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.

The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno

The 100 Thing Challenge is my most recent read this weekend. Bruno writes A memoir style book about his effort to try and changes his behaviors. Overwhelmed by the stuff in his house and the realization that he wasn’t practicing what he was preaching about resisting unnecessary consumerism, Bruno hatches the idea of only having 100 personal items.

He quickly explains that the challenge was personal and not meant to be taken on by his family. He lets us know that he put in place rules that made the challenge something he could succeed in and live with for an entire year.

With a bent towards spirituality and the need to focus on relationships instead of things, Bruno has written a fun and quick read.

The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan

I found this book on my local Target shelf and almost lost my mind. The same reaction that my husbands middle school students had when he mentioned that a new Riordan book was out. Somehow this gem escaped the notice of many fans. A fact that Hyperion books should definitely be called out on the carpet for.

Riordan returns to a fast pace of action and teen confusion in this story with a twist. Focused this time on the gods perspective, readers get an insight into Apollo as he is turned into a mortal teenage boy...with acne. Riordan lets us into the thoughts and feelings of the Gods.

Riordan does an excellent job letting us see the pain of the Gods, why they would act arrogantly, and how time can feel differently when 70 years ago feels like only a year or two. He also gets us, and Apollo, thinking about how being a mortal can effect our ability to accomplish tasks with traits such as courage, perseverance, and hope.

Vanishing Act by John Feinstein

While I have never been a fan of sports, a fact that everyone who knows me can believe wholeheartedly, I found this book about the US Tennis Open great! I know nothing about tennis, yet the writing let me learn as I read, letting me into the world of sports while not leaving me completely in the dark. Which is where I typically reside.

This fun mystery is the second in a sports series staring a middle school boy who wants to grow up to be a sports reporter. While adults will need to suspend belief for the idea that two middle schoolers would be interested in print media, let alone know what a newspaper is, children will have no problem getting behind the young writers and their passions. Feinstein writes a great mystery with surprises, interesting characters, and great adventure. Boys and girls will have fun following the male protagonist in his investigation into a missing tennis player.

The Family Fang

This is an amazing book!! This book about a dysfunctional artistic family was a  funny, occasionally dark, and sometimes confusing adventure. This book is probably my favorite contemporary literature piece. There is no way that I can do it justice in a review so google it if you want; but I recommend just going ahead and reading it.

Huckleberry Finn

Yes Huckleberry Finn (one day I'll figure out how to get pictures of book covers on this blog, until then enjoy my attempt at trying to find appropriate non-copyright pictures!)

I figured I better go ahead and write on this book since it is a personal favorite. I have moved a number of times and just recently paired down my 3 copies of Huckleberry Finn to one. I love it that much!

While this has been considered a kids book in the past, it truly is a great work. Humorous and serious all at the same time, you can't beat this book for a literary experience. If you have never dipped your toe in to the writings of Mark Twain feel free to start with this one. Who can resist a book where a character finds moral fortitude with the sentiment "I'll go to hell."

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

I recently fell in love with Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library and Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein. These two fantastic books recently grabbed my attention and sounded like too much fun to pass up. These books are delightfuly fun reads that are kid friendly in language, pacing, and content. Adults will get a kick out of them as well. The references to childhood favorites, and ones you may have missed out on. Will pull you back into your local library for a children's book splurge.

Apps I can't live without

It's a scary year. NO NEW BOOKS! (at least not the hard copy kind). And I had to "get rid" of almost 1/2 my collection! So here are some apps that eased the pain. If you are going through a similar down sizing and money saving effort, I hope this works for you too.

• Goodreads-- This app allows you to rate and track the books that you have read. For readers who love collecting this might be a good substitute. You can start a digital collection rather than hold onto a physical one.
• Nook, iBooks, and Kindle- again, changing from a physical collection to a digital one. I was firmly opposed to digital books when they first came out. How could an electronic replace my treasured books? Then I had to move. The next year I also had to move. The year after that I made my third move. A low weight kindle, or now an app on my iphone, were much easier to move and keep up with.
• Overdrive-- I am lucky that my local library uses overdrive. This way I an check out books digitally and never have to worry about late fines
• Audible-- It allows me to listen to my favorite books while driving and exercising.

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

 

It had barely been three weeks when I was tempted to break my New Year's Resolution to not buy any physical books (digital copies and digital audio don't take up shelf space so were exempt). I was waiting for my husband to catch up with me in a Sam's Club and found a book that I had just been reading about on a blog. The back cover made the book even more appealing and I could NOT imagine walking away without it. 

I did however resist temptation and looked the book up on my library app (Yay public libraries!). It was The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. This book went right along with my need to pair down my 3 bedroom to a 1 bedroom (well 1.5). I loved Kondo's approach to treating tidying as appreciating your belongings, being grateful for what you have, and viewing your items as what you want to keep.

Word of warning--when she says do it all in one day, If you read the follow up Spark Joy you'll discover that she most likely means do each stage in one day. Or, at least, I'm thinking of it this way to help avoid guilt of dragging out the process.

Book Fairs!!

A test of my resolve to spend a year not purchasing a physical book came at a school book fair. As a teacher, especially a English Language and Reading Arts teacher, how could I not buy books and support our book fair? So I came up with a brilliant plan. Pick out one book for the classroom and let the kids vote on one. A teacher's choice and a student choice. Great idea, right! This way I don't add to my personal collection at home and keep from adding too much to my classroom (more on this latter). I picked out a book by my favorite author and the kids chose Would You Rather. While their pick may not make great reading history, I am excited to see some interesting writing spring from our new classroom library addition!

A New Year's Resolution

I love beginning a project; challenging myself to achieve or complete something new. It's the reason why I classify Lent as a season. The chance to grow, to challenge myself in new ways and discover new aspects of myself is exciting and invigorating. And, yes, sometimes I get in over my head.

For the last two years I have been exploring with the idea of "less is more": Less clothing, less items, less calories. So this year, when I returned home from visiting my parents at Christmas and took a look around at my 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment that would need to be packed up and moved to a smaller 2 bedroom 1 bath, I decided it was time to downsize my belongings again.

I entered my 3rd bedroom and began to pack up the yarn, sewing projects, book, when I rediscovered that my large bookshelf was dying a slow death. It had been badly damaged by the last move and was wedged into the corner of the room to be held up by the wall. Any moving would result in it crumpling. Visions of having to cram all of my beloved books into a spouse shared office space with the two small bookshelves I had left set up a challenge I could not resist. It was time. I would cut down on the books I was keeping and not buy any new books in the new year!

This was brilliant. No new physical books. I have an audible account I already pay monthly on, a kindle account, a nook account, and two library overdrive accounts. Surely I can get everything I need digitally. And anything I really want I can get at the end of the year. Any book worth moving for an 8th time (yes, 8 moves in 9 years!) would still be on my shopping list next Christmas.

Two weeks into my project I discovered it was going to be much more difficult than I thought. I also realized that my challenge was similar to those others had take on with their 2016 resolutions. It involved  self-restraint (like dieting) and saving money (hopefully). So I decided to share the experience with anyone that cares to read on. Hopefully my story will encourage you to try new challenges, or at least a few new books.