Greetings, friends! I’m siting in my office in a sweatshirt as I write this, drinking a second cup of tea and watching the woodpeckers on the tree outside the window. I’m surrounded by newly organized bookshelves, the breeze is cool, and I feel extraordinarily grateful: for this space, for the turning of the seasons. I’ve finally finished the book cataloging project I’ve been immersed in for the last few weeks, so I have a special newsletter for you today!
ALSO, you know how some people get paid to livestream themselves playing video games and talking smack while other people watch on twitch or whatever? I feel like you should have one of those channels but it’s just you walking around your house talking about books
Okay but this is a GREAT idea and I would pay a whole streaming channel for exclusive book content like people organizing their home libraries and giving library tours.
Ha, I love this idea! I've actually been contemplating doing little videos about what I'm reading....(or my bookshelves!) for paid subscribers. Maybe I will!
I think and talk about this a lot with folks. As an avid reader, I think I only have 15-20 books. I'm a heavy library user, and if/when I purchase books, I give them away after. Funny that you mentioned 100 Years - it's one of my Top 5, and I don't even have my copy anymore because it was also a used paperback that broke down after many re-reads. I love talking to readers about their library philosophies.
It's so interesting! I used to rarely buy books, minus random things from library books sales and maybe 2-3 books each year that I had read and loved absolutely. It really changed during the pandemic, and I started buying books I hadn't read to support indie bookstores. It was partly this influx that inspired me to do the cataloging project, because with all these new exciting books, the ones I really didn't want became more obvious. Now I'm trying to find a good balance between buying books to support authors and publishers when I can, and not going overboard!
I really love the idea of giving away books after you read them—it's inspiring that you do that, and I definitely plan to do more of it in the future!
It is so lovely! I used to get jealous of people with big wall-spanning bookshelves that hold all their books. But this process really made me appreciate having small shelves in every room. They are so fun to curate!
I love this, Laura — it’s a pleasure reading through your process and thoughts about your library and yourself as a reader. I have no interest in cataloging my own books, but I respect your drive to do so and am selfishly glad you did, so we could all benefit from your reflections.
Thanks, Sarah! I very much respect your desire not to catalog your books, too! But I'm glad you enjoyed my reflections. It felt like a such a personal process, but hopefully there are pieces of it that are interesting/useful to others.
I'm so glad! I will be very excited to hear about your process if you do some cataloging! I believe one of the books of Rilke I have is also a Stephen Mitchell translation, but I'll have to check out that one, too. And maybe we could do some coordinated reading of Gilgamesh translations sometime—it's been years since I read it.
Loved this whole write-up so so much! I have been thinking a lot about how I want to tackle my own library, and you gave me some excellent ideas! I also love how we evolve as readers and as people and that our personal collections can be living things—knowing that, it helps me be less scared to pass on something I once loved but that no longer holds meaning, knowing if I change in the future, I can go back and find another one.
I'm so glad you found it useful, and I look forward to hearing how your own cataloging goes! And yes, you express the idea of libraries being living things so well! It is my driving principle now. It really is comforting knowing that books will find their way back into our lives if and when they need to, and that letting go of something once beloved doesn't invalidate our history with it.
Laura I love this so much and could relate to every word on, like, a molecular level. Your process of organizing just really speaks to me. Even though Annie and I own only about 100 books total I am constantly staring at them and trying to convince annie to be more intentional about what we keep. Maybe if I do it while she’s away she won’t even notice 😁.
Oh, this males me so happy, I'm glad you can relate! Knowing your organizational leanings, it makes sense. This whole project was a little bit like crop planning for books: where does everything go? What makes sense to put together? What have I been holding onto for years but just isn't working anymore? Haha now that I'm thinking about it that way I can't stop.
And you can totally think the same way about your library even if you only have 100 books! Annie will probably be delighted if you reorganize and then she sees how beautiful it is. :-)
yes I didn't even think of crop planning but it makes total sense! it also reminded me of recent reorganizing projects I just completed at the farm after consolidating from 2 farms to 1. I can't stop staring at our newly organized shipping container. I know you would love it. :)
ALSO, you know how some people get paid to livestream themselves playing video games and talking smack while other people watch on twitch or whatever? I feel like you should have one of those channels but it’s just you walking around your house talking about books
Okay but this is a GREAT idea and I would pay a whole streaming channel for exclusive book content like people organizing their home libraries and giving library tours.
Oooh now I’m getting all sorts of fun ideas! Definitely going to ponder it some more.
I second this, it’s a great idea!
Ha, I love this idea! I've actually been contemplating doing little videos about what I'm reading....(or my bookshelves!) for paid subscribers. Maybe I will!
yessss! do it!
I think and talk about this a lot with folks. As an avid reader, I think I only have 15-20 books. I'm a heavy library user, and if/when I purchase books, I give them away after. Funny that you mentioned 100 Years - it's one of my Top 5, and I don't even have my copy anymore because it was also a used paperback that broke down after many re-reads. I love talking to readers about their library philosophies.
It's so interesting! I used to rarely buy books, minus random things from library books sales and maybe 2-3 books each year that I had read and loved absolutely. It really changed during the pandemic, and I started buying books I hadn't read to support indie bookstores. It was partly this influx that inspired me to do the cataloging project, because with all these new exciting books, the ones I really didn't want became more obvious. Now I'm trying to find a good balance between buying books to support authors and publishers when I can, and not going overboard!
I really love the idea of giving away books after you read them—it's inspiring that you do that, and I definitely plan to do more of it in the future!
love the thought of walking through every room and different ensembles of books await ! and rainbow area cement makes me so happy !
It is so lovely! I used to get jealous of people with big wall-spanning bookshelves that hold all their books. But this process really made me appreciate having small shelves in every room. They are so fun to curate!
I love this, Laura — it’s a pleasure reading through your process and thoughts about your library and yourself as a reader. I have no interest in cataloging my own books, but I respect your drive to do so and am selfishly glad you did, so we could all benefit from your reflections.
Thanks, Sarah! I very much respect your desire not to catalog your books, too! But I'm glad you enjoyed my reflections. It felt like a such a personal process, but hopefully there are pieces of it that are interesting/useful to others.
This is wonderful Laura! Inspires me to do the same!
I've been reading Stephen Mitchell's translations of Rilke—"Ahead of All Parting," on recommendation of a Rilke scholar friend.
I'll need to check out those editions of Gilgamesh!
I'm so glad! I will be very excited to hear about your process if you do some cataloging! I believe one of the books of Rilke I have is also a Stephen Mitchell translation, but I'll have to check out that one, too. And maybe we could do some coordinated reading of Gilgamesh translations sometime—it's been years since I read it.
Loved this whole write-up so so much! I have been thinking a lot about how I want to tackle my own library, and you gave me some excellent ideas! I also love how we evolve as readers and as people and that our personal collections can be living things—knowing that, it helps me be less scared to pass on something I once loved but that no longer holds meaning, knowing if I change in the future, I can go back and find another one.
I'm so glad you found it useful, and I look forward to hearing how your own cataloging goes! And yes, you express the idea of libraries being living things so well! It is my driving principle now. It really is comforting knowing that books will find their way back into our lives if and when they need to, and that letting go of something once beloved doesn't invalidate our history with it.
Laura I love this so much and could relate to every word on, like, a molecular level. Your process of organizing just really speaks to me. Even though Annie and I own only about 100 books total I am constantly staring at them and trying to convince annie to be more intentional about what we keep. Maybe if I do it while she’s away she won’t even notice 😁.
Oh, this males me so happy, I'm glad you can relate! Knowing your organizational leanings, it makes sense. This whole project was a little bit like crop planning for books: where does everything go? What makes sense to put together? What have I been holding onto for years but just isn't working anymore? Haha now that I'm thinking about it that way I can't stop.
And you can totally think the same way about your library even if you only have 100 books! Annie will probably be delighted if you reorganize and then she sees how beautiful it is. :-)
yes I didn't even think of crop planning but it makes total sense! it also reminded me of recent reorganizing projects I just completed at the farm after consolidating from 2 farms to 1. I can't stop staring at our newly organized shipping container. I know you would love it. :)
I hope I get to see it in person one day!
This was such a pleasure to read. You are an inspiration!!
Aw, thanks! I know it was a long one, so your appreciation means a a lot to me! <3 <3