HALLIE EPHRON: When I posted this picture (it ran in The Boston Globe as an example of great design) on Facebook and asked "What's wrong with this picture?" the response was instantaneous. Before I tell you, take a minute and have a look. Imagine the book-loving homeowner that this was designed for.Do you see the problem?
As one person said, "Um, spines, hello, what were they thinking?"
My husband: "That's exceedingly stupid."
Nancy Cole Silverman: "Obviously designed by a designer who doesn't read."
Bruce Coffin: "Maybe it's for page lovers."
Karen in Ohio: "Mystery books!"
My friend Ron: "How spineless!"
Clever Girl Organizing Kathy Vines chimed in with, "No - this is a thing. Reversing books." Kathy adds, "As a professional organizer, I was already wild with 'organizing your books by color.' Insane."
When a commenter asked, "How do you find a book," Kathy was quick the answer. "You don't."
Which got me thinking about how much you can tell about a person from their bookshelves... or lack of them. To that end I've posted some bookshelves from our house. Can you tell which shelves are my books and which are his?
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What do your bookshelves say about you?
My bookshelves say I need more bookshelves . . . .
ReplyDeleteMy books are not in alphabetical [or any other type of] order . . . .
Many of my books are space science, mysteries, or science fiction . . . .
There are many children’s books . . . .
Sounds like my kind of bookshelves...
DeleteMine say that I've been giving away books I loved but know I'll never re-read - and that I still need more bookshelves. That I cherish books by friends. And that I like to have my reference books in paper form - books on writing, on crime writing (poisons, forensics, autopsis), on history, plus dictionaries. I shelve by subject matter and then by author but not alphabetically.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting that choice about how to shelve them. My mystery novels by author. Jerry's MANY books by topic.
DeleteMy shelves would say that I have too many books first of all.
ReplyDeleteBut they also say I pretty much read only mysteries and thrillers with a few science fiction books as well.
The shelves in the living room say pretty much the same thing but adds in commentary that my parents had diverse interests as well. There's a number of history, romance and home improvement books there.
If you're quarantined, lots to choose from!
DeleteMy bookshelves would say that I have a serious book addiction!
ReplyDeleteAnd then, my mystery fiction books are shelved all in alphabetical order by author/title, and organized by hardcover, trade paperbacks and mass market paperbacks. I suppose that show I am pretty anal by nature!
But my cookbooks and work-related technical books are organized by subject.
That's how I think about grouping books. For years I helped our library's used bookstore and that's how they organized them, too.
DeleteI think we're going to have a lot of time over next little bit to study and organize our bookshelves. Mine are not in any order, but I could probably find a title easily enough if you asked!
ReplyDeletehope everyone is doing ok out there--I'm finding it almost impossible to concentrate! xoxo
agreed - very hard to concentrate, despite so much time due to cancellations, etc. Working from home is great (no commute) but hard to turn my mind to all the things I could (should) be doing (like tidying the basement: ugh).
DeleteWe've been providing a couple of hours of "school" via Facetime for our grandkids. Definitely a nice way to fill the time.
DeleteOh, Hallie, your daughters will call you a blessing. I was saying to the Smithie the one thing I'm MOST grateful for right now is that I'm not stuck at home with young children!
DeleteLike Joan and Edith, mine say I need more bookshelves.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, they say I have quite a collection and I especially like old books (which is not technically me, that's The Hubby).
Your husband and mine: soulmates
DeleteI have too many books I'll never read again (Moby Dick from junior year of high school is my trophy book). It's time for serious weeding.
ReplyDeleteTrophy book?? Did you win it or get a prize for reading it?
DeleteNo, we endured a "teaching experiment" with a dreary workbook and daily essays as we moved, in lockstep, through each chapter.
DeleteMy bookshelves say that I like to read a variety of genres, including mysteries and food writing, that I shelve by subject but not in alpha order, and the top shelf says I really love a small selection of children's books that I still re-read today (about horses, ballet, nursing, and families). My house is small, so more shelves are not an option; periodic culling helps move not-loved books on and out to new homes.
ReplyDeletePeriodic culling: I do it all the time. My husband, NEVER aaaarrrrgggh
DeleteMy shelves say I have more books than shelf space, but that doesn't stop me from adding books! They are loosely organized by genre and author. I do pass on books to family and friends and to the library for their book sale room when I cull out those books I don't love enough to keep. A good friend and I had a great discussion about what we're reading last night--good way to take our minds off the current pandemic.
ReplyDeleteAnd the last thing I want to read right now is anything about pandemics.
DeleteThe first thing I saw in your picture is that the shelves are not full contrary to mine.
ReplyDeleteMy bookshelves tell that I love words as I have many kinds of dictionaries. They tell who are my favourite authors . They are not methodically organized but placed by batch of favourites authors, favorites mysteries or favourites historical novels and then other kinds like cooking, biography, songs and various use books.
They ask for sisters and brothers shelves to relieve them a little but I have no more place
Wondering what your definition of "full" is?!
DeleteFull is when there are no empty spaces like I see in the first picture.
DeleteFull is more like the pictures of your own shelves.
And I was completely nonplussed by that decorating trend! Just about as dumb as sorting books by color! Or using shelves to hold a carefully edited display of stuff--books aren't 'stuff'; books are as necessary as air!
ReplyDeleteReally... it's people who think books are like wallpaper.
DeleteWhat struck me about the backward books was that there was a room on the other side and one could easily see the titles! But I am pretty sure that was not the case so my only comment would be "stupid."
ReplyDeleteIn my house every room (except one of the bathrooms) has shelves of books. As far as organizing goes, the cookbooks are mostly in the same spot as are children's books. Again, mostly. Otherwise books by the same author are grouped together but that's about as far as it goes.
For several years before she died my mother would have me order books for her and then she would pass them on to me. Then I would tell her about similar books and she'd say,"okay, let's try that one." Since she read a lot faster than I did I wound up with many, many books. I'm slowly trying to figure out what to do with a lot of them - I don't want to get rid of them if I haven't read them - don't want to pass up any gems. After all. that was how I learned about Julia and Rhys - my mother loved them first!
A room on the other side! Anyone go to Jefferson's home and see the bed that you can climb out of in one room or another?
DeleteWhen we were selling our old house we had it staged (out of desperation, since our own decor was not doing the job). That house has tons of built-in bookshelves, which is why it attracted me 35 years ago, but the stagers used the shelves mostly for brick-a-brack, and for backwards books. Every time I walked into that house it bugged me to see those blah beige books on the shelves.
ReplyDeleteOur bookshelves are already bulging, but there are at least forty boxes in the basement, still unpacked. We not only had all my books at home, but we also had those from Steve's office: some of the same titles on birds as Jerry's, I suspect, plus loads more. We sold some to a book dealer before we tore down the old house, and donated a lot more, but there are still hundreds of them left. Eventually they will all get shelved when we finish the basement as a family room area.
So basically, our bookshelves say "book hoarders live here". But we've got nothin' on Karl Lagerfeld. Google "Karl Lagerfeld Paris library", and see his amazing, sideways stored, shelves of thousands of books.
Going to check it out now.
DeleteKaren, a word of warning. Boxes of books in the basement can attract damp and mould. (Grrr...) Something to keep a nose out for.
DeleteThanks, Susan. This is a brand-new, super dry basement, but your warning is well taken!
DeleteA few years ago I did a serious culling, most books going to the library, but that box of Agatha
ReplyDeleteChristie that I'd had since the 70's went out on the curb. They were falling apart, glue long gone, pages yellowed, and unreadable.
Since then I've limited myself to signed 1st editions, signed ARCs, half a dozen cook books -- which I rarely use -- and a beloved shelf of a few books from my childhood, plus the requisite bibles, prayer books, catechisms, et al, and my father's copy of KNIGHT'S MODERN SEAMANSHIP, 1939 ed.
Julie has bookshelves in every room. She can't bear to part with anything, but my current reading is all on my Kindle. I just checked, and there are 2235 books there, which includes a couple of dozen samples that I haven't decided on yet.
Prior to the onslaught of e books, I went to the bookstore maybe once a month, and I bought four books. One a week. I rarely used the library because I hated the two week limit. How silly. Except for WAR AND PEACE, I've never spent more than two weeks reading a book.
My arthritic hands and tired eyes do best with an e book. If I want a recipe, a word definitions, a fact, or a quote, I google it.
We do have an OED, the microscopic version, two volumes. I can't remember the last time I tried to lift it off the shelf.
Ann's comment made me realize a reason for the crime fiction I save... beccause when I put together workshops I'm always looking for excellent examples of whatever (suspense, action, character intro, ...) and I have my very favorite examples within reaching distance.
ReplyDeleteExactly. And that's why I have your books and those of most of the Reds, plus Kate Flora and Louise Penny, close at hand. When I want to remind myself of a great opening line, a great chapter ending, all I have to do is open a book or two.
DeleteMine say, quick, someone call an organizer to help this woman out! My books are double shelved the TBR stacked sideways in front and the books I'm saving to donate to the library sale on stacked on top of the double shelved books. I do keep all my autographed books together, and all of my writing craft books are on a separate bookcase. I used to keep all of my books in alpha order by author, but the constant making space moves wore me down.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Hallie, your husband and mine could have been separated at birth, but my husband's books tend toward computers, math, and electronics.
I love your bookshelves, and your husband's, too! Like everybody else, my bookshelves, dresser tops, closet shelves, and nightstand scream of the need for more bookshelves. Mine also need a good "pruning," since some of them haven't been trimmed back since I moved in six years ago, and I have acquired more treasures since then. In fact, when Amazon announced that it would prioritize shipments of "essentials" my first thought was, "No books?"
ReplyDeleteMay I ask what kind of monster came up with that all taupe/no spines decor idea? That just screams "empty soul" to me. Also, those shelves have far too much space on them.
Gigi, I agree.
DeleteGigi, that's the one thing that drives me nuts when seeing artfully arranged book cases in home design magazines or shows. Sure, it looks great, but who has a book case with only 25 books on it?
DeleteMarie Kondo? Didn't she say "only thirty" or some such absurdity?
DeleteHa ha ha...
DeleteI have promised my husband that I'll get rid of the books in the basement.
ReplyDeleteNow is the time to go through them and also the ones on the shelves. I am very anxious about doing that because every book that I enjoyed is one I want to keep. Also, some were my mother's and I have a hard time letting go of anything that was hers. She died when I was 18.
Then, there's that shelf of the entire works of Charles Dickens that I bought when I belonged to a book club. It looks very neat, but I've only read about 4 of them and there are at least 30. They really need a better home. Complete works of Dickens anyone? Anyone?
Then there are the books in the bottom of my closet. The complete works of Deborah Crombie (keeping those, I'll read them again, for sure). Three different editions of the Lord of the Rings. OMG
Stay well everyone.
I have several different Complete Works of Shakespeare but, hey, different scholarly footnotes, right?
DeleteJudy, read some of those Dickens novels! This is the time to do it!
DeleteHe loves collecting books, can't get rid of anything, and has no interest in organizing anything.
ReplyDeleteThat's me. LOL.
DeleteMine say I have way more books than I can possibly read in my lifetime, but that I have gotten better at giving away some books I’ve finished reading.
ReplyDeleteBut my bookshelves are mistaken— many of those books I gave away are now in my Kindke!
Kindle
DeleteI think the coronavirus is going to test that "more than I can read in my lifetime" theory. Assuming we all stay healthy, we may be doing a lot more reading than we ever expected to.
DeleteHallie, Finally connected to the Internet! I am late to the party again!
ReplyDeleteWhat would by bookshelves say about me? That I love Winnie the Pooh and Beatrix Potter stories. Anne of Green Gables stories. Coffee table books about the British Royal Family. Books by Michelle Obama and Barack (sp?) Obama. History novels by Lady Antonia Fraser, David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Studs Terkel and my History professors at Berkeley. Historical Fiction by Jean Plaidy. Many cozy mysteries. Novels by all of the Jungle Reds. Coffee table book about Japan by the late Earl of Spencer (father of Princess Diana). Novels by Alexander McCall Smith. Maisie Dobbs novels by Jacqueline Winspear. Nantucket mysteries by Stephanie Barron / Francine Matthews. Classics by P.D. Wodehouse, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jane Austen, among others.
Perhaps the word is "variety of tastes" ?
Diana
My bookcases will not say anything if they know what's good for them! My bedroom bookcases are mainly a mishmash of fiction grouped by author but not arranged in any other fashion. One shelf holds REALLY OLD BOOKS of all kinds. One small section is Texas history. Another shelf holds a small groups of Great War nonfiction. Frank has a bunch of books in the hallway bookshelves: WW2, Civil War, fiction, dictionaries, Spanish grammar, all sorts of stuff. The staircase landing has small bookcase with children's books, mainly mine. Downstairs is a variety: cookbooks, classics, nonfiction, fiction. It is a melting pot since no one claims that section as his/her very own.I have a bookcase in the kitchen by my desk that holds nature and paleontology books I referred to when I was a volunteer at the museum. And there are more bookcases upstairs in the other bedrooms: I don't wander in there often so I'm not sure I remember what's there. A book purge may be in the near future.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! And we are making this our project--organizing the bookshelves. HOW should we do it? Genre, then author? Just book title? Hmmmm.... Just author? alpha by last name??
ReplyDeleteHow do I organize shelves? I organize them by size.
DeleteYou know what's really weird? I'm the person who shelves books into their correct places in bookstores and libraries if I happen to see them out of order - but not a single book case in my house is arranged alphabetically.
ReplyDeleteInstead, I tend to have book case by type and genre: one for hardcover crime fiction, one for trade paper and ARCs, one for non fiction, one for reference. Upstairs, there are two for paperbacks, one for Ross's books I wanted to keep, two or three in each kids room with their books and of course, my bedside shelves with (part of) my TBR.
However, the largest wall of books in what we call The Library is all hardcover fiction of various types, and it's arranged by color! And I love it. Come at me, bro.
Julia, my lovely interior designer friend got a wild hair one day and arranged the books in my kitchen cookbook shelves by color instead of author or category. I still haven't recovered from it! I can't find anything and I've never manage to recreate my original system...
DeleteFriends have told their children, "Now this is not the library. It is actually Mary's home." My realtor altered the floor plan "to give you more room for bookshelves." Even so, I've been using the library more, as I'm out of space, plus they can find specific titles far more efficiently. Library is closed now until April, so I may work on some of the books I own . . . that TBR mountain won't read itself.
ReplyDeleteMy bookshelves say welcome to the library. That's what my granddaughters call all my shelves of books, Grammy's Library. And, because I have children's and young adult books, too, they used to play at checking out books. There's a kit you can get with library cards and such to do this. They've gotten past that now, but my daughter still asks me if I've got a certain book the younger one has mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI have three large sets of built-in bookcases, one stand-alone bookcase with glass doors, several small moveable cases (one in the form of a rolling library-like cart), a couple of copper tubs, and baskets, oh the baskets. I've recently weeded out some, two large boxes full, but that was just a small dent. I'm working on more. And, there's what I call the paraphernalia of my reading addiction, with the cute Edgar Allan Poe Funko Pop figure and various treasured swag (like the adorable VW van toy from Jim Ziskin). I guess you could say that someone coming into my home would easily assess that my life is an open book.
Kathy, I love the idea of having a "library" for my granddaughter with cards and maybe stamps. I have shelves of children's and young adult books. What fun!
DeleteIf you click on Bibliophile, it will take you to my blog. I just wrote a post today.
ReplyDeleteSince I was a child, I've filed my books by genre, authors' last name and publishing order. Most of the books I have date from childhood or early adulthood. Now I mostly give my books to the library except if they have good recipes.
ReplyDeleteI was doing more cleaning than usual because of the stay-at-home until I started feeling punished. I will still clean but it's hard enough being forced to be home alone (normally I like being home) that I want to do fun things, too. My friend said I'm getting cabin fever but that's not it. Looking at the garden and going out on nice days takes care of that. It's the loss of personal contact. So glad for Facebook, e-mails, texts, and phone calls.
As a former librarian, our bookshelves are a disgrace. But since almost none of the books are mine - I don't keep very many books - it's on him, the book hoarder! LOL.
ReplyDeleteThere are bookcases in every room of the house except the dining room and kitchen,(no space for one) and for a librarian, they are all kind of disorganized. (I hear ya, Jenn!) I would never never post a picture- it would be embarrassing. But they are in loose categories and I more or less know how to find anything. Except when I forget I "loaned" or gave away something I was sure I had. Grand cleanup planned ( by me anyway) when husband retires next year. If it has not been opened in a decade it goes. A plan, right?
ReplyDelete