My taste in books is widely eclectic, even though it seems I review a lot of erotic romance. I think I do it because the usual romance sites largely ignore it, other than a few authors, in favor of mainstream romance and those dreadful ‘category’ romances from Harlequin that are so very popular. Or maybe that’s because the vast majority are quick easy reads – or so tedious I skim. The year is far from over and the fall is a big release period for publishers looking to cash in on people’s holiday spending, but I’ve been editing my selves.
I have hundreds of books, mostly hardcover, on my bookshelves. Hundreds more piled about. I need space, so time to edit the keepers and reference books I haven’t used in over a decade. Cookbooks are rarely on the discard pile, but history is, along with literature and many old series – from David Eddings’ The Mallorean to Stuart Woods’ Stone Barrington novels – I have no interest in rereading. Keeper shelves are mostly a matter of taste, and tastes change, or the reader’s wants change, and books get dated or supplanted by something even better. I find I have to edit my keeper self, but I confess I have enough book selves (a whole wall) that I keep far too many. I hate getting rid of books, but it MUST be done. (more…)
Tour's Books Blog
In Retrospect – Part Two: The Keeper Shelf – The Price of Cleaning
Tags: commentary, Editorial
My taste in books is widely eclectic, even though it seems I review a lot of erotic romance. I think I do it because the usual romance sites largely ignore it, other than a few authors, in favor of mainstream romance and those dreadful ‘category’ romances from Harlequin that are so very popular. Or maybe that’s because the vast majority are quick easy reads – or so tedious I skim. The year is far from over and the fall is a big release period for publishers looking to cash in on people’s holiday spending, but I’ve been editing my selves.
I have hundreds of books, mostly hardcover, on my bookshelves. Hundreds more piled about. I need space, so time to edit the keepers and reference books I haven’t used in over a decade. Cookbooks are rarely on the discard pile, but history is, along with literature and many old series – from David Eddings’ The Mallorean to Stuart Woods’ Stone Barrington novels – I have no interest in rereading. Keeper shelves are mostly a matter of taste, and tastes change, or the reader’s wants change, and books get dated or supplanted by something even better. I find I have to edit my keeper self, but I confess I have enough book selves (a whole wall) that I keep far too many. I hate getting rid of books, but it MUST be done. (more…)