I'm a book dragon. I need help. I am now going through all the bookshelves to get the unwanted out and make space for new books. I only have so much space. This was overdue.
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Today you're reading what'll be a lot of work. I went through all the shelves one by one. I took out what I had doubts about and put it in two categories. One stack of books is the donate pile (which I did all at once). The other stack was what I gave a second chance to.
The second chance pile will be addressed later in this post and given a star (1-5) review. Whatever stays will prove itself. The rest of it goes in the donation stack. Some shelves did not change and won't change because they are my Nancy Drew collection or didn't have any books leave the shelf.
The Process
This took some time. I started with my bedroom bookshelves, then made my way into the living room bookshelves. Many of these shelves won't change much. I'm working from the most chaotic to the least chaotic shelves. I began by going to every shelf and picking out what I immediately knew was a donation pile book. This meant outdated reference books, textbooks I'd never use, duplicates, and anything else that just had to go. It was mostly outdated reference books and duplicates. I did this on all shelves to get the obvious "donate me" books out of the way.
From there, I went shelf-by-shelf finding the "second chance" books. I tested them by the standards I set, then decided if they stayed or left. I got through with this process before December hit, which was something I was happy with.
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Second Chance Pile
The whole idea of the second chance pile is giving books that might be good a chance to prove they belong on the shelf. It sounds like I'm making them battle when I say that, but I don't want to miss a good book. Below I have listed the rules for the second chance pile.
Rules for second chance pile:
1. It has to prove it is readable/worth reading in five chapters.
2. If it is DNFed or less than three stars it goes into the donation pile.
3. Only books that I am on the fence about or have serious doubts about reading go in this pile. If I won't read it or reference it, it is donated.
The Fate of The Second Chance Pile
Here we have the fate of the books on the second chance pile. I'll list the book and author with either a star rating or a DNF. I will put my reasons for the DNF beside those books. This process took the longest because life happened and I didn't have all the time in the world to read through. Fortunately, a lot of time was saved by going with my gut instinct to weed out what I clearly wouldn't like.
-DNFs-
The works of Doyle by Authur Conan Doyle - Grating writing style
On Thin Ice by Linda Hall - Lost interest in the plot
Dangerous Secrets by Lyn Cote - It rubbed me the wrong way within one chapter
Reasonable Doubt by Tracey V. Bateman - I was still not totally into it five chapters in
The Secret Marriage of Sherlock Holmes and Other Eccentric Readings - It wasn't the actual Holmes stories
A Million Ways To Die In the West by Seth MacFlarlane - The humor wasn't for me
Reader's Digest Condensed Books Vol 4 1996, Vol 4 1993, Vol 1 1997 - They are condensed, not full novels
Divine Love Song by Elizabeth Mulloy - I wasn't interested enough to keep going
Crazy Love by Francis Chan - Not interested enough to continue
White Dessert by Loren D. Estleman - No interest within the first chapter
Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews - got bored within two chapters
Raven Threads by K. D. McCrite - Not compelled to read further than five chapters
Sundays In Fredericksburg by Various authors - Not Compelled to read further than five chapters
Why her? by Nicki Koziarz - Lost interest by chapter four
At Home In Mitford by Jan Karon - On CD, can't play on laptop
An Island At War by Deborah Carr - Genre was too dark for me, not sure I wanted to continue
The White Rose Resists by Amanda Barratt - Genre was too dark for me, couldn't sit with distressing emotions
The Last Bookshop In London by Madeline Martin - I was not invested in the story or the main character
Sherlock Holmes and the Egyptian Hall Adventure by Val Andrews - Not invested in the story or compelled to keep reading
Murder Among us by Ann Granger - Not compelling enough, didn't care even after the murder plot was revealed
The Defense Never Rests by F. Lee Bailey - Not my genre, a biography and not a mystery novel
First The Dead by Tim Downs - Not my thing, didn't connect to the main character
Broken Angel by Sigmund Brouwer - Torture by chapter two, too much
-Star Ratings-
Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter- 4 stars, but had to throw out because it was missing pages
Mountain Peril by Sandra Robbins - 4 stars
The Good Neighbor by Sharon Mignerey - 4.5 stars (would definitely recommend)
The Elementary Cases of Sherlock Holmes by Ian Charnock - 4 stars (not light reading)
Soul Tattoo by Samuel Kee - 4 stars (excellent faith book)
Storm Front by John Sandford - 3.75 stars
In the company of sherlock holmes by various authors - keeping it, no star rating due to amount of actual short stories in it
Donna Parker Special Agent by Marcia Martin - 4 stars, excellent light reading
Hearts of Fire - 5 Stars, not light reading
Ghosts in Baker Street by multiple authors - 5 stars, a fun collection
Are you Afraid of the dark? by Sidney Sheldon - 5 stars, an amazing thriller with perfect pace
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Conclusion
Well, I'm done, and I still have a problem. I still lack space on my bookshelves. I found space, yes, but that filled back up before I even finished the second chance pile. I'll always have this problem. It's a luxury to have this problem, really. Let's be real. But it does make me consider an e-reader.
For all those in small apartments, you understand. It might be a good idea for all of us to go through every few years and pick out a second chance pile. Your second chance pile could be what you never feel like picking up or something you heard bad reviews of, but regardless many book dragons should consider trying it. You'll find books you love in the process. You might even learn your taste in books is not what you expected.
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Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him?
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