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Booking Through Thursday—Storage

February 19, 2009 by Darlene

This week’s question from Booking Through Thursday is…

“How do you arrange your books on your shelves? Is it by author, by genre, or you just put it where it falls on?”


Right now I’m perfectly embarrassed by my bookshelves and all the other various places I’m stacking up books. As you can see in the pictures my big bookshelf is loaded to the hilt. I’m actually scared that the shelves may break. I have books stacked in behind 3 rows back. Next is my nightstand which also has books stacked a few rows back. Then theres’s this little stool I put in my room also to hold ARC’s and it keeps growing—oh, there’s a few library books on there too.













I have no more room. I’m going to clean off some other shelves I have downstairs soon and start piling them in there. The worst thing is that there is no particular order to any of these books except maybe the ARC’s. The rest are a mess. I know I keep talking about organizing my shelves but haven’t gotten around to it. I’d like to put them in order of genres and alphabetically by author. Right now if I need to find something it turns into a full-fledged task by the time I pull everything off the shelf, find what I want, and then put it all back. As a side note, Buddy hates when I do this. As soon as the books start flying, he takes his little paws and runs. lol.

So, there you have it. I’m very disorganized when it comes to my books. How about you? Do you put me to shame by having nice, neat and organized shelves or are you like me—-let them fall where they may…

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Comments

  1. bermudaonion says

    February 19, 2009 at 8:39 pm

    Your post has made me feel so good about my stacks of books. Buddy sounds so adorable!

  2. Susan Helene Gottfried says

    February 19, 2009 at 8:39 pm

    I have a sort-of system, but since my shelves look a lot like yours… I mean, with this many books, what’s the point?

    This is why I like to trade as many as possible away. Move along, little dogie!

  3. Ti says

    February 19, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    Oh my.. that is a lot of books. I love the pics though. A true reader for sure.

    Hey.. I love the blog template change. I visit the Cutest Blog on the Block but I was worried about it conflicting with the three column format. Did you have issues? Problems?

  4. Dar says

    February 19, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    Kathy, I meant to stick a cute pic of Buddy in there too and forgot. I’ll have to post it tomorrow.

    Susan, I’m with you. I’d need wall to wall shelves in order to stay somewhat organized. lol.

    Ti, I didn’t have any trouble at all changing the format. They have ones for 3 column templates and all you do is copy the script to a html/java script gadget. Easy peasy. Then I just adjusted my colors to what I wanted.

  5. Alyce says

    February 19, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    Wow! That’s awesome that you have so many books! I would love to get another bookcase, but my husband says he’s worried about all of the weight on the flooring since they’re on the second floor of our house. That and he’s a librarian – he told me that he wakes up in the morning and feels like he’s been sleeping at work because there are books all around. 🙂

    Good luck with your organizing!

  6. Jo-Jo says

    February 19, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    Oh my goodness…that just made me laugh. I love it! Your shelves do look like they are sagging a bit. I also love the new look. I’ve been thinking about changing mine but I’m afraid I will screw it all up! lol

  7. Ladytink_534 says

    February 19, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    I swear I’m not a neat freak- just nosy! I would love to sit down and organize all your books for you lol. From the titkes I can seem it looks like you have some great ones! I’m not exactly organized myself but they are neatly put on the shelves and I do know where everything is… well almost everything.

    Love the new look!

  8. Smilingsal says

    February 19, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    That’s a huge pile of ARCs. I’d be overwhelmed about the time to read them to make the schedule. Here’s my answer:
    http://bookcritiques.blogspot.com/2009/02/booking-through-thursday-storage.html

  9. Jenn says

    February 19, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    Yowsa! You do have quite a bit of books! I have two bookshelves devoted to horror–those I just reorganized in alpha order. I do have some double stacking because I’m running out of space on those shelves. I have a third bookshelf in my living room, it’s mostly popular fiction. Then I have a long bookshelf with three shelves in the office. Another mix of general/popular fiction. My bookshelf in my room has mainly classics (I’ve added Harry Potter to this category).

    I like your new blog format as well…I’m going to have to check out the site you used. I’m ready for a change!

  10. Lenore says

    February 19, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    Wow – your bookshelf does look like it is going to buckle pretty soon!

  11. Sandy Nawrot says

    February 19, 2009 at 9:58 pm

    Dar! OMG. That is crazy (but in a good way!). I have no rhyme or reason to my organization either, except “read” and “not read”. Every few months, I try to purge to make more room, but I have a hard time letting go!

  12. Red lady-Bonnie says

    February 19, 2009 at 10:09 pm

    Dar, I can totally relate…your bookshelf looks a lot like mine!! I have a lot of books as well and desperately need another bookcase.
    My only organization is that I keep books that are keepers on one shelf. My husband has commented about the weight of the bookcase as it is on the second floor. I think that we both need a bookfairy to come in and magically organize our books for us and gift us with more bookcases!! I love your new blog look!

  13. naida says

    February 19, 2009 at 10:15 pm

    dont be embarrassed dar, I try to keep mine organized by author and genre, but it doesnt always work out that way. lol. I have a big box in my closet full of books, some by my nightstand, some by the puter….etc….etc.
    awwww…buddy is too cute!
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

  14. Marvin D. Wilson says

    February 19, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    Now those are some monumental STACKS of books! Good grief. Hey – scan them and store them in e-files on a hard drive? Rent a storage garage? LOL

    I’m totally disorganized with my books. Latest arrivals on top, that’s about it.

  15. Ms. Lucy says

    February 19, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    Oh dear…my bookshelves are horrible and the basement is even worse. BUT- I do love fooling myself…You see, my laptop sits on a small table facing a window and on that window sill (about 10 inches wide) I place my ‘to read’ books. And, of course they’re placed beautifully side-by side (a lovely window decoration as well). It’s actually become a conversation piece. So naturally, this gives the impression that these are the only books I have. So, beautiful, so neat…what an illusion!!!

  16. Toni says

    February 19, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    Wow.. Dar.. love the new look too!!

    Okay.. your book shelves are out of control Dar!!! Ha ha.. I have a lot of books.. maybe not this many. They are not super organized (maybe a little).. I confess that I organize them super tidy according to size and genre most often. But that is just me… control freak.. 🙂 ha ha.. my mail stacks and bills.. oh dear.. that is another story.. and lately my yarn bags and stash is not tidy… it sort of gives me the creeps.. ha ha

  17. Mary says

    February 19, 2009 at 11:23 pm

    I think you’re in pretty good company with your book storage issues, Dar. I was at Costco a few weeks ago and saw some really nice units at a fairly decent price. If I had room for them, I’d be tempted. I say, as long as you know what you’ve got and an idea of where they are, it’s a system that works for you! I laughed at the Buddy story : )

  18. Mary says

    February 19, 2009 at 11:24 pm

    PS Love the look of your blog! I’ve seen a lot of these new designs around. So pretty!

  19. Nymeth says

    February 19, 2009 at 11:42 pm

    lol, don’t be embarrassed. You should have seen my place before I started boxing books to move. Piles and piles on the floor 😛

  20. Yvonne says

    February 20, 2009 at 12:38 am

    I love looking at everyone’s pictures! Don’t be embarrassed, my boxes pretty much look the same. LOL

  21. Staci says

    February 20, 2009 at 1:04 am

    I love it!! To me that looks like heaven. But I have to agree with you…looks like some of those shelves can’t take much more!! I just stash my anywhere and everywhere, no rhyme or reason!!

  22. caite says

    February 20, 2009 at 1:55 am

    Bandit says hi…I am just passing the message along..lol

    I hate to say it, but you need more bookcases. Because fewer books is not an option of course.

  23. claire says

    February 20, 2009 at 3:17 am

    Your shelves do look like they’re about to break.. lol! I’m more organized than you but I still appreciate others like you who aren’t like me. No matter how we organize or not organize, we’re all still the same.. obsessed with books! 😀

  24. Amy says

    February 20, 2009 at 3:36 am

    Oh Dar, that is pretty much my life! I have books everywhere and they just keep coming in!

  25. Melody says

    February 20, 2009 at 6:21 am

    Don’t be embarrassed or feel bad, Dar! You’re definitely not alone. 😀 Thanks so much for sharing those pics! We definitely need more bookshelves…and room!

  26. ANovelMenagerie says

    February 20, 2009 at 11:45 am

    Dar… I’m going to send that Oprah organizer guy to your house! Hee hee. I actually already subscribed to your feed… but, now you are on the blog roll. See…? My post is doing exactly what I needed it to!

  27. samantha.1020 says

    February 20, 2009 at 2:40 pm

    I have my books organized in piles but not on my shelves. For instance, I have an ARC pile and a library pile but that is about as organized as I get 🙂 BTW- I love your new background!

  28. Bree says

    February 20, 2009 at 3:04 pm

    Love the photos! See others messy bookshelves always makes me feel better about my own. Thanks for sharing the towers!

  29. Anna says

    February 20, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    Your stacks are neater than mine! The only organization these days is the review copies and the WWII books. Everything else is a mess. Thanks for being brave enough to post pictures!

    –Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

  30. Diane says

    February 20, 2009 at 7:05 pm

    LOL >> Dar, you are making me look good right now. I have to show my husband these pictures :)\
    Love your Blog!

  31. Nely says

    February 20, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    Holy Cow! I love it.

  32. Ramya says

    February 20, 2009 at 8:42 pm

    ok! my comment’s going to get lost in this list but I must say that I LOVE your new blog template! It is really unique and very pretty and i love the texture of the background and the color combination! awesome!!:)

    and secondly, I am envious of the number of books you have around your house! I am slowly getting there, though..:) we just moved into our house and I don’t even have decent bookshelves. Need to get some huge ones and start working on arranging the books i have:)

  33. Cheryl says

    February 21, 2009 at 2:25 am

    I did have a system of shelving my books by genre, height and author but now they are so messed up from all the ones that I keep receiving that I plan to try and organize them this weekend.

  34. Shana says

    February 21, 2009 at 4:32 am

    I love seeing pics of your bookshelves, Dar! They ARE overflowing!! But they look wonderful to me – all those books!

    Hey, I LOVE your new blog design. It’s so pretty. It’s very “you”!!

  35. Lenore says

    February 21, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    Just noticed the new blog design! Lovely colors.

  36. Trish says

    February 21, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    LOL!! You are definitely overflowing! Do you keep all of your books or do you ever find you must get rid of some to free up some space? I’m getting to that point right now, but I’m having a difficult time parting.

    Love the pink and brown!

  37. mattviews says

    February 22, 2009 at 7:22 pm

    I shelf my books by author’s last name in alphabetical order. For fiction and literature, I single out the ones to be re-read and put them on a different case. I only put away my books when I have finished. New Books usually sit on my desk.

  38. Luanne says

    February 23, 2009 at 12:21 am

    Thanks for sharing your photos Dar! At one point I had no bookshelves and had hidden piles under every end table, corner, bed anywhere I could find. Then we went to IKEA…I am now organized! And btw – I love the new look!!

  39. Jenny Girl says

    February 23, 2009 at 5:51 pm

    OMG girl! lol I really needed that too.
    I don’t feel so bad now…I have company 🙂

  40. Keyomi says

    February 23, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    i dont know how i missed this post. wow..u do have a lot of books and no much place to put it. i am very organized with my books. nothing like author or anything..just by height!! i like them thick and tall to thin and short!

    i wish i cud come help u organize some of urs! 🙂 hope you are doing well.

  41. Dar says

    February 27, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    Thanks everyone for your comments on my severely sagging shelves. LOL. It was fun reading about other’s woes when it comes to their shelves too and trying to find more space in order to stash yet more books. lol.

    Trish, I do give some that I’ve read to the library that I don’t use for giveaways but there’s so many that I need to go through that I get overwhelmed before I even start.

    Hey, thanks for all the compliments on the new blog design. I love it too!

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