Background
A few months ago, I realized I have maxed out the space I have for books in my apartment. Thankfully, I carefully select which books I buy. So, this isn’t a serious problem quite yet…but I already have a little stack of books living on my printer and I can think of four titles in the next few months that I’ll want to purchase.
This crunch on space prompted me to take a closer look at the books taking up valuable shelf space. I took six books to a used bookshop (which accepted five of them! I think that’s a record for me). Some books I considered and wasn’t able to make an immediate decision about whether they should stay or go. I decided these books need to be re-read. Not because I adored them and want to enjoy them again, but because it’s been a long time since I read them and I’m not sure I’ll love them as much as I did when I first read them.
The Books
I identified five titles that I haven’t read in at least four years. My goal is to re-read and re-evaluate them over the first half of 2020. Links to my reviews where applicable. (Please take said reviews with a grain of salt. Some were written over eight years ago.)
- The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera (read in March 2011) – When I was younger, I had never read anything like this. Now I wonder whether the prose will still impress me, or if the plot will frustrate me…
- Wild by Jay Griffiths (read in January 2011) – I read this ages ago during my first year at university. Absolutely loved it then, but now I’m more concerned about non-#ownvoices descriptions of Indigenous people, particularly by White women who go on a journeys to heal themselves…
- A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson (read in 2010?) – I suspect this was a charming read but perhaps not charming enough to stay on the shelf.
- The Dodecahedron by Paul Glennon (read in April 2012) – An unusual concept novel by a Canadian author, but is it something I’ll ever really want to reread?
- Pretty Is by Maggie Mitchell (read in May 2012) – I received an ARC and was keen on it at time, so I bought a copy to show support, but again – not sure it has reread value.
Let’s Chat
- I suspect I acquire (by purchase or by gift) no more than 15 books a year. Do you consider yourself a frequent purchaser of books?
- Since I began blogging, I’ve neglected rereading. I think that’s a common experience of book bloggers. How often do you reread books you’ve purchased?
- I might be less picky about keeping books if I had more space! Are your shelves feeling a squeeze?
- My criteria for whether a book stays on the shelf relies heavily on whether I think it will be worth rereading in five, ten, 20 years. How do you decide whether to purchase/keep a book?
- In addition to this list, there are books I own and love that deserve a reread. What books on your shelf might be due for a reread?
Have you written about this subject before? Drop a link in the comments so I can check it out.
GAHHHH I did a sweep of my shelves a few years ago. It was satisfying to revisit old favorites and also give many books… the boot! I realized I don’t re-read often and I have to really, really, really love it to do so. And you’re right, those are the books to buy. So maybe 1 or 2 a year? It’s quite sobering to me but my shelves are appreciative. 😉
Oof, it is true that I don’t re-read often…if only I had an extra hour in each day! It sounds like you’ve got a good handle on acquiring books, though. I shall aspire to be like you 😛
I essentially never re-read books, which is part of why I give away most books after I’ve read them; rarely purchase books unless I can get them signed by the author; and mostly own books I’ve not yet read. However, I do keep books I really love, in part because I like my shelves to represent who I am to people who see them. I’d also like to do more re-reading, since I think I could be more thoughtful about a book on a re-read. I have a hard time imagining doing what you’re doing here though and focusing on the books I think I’m most likely to not like again. I have a hard time even re-reading books I expect to love on a second visit.
Ah, that’s the opposite approach to me – I rarely buy a book I haven’t read first! Usually, it’s only books by my favourite authors that I will purchase before reading. I can see how that is a good strategy, though. That’s a great point about shelves representing who you are. I often wonder what people would think if they saw the books on my shelves. With these books, I read them so long ago, a reread will almost be like a first read again – maybe I will be pleasantly surprised and fall in love some of the titles again 😛 (Although I expect I’ll be more likely to DNF within a few chapters and be able to clear them out quickly, lol).
I very infrequently buy books but when I do it tends to be ones I discover in the store that I haven’t read. As to your second question I think I’m a bit unusual in that I almost never reread. And partly because I don’t buy many books I don’t have shelf issues (I only have a couple shelves on my wall for books at home, no bookshelves!) but with the past couple years living in temporary spaces, I’m always a little concerned about how I’m gonna move this stuff once I leave!
I love hearing everyone’s different approaches to purchasing books. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who doesn’t buy a lot. On Twitter and some blogs I follow, it feels like people are constantly acquiring books… I feel you re: temporary spaces. I’ve only moved all my books once, and it wasn’t toooo bad, but I don’t like to think about doing it again, lol.