It’s January (still!) and people still seem to be in the new year cleaning mode. I applaud the stamina, it’s been a very long month. One of the clear outs that I don’t often see, or see documented at least, is books. It’s almost traitorous to say - who gets rid of books. Well, hear me out, because I never keep mine and it’s one of my favourite things to do.
Not keeping books after reading them is a habit absolutely influenced by my minimalist husband, and I have found an absolutel joy in passing them on. Our house goes through so many it would quickly become overwhelming to keep them. We do have a small, regularly curated collection of about 30 and even this feels too much. As soon as our second shelf gets full we know it’s time to go through and purge.
The loveliest thing of not keeping them means we are passionate about passing them on. I have a shelf that’s a holding area, with specific books earmarked for different people, waiting until I next see them. I love pressing said book into their hands with a simple ‘I thought of you’, ‘I think you will love this’, ‘I can’t wait to discuss this with you’. Dinner parties are a total joy - I have a stack of books to bring out with dessert and friends go through and take what they fancy. I’ve always loved giving presents, it might be my favourite love language, and so this regular and small habit brings so much joy. Friends call to tell me they have finished it and would I like it back, ‘pass it on to someone who will love it’ is the only answer I give.
Not keeping books feels very freeing. It absolutely means I rely on a record to remember what I’ve read and loved, but there’s a lightness to not being weighed down by more physical objects. I know, I could get a kindle and solve this physical real world problem but I’m an absolute hold out. I love holding a book, I love the cover art and seeing which quotes have been chosen… and what’s going to save my sunbed whilst I’m in the sea, or my table whilst I’m in the ladies? A kindle just doesn’t seem up to the job.
The other thing I love is that sometimes I want to re read a book that I’ve already given away. Or I want to pass a book to a different friend, but it’s already off in its daisy chain of gifting through friends. In both cases, I buy it again. Definitely not the most cost efficient option, but I believe buying books is one of the best investments I personally can make. I love supporting sales numbers for an author through buying the same book 3, 4, 5 times. I love supporting independent bookshops, without whom I would have many empty afternoons and an even emptier place in my heart.
A few recents…
Read: The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard. Could not put it down, cannot believe I have only just found it. Text so many friends to see if they had read before. More to come on this series.
Watch: Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Such an interesting and brilliantly produced documentary of Jiro, his passion and mastery of his craft and, mostly, his unbelievable work ethic.
Listen: Ghost Story, a part ghost, part family, part murder mystery with excellent storytelling and production. My favourite series since Dolly Parton’s America.
Buy: A repurchase of Supergoop’s Glow Screen, a daily must have. I keep tubes (normal and mini size) in all my bags, it’s the perfect mid-day skin refresh and the nicest SPF around.
Disclosure: Books linked to above may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.