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Letting go of books..Find it hard?
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Carmel wrote: "Oh my Jan, alright, I think a counselling session is recommended for you my dear, how's 2.30 pm tomorrow sound??? LOL"Will that be your time, my time or aren't you glad it's over daylight saving time? I borrowed a book from the library. It's called Organise Yourself. I think it has a chapter on time management. That book has so far cost me more than many of my bargains, because I keep getting fined for bringing it back late. Don't you think there should be exemptions for people who are clearly attempting to work on their problems? Did I tell you we went to IKEA on the weekend and selected our next four bookcases? They are meant to replace three old wall units that we have, but I've already found myself thinking...now if I move the old ones to the side wall and keep them....Please nobody tell Carmel about my wardrobe...that's the one where you can take an item off the hanger and it will remain in place, held up by the crush of clothes. I found a really good website about minimalism one day and I thought somewhere between where I am now and minimalism, there must be a place of having a comfortable amount of stuff. So I got a big garbage bag and managed to half fill it with clothes I could live without. (Let's face it, if I do ever get back to a size 10-12 I'm definitely going to reward myself with a little shopping spree...) Then my daughter came along and went through the bag and hauled half the items off to her room. She's into 'vintage'. The rest of the items did go to charity, but the wardrobe still has the same cluttered look. I was going to say that at least I didn't buy any clothes today, but then I remembered the two belts, each only $7...and how many books you ask... well...I... um...er..four...if you really must know.
Monya! You are truly a kindred spirit. When my husband retires in a couple of years we might travel around Australia, and I just might have to pop in and visit you when we're over that way, if you're ok with that.
Mod
Will that be your time, my time or aren't you glad it's over da..."
Oh Jan, you are a classic!!! You and Monya are wonderful people, and we love having you with us :) I can't stop chuckling at your comments...:D
Oh no! I missed my appointment! I came home tired after babysitting my great-nephew, and promptly fell asleep! My excuse is it was 34 yet again. We have cooler weather coming though, and rain is forecast, about 2mm, something we've not seen for two months!
Mod
I'm sure Carmel with forgive you Jan..:)
We've been watching the weather over there, you poor things, it's been so incredibly hot for so long. I hope you enjoy the coolness when it comes, and I hope it lasts awhile before you get more heat!
34 today, but 21 forecast for Thursday, followed by a whole week in the low twenties! Now that's what I call a break in the weather! As for rain, we're also supposed to get more rain in a La Nina year, but I think it all landed in Carnarvon, and never made it down here. Last winter the rainfall was so poor the storage levels in the dams didn't rise at all, because it evaporated before it could run off. We're expecting 2 mm of rain on Thursday, so it could be time for the annual umbrella hunt...when Western Australians delve into their wardrobes in search of that elusive, and largely unnecessary item, the umbrella. When it does actually rain here, an umbrella is a pretty useless accessory as the rain blows in sideways, wetting three quarters of your body and blowing your brollie inside out. Our usual approach is just to wait inside for five minutes, by which time the rain event will usually be over. Five minutes of rain...that would be nice!
Mod
We'll be watching the weather map for you Jan..:)
Jan wrote: "Monya! You are truly a kindred spirit. When my husband retires in a couple of years we might travel around Australia, and I just might have to pop in and visit you when we're over that way, if you'..."Jan, if you make it to the Darling Downs in Queensland in a couple of years, and if we're still in possession of our faculties (I'm 70 and hubby's 71) you'll be most welcome to drop in. And I warn you, my hubby is also constitutionally incapable of throwing anything away, and he has a big shed...
Monya (aka Mary)
Thankyou Monya (aka Mary)...do you have a preference or answer to both names? I would love to call in and talk books!Guess what? It's actually raining here in Perth! We just had five whole minutes of steady rain! After two months with not a drop. And it's cold! About 16 at 8:30 am! Marvellous! It's like some unexpected luxury to be enjoyed! After all your floods, this might be a little hard to relate to...but I'm sure you've all known hot droughts as well...
Mod
Guess what? It's actually raining here in Perth! We just had five whole minute..."
That is great news Jan!! Hope it stays 'cold' for you for awhile, and rains more..enough to give all the plants a drink anyway :)
Jan wrote: "Thankyou Monya (aka Mary)...do you have a preference or answer to both names? I would love to call in and talk books!Guess what? It's actually raining here in Perth! We just had five whole minute..."
Hi Jan - Monya is my first and normally used name. Mary is my legal middle name. I just wrote my historical as Mary Clayton, wonder why now. Maybe it sounded more, er, historical.
And before everyone asks - I'm not from overseas, my mother saw the name "Manya" (with an 'a') in an old movie, and my father misspelt it when he registered the birth. It was a bit of a burden when I was a kid, when girls were called Glenda, Janice, Dorothy and such. People have always had trouble with the pronunciation, but I tell them to think of "Sonia" and rhyme it.
The funny part is I thought my name was unique for most of my life. Then I Googled it... the first page alone was hilarious.
Um, I do rattle on, but do hope you make it here some day, that we're still around, that we can talk books and I can show you my extremely eclectic collection. An old friend visited once and said she could happily spend her entire holiday holed up in my study, reading.
And it's so great you have a bit of rain at last in Perth, you poor overcooked souls you. Hope you get more in nice moderate showers and not the torrents that bucketed down in Queensland after 15-20 years of dry weather. That's Australia all over, isn't it?
Monya (aka Mary)
Yes, the showers were very moderate...2 mm in total, but it's a start! It's going to drop to 9 tonight before a sunny 24 tomorrow, with possibly more rain on the weekend.
Question for those of you who don't let go of books - and please don't think I'm being rude or stupid or facetious. What about books you bought and were disappointed by? Or ones you were given and didn't like? I mean, some of you have said "I keep them all" and I sincerely wander if you really mean that...
@Cheryl- If I really dislike a book and I don't feel any personal attatchment to the book I'll resell it or give it away.
The Story of O and Strange Meeting are the first two that pop to mind. Admittedly I got both of them for class.And no they were eventually disposed of. I gave the first to a curious female friend who didn't like it any more than I did. I *did* warn her...
I don't buy books I don't like, and I buy books for myself for birthdays and Christmas and then let my husband wrap them! Saves him a lot of time shopping (not his favourite thing...but one of my favourites...everyone is happy!) Some bookstores are so obliging as to produce catalogues in the lead up to Christmas...these are handy...you can circle the ones you want and leave the catalogue where it can be found by interested parties...so in answer to your question...I don't have any books I don't like...but if I find one, I'll donate it.
I'm a shocking hoarder of books. Unless I really hated the book or it was an accidental double up I never get rid of my books and do re-read them frequently. I've got four six feet tall bookcases and they're all full so I was totally stoked when the Kindle came out - now I've got room for another huge group of books :)
What interesting answers from y'all - tx for sharing!
★ Jess wrote: "I keep them all. Every one Ive read, I will never throw out. I like having a large collection :)"My mentality exactly Jess!
I'm a little OCD with my books, once read, they're like a trophy-case - all the books I've read in my life on display. I'll never give away a book I've read! A good excuse to getting bigger houses I guess.
Mod
My mentality exactly Jess!
I'm a little OCD with my books, once read, they're like..."
When you get to my age, and you've been reading for decades, and buying MOST of them....you'll think differently. NO ROOM!!! lol
Brenda wrote: "Shane wrote: "★ Jess wrote: "I keep them all. Every one Ive read, I will never throw out. I like having a large collection :)"My mentality exactly Jess!
I'm a little OCD with my books, once read..."
We'll see Brenda :P My OCD will always win over...lol.
Mod
My mentality exactly Jess!
I'm a little OCD with my b..."
I have the same 'disorder' and I had no choice but to get rid of some of my books Shane...I still have a suitcase full out in the garage...plus....
I keep all my books too, I don't have the heart to part with them... My lounge room has 3 bookshelves taking up the only free wall, I'm planning on converting the girls "kindy" room into a library hahaha :) I love my books :) also I tend to borrow them from the library if I like it ill buy the book or whole series :)
I like to keep some books that I might like to read again, or give to someone that might want to read, otherwise hand them in to Vinnies so someone else can love the book for a small price. Most of my book purchases are from Vinnies or similar stores including 2nd hand book shops.
I still have all my favourite books from childhood that I now read to my own kids. We have every internal wall covered in shelves AND there is 3 cubic metres of books in storage. Husband got me a kindle 12 months ago and I already have over 1000 ebooks...I think I need therapy
Mod
Oh Beck!! Haha! You sound like SO many of us on here:)
Did I mention that they are shelved by genre and author?!
Mod
Oh wow, you are pedantic;) lol
I've got mine separated into Aussie and international, fiction and non fiction, but that's about it!!
Aussie Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
Histoire d'O | Story of O (other topics)Strange Meeting (other topics)
Lady Chatterley's Lover (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Katherine Applegate (other topics)Katherine Paterson (other topics)
Jan, my name is Monya and I'm a bookaholic too! Except that now the kids are long grown up I have a whole room of shelves to stuff my books into. Have a look at my blog if you want to peek. www.monyamaryclayton.blogspot.com Only the second entry. I haven't updated in ages.
I actually don't want to know how to declutter. It'd break my poor old heart. My name is Monya and I'm a clutterer... Actually, did you buy the books in hope they'd help you overcome the addiction? Who wants to be non-addicted to books?
@ Carmel: dear girl, I don't think she wants to be counselled... Are you one of the world's wonderfully natural tidy citizens?
Monya (aka Mary)