100 Books Challenge

Libraries are Awesome! And how I dealt with the trauma of getting rid of my books.

In 20016 my goal was to STOP adding to my insane book collection. With the help of the local library (thank you so much for having Overdrive and book requests) and a subscription to Audible I was actually quite successful (in my own opinion, my husband however...) I, like many, live in a small apartment in a city. I'm lucky. My "small" apartment is quite roomy especially compared to larger cities like New York or Tokyo. So this lent, I wondered if I could get down to 100 books.

And....... I didn't. I have discovered that one small 3 shelf bookshelf can easily hold 100 books. Especially if you collect children's literature or have slim books on crochet patterns. I have two such book shelves.

What I have learned is that contemplating the items that you cling to often requires facing the feelings behind them. I had to invest in my own feelings and emotions to narrow down my book collection. It took YEARS to create it and wasn't going without some hard work. Luckily I have been working on pairing down for quite a while.

I moved over 1000 miles a few years ago and space on the moving truck was limited. Essentials, like a bed, had to come first. There was my first heartbreak. About two years ago I had to move to a smaller apartment. My little library I made out of the extra bedroom wasn't going to be available anymore. I had already left books in storage in my home state, far away from me, for over 3 years. I had to start getting serious. After my move all the books still didn't fit on the bookshelves I had (one of my bookshelves broke apart during the move) So I bought more. And I still didn't have space. So... the 100 book challenge!

Even with my reduced collection in my smaller apartment I found quite a few books in my home. Books that filled me with nostalgia. Books I collected because I was going to do my masters in Children's Literature or Library Science. Which then turned into books I kept and continued to collect because I was going to be a teacher and needed a great library. Books on crafts I was going to do "some day." Books that were given to me by loved ones.

The good part. Turns out most of the books I love are available at the library, as ebooks, or as audiobooks. Overdrive, Kindle, Nook, and Audible are my friend. Now, I agree with people who say that a physical book is hard to replace. The smell and feel of a real book are awesome. But they are heavy to move and take up a lot of space when you have over 1000 of them (more like 2000 when I made my 1000+ mile move, but what's in a number?).

There are, of course, a few books I can't replace. They're too old, too sentimental, too rare, or just too precious. Currently, thats about 95 books. And about another 100 that I'm willing to replace electronically one day. And yes, I check before I get rid of a book how hard it would be to replace it. Reading is my hobby and books are my obsession. And 100 may not be a real number for me to reach. I'm okay with that.