Decluttering Classic Books: What to Keep?

 

The last few years I have made a concerted effort to declutter my house. When the kids were younger somehow we managed to fill every nook and cranny with bookshelves, craft cupboards and toy boxes. As they have grown I have encouraged them to downsize what they have to be able to keep it neatly in their room. I've decluttered a lot of my own things too - everything from home wares to clothes, photos, journals and yes, even books. There are a lot of programs, books and content creators out there that talk about decluttering and how by having less stuff we actually have more room for the things that really matter. For me, the biggest benefit of decluttering and letting things go has definitely been for my mental health. Now, even when we have guests or we just let things go for a week or two, it is very easy to tidy up and get the house back in order. I simply cannot handle the added stress of clutter and stuff everywhere anymore. But I still have a long way to go. 

Decluttering books, for me, is actually harder than decluttering clothes or personal items. There have been times when I've let books go and then really wanted to read them again. In these cases I find that most can be found in the public library, online or available as audio books through free companies such as Librivox. Especially classics that may now be in the public domain. So why do I still have so much trouble letting go? It may be because I really do prefer paper books to online books and love the look of a welcoming, well-stocked bookshelf. 

My children are excellent readers and we all regularly visit the library. They also ask for books for most birthdays and Christmases. If I am doing a clear out I will ask them if they want to add anything to the donate pile, but I do not declutter their books for them. Likewise, I may try and gently encourage my husband to declutter some of his books, but if the answer is no, then I drop it. 

I wanted to share with you a collection of books that have made the initial cull from my bookshelf. I'm sitting here going through them now, deciding which ones to put back and which ones to let go. Would you like to see what I've got?

I'll tell you which I've decided to keep and why.

1) Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift - I haven't read this one yet, although I've had it for many years. I will put it on probation though, which means that if I haven't read it in the next month or two then I'll let it go.

2) The Wizard of Oz by F.L. Baum - I love this book. It's an easy read and in this collection of children's books (all of which I bought for myself!) it's my favourite.

And that's it! The others I am happy to let go of. I have all the Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories in a very old - but still accessible - app on my phone. Ready to read anywhere, any time. Heart of Darkness I also have but as an audio book if I want to revisit it. I read Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Centre of the Earth and don't really want to re-read them. Mansfield Park wasn't my favourite Jane Austen, so I'm happy to let that one go knowing that it's available online and as an audio book through Librivox if I want to read it again. The Great Gatsby was a hard one for me. It's a slim volume, and won't take up much space and I love it. It's such a great read and really highlights that era in American history. Finally, the Little House on the Prairie books are some of my favourites and still have pride of place on my bookshelf. I didn't feel that way about Farmer Boy so was ready to let it go.

So what do you think of my decluttering choices? Do you agree? Would you have kept any others? Thanks so much for stopping by and have lovely day!