WHY IS IT SO HARD TO PART WITH BOOKS?
By Mary Kennedy
It's that time of year again! I have to say adieu to some of my beloved books and it never gets easier. It's for a good cause. The local AAUW (American Association of University Women) holds an annual book sale and the benefits go for college scholarships for women.
But I'm such a wuss when I try to decide who makes the cut.
After dithering around for way too long, I finally decided to make three piles. Books that were absolute keepers, books I could give away to a great cause, and book that I think I'd like to read again.
Here's what I came up with (and this might help you if you're in "donation" mode.)
Books that are keepers.
This was actually easier than I thought. Books that are autographed. Many have lovely notes inside and there is no way these treasures are leaving the house!
I also included books that have great sentimental value. A copy of Rudyard Kipling'sThe Cat That Walked by Himself, a gift from my father. My father inspired my lifelong love of books (and animals!) and I could never part with the books he gave me.
Now, on to category two. Books I can give away without too much of a pang. I included a lot of travel books. I used to love collecting travel books, reading about exciting, exotic places that I hoped to visit one day. Marrakesh, Trinidad, Cairo. I still like to thumb through them, but they take up a lot of room and I can find anything I need on the internet. So, adios, Abu Dabi! (at least for now.)
Category three was the toughest, because it includes books that I probably will want to read again. Many are written by friends and I enjoy re-reading the earlier books in the series.
When I checked my Kindle, I found that I already had digital versions of these old favorites, so all was well! I could give my paperback editions to some new fans who would love the books as much as I did. So it was all good...
How about you, do you find it hard to part with books?
Mary Kennedy
It's that time of year again! I have to say adieu to some of my beloved books and it never gets easier. It's for a good cause. The local AAUW (American Association of University Women) holds an annual book sale and the benefits go for college scholarships for women.
But I'm such a wuss when I try to decide who makes the cut.
After dithering around for way too long, I finally decided to make three piles. Books that were absolute keepers, books I could give away to a great cause, and book that I think I'd like to read again.
Here's what I came up with (and this might help you if you're in "donation" mode.)
Books that are keepers.
This was actually easier than I thought. Books that are autographed. Many have lovely notes inside and there is no way these treasures are leaving the house!
I also included books that have great sentimental value. A copy of Rudyard Kipling'sThe Cat That Walked by Himself, a gift from my father. My father inspired my lifelong love of books (and animals!) and I could never part with the books he gave me.
Now, on to category two. Books I can give away without too much of a pang. I included a lot of travel books. I used to love collecting travel books, reading about exciting, exotic places that I hoped to visit one day. Marrakesh, Trinidad, Cairo. I still like to thumb through them, but they take up a lot of room and I can find anything I need on the internet. So, adios, Abu Dabi! (at least for now.)
Category three was the toughest, because it includes books that I probably will want to read again. Many are written by friends and I enjoy re-reading the earlier books in the series.
When I checked my Kindle, I found that I already had digital versions of these old favorites, so all was well! I could give my paperback editions to some new fans who would love the books as much as I did. So it was all good...
How about you, do you find it hard to part with books?
Mary Kennedy
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