All bookshelves are magical.
- Neil Gaiman
The act of reorganizing my book collection was an adventure that I didn't expect to take! Earlier this fall, after deciding it was time for a paint job on the office bookshelf, I discovered something remarkable. As I pored over each and every one of them individually - many of which had been there since childhood memories - stories began to unfold before me, and what started as a practical decision became quite exhilarating as I realized just how much insight into myself could be found within these endless pages. What followed next couldn’t have been predicted; with fresh enthusiasm, Notion accounts at hand –I set off on a cataloging mission around the house in search of more forgotten tales from shelves past…and present.
After months of packing, organizing, and sorting through piles of books I'd been collecting over the years, it felt liberating to finally clean out my shelves full! Some decisions were a no-brainer; those beloved favorites that have held personal value for me or even ones I'm excited to get started on. But there was also a surprisingly wonderful feeling associated with parting ways with some titles --books from high school days long gone, which had become nothing more than outdated reminders taking up space on each shelf. And as soon as their bags had all been filled and given away - that's when I knew it: Goodbye bookshelf clutter, hello freedom!
This massive literary project presented me with a delightful dilemma: hundreds of books that didn't fit into the two categories I had in mind, leaving me to contemplate what kept each one special enough for my shelves. Despite its daunting size and scope, it gave me something invaluable - an opportunity to slow down and savor their stories anew.
Book purging can often be a bittersweet affair, but this time, I was determined to approach the process differently. Instead of speedily sorting through my titles by instinct as usual, I decided to give each one its due attention – studying it closer than ever before and giving myself more meaningful questions like “What would reading this add to my life?” Once answered honestly - with some hard-hitting online research thrown in, too - making decisions on whether or not they should stay became that much easier! As any book lover knows, though, deep down, there will never be enough time for everything we'd love to read...but at least now, instead of hollowing out bookshelves with regrets later, every single title gets an honest evaluation upfront.
Every evening with a hot cup of tea, I would escape from the hustle and bustle to an oasis where my only concern was the book in front of me. As if opening up a secret door, these books revealed wonders that you couldn't find on social media or any new releases; each page brought something unique for me to discover. It took patience and care, but it paid off - after more than four weeks marked by one-on-one conversations between myself and every novel in sight, I had unlocked those sweet moments filled with delightful surprises!
After initially crossing The Scarlet Letter off my reading list, something about this classic kept drawing me back in. Diverse voices are now taking center stage - but due to an unexpected fascination with the story, I'm considering embracing a different perspective and letting myself explore it further. Do I dare pick up these pages after all? Maybe not right away — but perhaps one day soon!
My love for the epic of Gilgamesh reignited when I entered its details into my online catalog. Desiring to explore new translations, a whole hour of research brought forth an exciting mini syllabus -multiple versions and retellings! My life usually revolves around reading book reviews or working on projects which are wonderful, but that night reminded me that all readers get to be in charge of their own literary journey. As winter approaches, I'm ecstatic at how my plans have come together: it's finally time to start diving deep into this ancient classic, with each fresh version offering a unique take on one incredible story.
I discovered an old gem that was tucked away in my library - a big, coffee table-style book given to me by a friend long ago! As I flipped through it, I felt the story of In Century: One Hundred Years of Human Progress, Regression, Suffering, and Hope move and captivate me. It has been carefully placed on its own shelf among unread nonfiction books as part of my 2023 journey, taking one chapter at a time throughout this year.
Taking a cue from my favorite authors, I’m starting to build the library of my dreams. My shelves are slowly filling up with beloved book titles like ‘This Is Not the End of the Book’ and ‘Library: An Unquiet History'’ Now that all these books have been logged into a Notion catalog, it's become a great resource for finding new-to-me reads - like Packing My Library! With each story added to this growing collection comes newfound inspiration – reminding me why reading is so precious in our lives.
In November, I was gifted the opportunity to revel in discovering and absorbing two incredible books. Living Biographies of Great Poets by Henry Thomas and Nobel Writers on Writing by Ottar G. Draugsvold have been captivating me for ages, yet it wasn't until sorting through my library - taking time to pause with each book as if giving them a hug hello - that they truly came alive! After diving into this enlightening experience, there is one clear lesson guiding me forward into 2023: invest mindful presence when engaging with life's written treasures!