We had a wall repaired in our living room and then the walls repainted so we needed to move our two tall book shelves out so the painter could paint. One evening it took about thirty minutes or so to transfer the books into boxes and moved the shelves out of the way. We were amazed at how many books were on those two book shelves. Both my husband and I love books so we’ve collected a few over the years, although I borrow many books from the library, especially the books I read for book club.
Now that the wall is repaired and room has been painted we put the book shelves back in place, but we are finding that it is taking a lot longer to put the books back on the shelves. We handle each book lovingly, remembering where it came from and what it was about etc…and then we determine if it really is going to go back on the bookshelf or in the box to donate to the annual Hospital Auxiliary Sale which happens to take place every April in our town (great timing!!!) It is not easy to part with books. They become our friends and we have emotional attachments to them and we think maybe we’ll reread them again someday, which rarely happens. So we are taking our time and enjoying the process while thinning out our books.
I will keep all the children’s books though. I am particularly fond of children’s books…and not all of them are on these two shelves…I have a box-full in the closet …but I’m not telling anyone about that!
Now that I’m a grandma, I’m glad I kept some of my kids’ books to read to my granddaughter.
I always love seeing a lot of books in a house. Yours are showcased in a lovely way on those shelves.
Reading to my little boys when they were young is a favorite memory for me, as I’m sure reading to your young children was for you. And now we get to do it again with our grandchildren.