Polaroid Photo

Mon
16
Jul '07

Books.

I finished painting the largest wall of the dining room Venetian Red. We’ve moved the bookshelves back into place and have begun the process of unpacking books. It is quite clear that we have more books than we have space. We’re discussing were the additional shelves will go–clearly, we can’t get rid of any of these books. Don’t even suggest it.

13 Comments »

  • momk

    Venetian Red should make a very pretty picture (hint-hint)!

  • http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com Mary Robinette Kowal

    Yes, but I get tired of posting pictures of boxes, so you’ll have to wait for a bit until the room is put together. I still have to paint the other side of the room.

  • http://chang3002.livejournal.com Chang

    HEHEHEHEHEHEH.

    I must admit you sounded awfully confident at Readercon about your book winnowing skills. :)

    Looks like there will be some more winnowing in the city. Remember, hold the book in your hand and say, “Will I ever read this again?” :)

    good luck!

  • http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com Mary Robinette Kowal

    Go ahead and mock me. See, this is the problem. All of the books we brought are ones to which I would answer “yes.”

    Sigh…all of the boxes of books fit on the shelves, but they take up more space when they are shelved properly.

  • http://chang3002.livejournal.com Chang

    Aw, gee. If it makes you feel any better, I schlepped 9 boxes of books in my truck out to my folks summer house, intending to make it into some sort of reader’s dream. Good thing I covered them with tarps because it rained like a beast all Sunday. I just got them into the house and then went to go sit and look at the rain on the lake.

    How about shelves in the bathroom? Kitchen? Bedroom? Closet? Front hall? Car? Ceiling?

  • http://www.aletheakontis.com Alethea

    Just remember what happened the last time *I* held a book in my hands and told myself I was never going to read it.

    Keep all your books. I approve. :)

  • http://www.journalscape.com/maggie Maggie

    Anyone who tells you to get rid of books just doesn’t understand ;) . I speak from experience.

  • Fabulous Girl

    Or hasn’t moved to an apartment in NYC recently.

    The question is not, will I ever read this again? The question is, if I want to read this again, will I be able to find another copy in a reasonable period of time?

    I’m just saying.

  • http://cscole.livejournal.com/ CS Cole

    Get rid of books? No WAY! Did I mention I’ve got my own grade-school books? Seriously.

    I’d stack and shape them into furniture I don’t have yet first. Need shelving? I’d make them out of the books themselves before a book would leave my ownership; not that I have done this as of yet but it may come into play in the not so distant future and stylish decor be damned if only temporarily.

  • SamA

    Perhaps a new stacking system is called for?

  • fabulousgirl

    I understand that passing books along to their next owner is a bit of a mental hurdle, but it is so liberating to de-stuff, and books are among the few prized possessions that are actually replaceable…

    I’m just saying.

  • http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com Mary Robinette Kowal

    Oh we have the space for the books, just not the shelves. There are two spots to put another bookcase, so we’re shopping for one. I think we only need one more.

    Ironically, the ones that we left in Portland would be perfect, but they got missed when we were swapping trucks.

    Fabgirl: I think you are forgetting how many old books I own. Only a small percentage of the books we brought are still in print.

  • Fabulous Girl

    And I fully support keeping those no longer in print – I was speaking more to the “books must be kept above all things” sentiments expressed by others. =)

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