vagabonds ❤
That’s great to hear, thanks!
I couldn’t believe that The Nix was a debut novel. It’s well crafted, and the author narrates it with confidence and conviction. Highly recommended.
Great, thanks!
I dnf'd the nix
The Nix is brilliant, as is Nathan Hill's second novel, Wellness.
i dnf'd this book
❤❤🎉❤❤🎉❤❤🎉
Do you sometimes buy books just because they are beautiful? Not knowing anything about it, and still just buy it?
I’ll sometimes be drawn to a book because I like the cover but won’t buy unless I read up on it. 😊
I didn't realise that I need a library ladder 😂
😊📚
Omg. I thought I was bad
Hi Eric, yes, I had the same resolution as yours which is to select books to read this year from my own bookshelf and I found quite a few unread books that have accumulated and finally decided not to purchase any books this year (hopefully)😂. Most of the unread books are non-fiction history and biography books and hopefully I can get to it by end of this year. Nice video Eric and thanks for sharing. ❤😊
Thanks, sounds like you’ve got a good plan!
The book ladder!!! 🪜😍
Edith Holler … Gem just got that for Christmas!! I really want to read Alain Mabanckou’s new novel. I hope you enjoy all of these Eric.
Oh great! I’ll be keen to hear what you think of Edith Holler when you get time for it. And I just saw today that Mabanckou has a new novel.