AIBU to replace most of the books we throw?

[OMGInShock]

We're moving soon and DH wants to cut our bookshelves to a minimum. He says we should throw all the paperbacks as no one will ever read them again.

WIBTotallyU to agree but then buy them again on my e-reader? I've a massive collection of Penguin Classics like Hardy, Collins, Dickens, Austen, Brontë etc and I get his point, we're unlikely to read them again in their current format - small print, book so not practical to stuff in a bag or read in the evening. I kind of think we should keep them for the DC but the language is quite tricky for non-native speakers so I think DC would be more likely to read them on an e-reader as there's a dictionary function.

It would feel wrong not to have the "classics" in the house!

YABU - waste of money, throw* anyway, no one will re-read.
YANBU - should always invest in books and have the classics available!

*throw as in try to pass on / donate, not recycle unless no one wants them.

But where can OP put them? She's said they have less storage. A library wall of books is lovely-my house is full of books-but not always practical.

I've transferred a fair number of books to my Kindle to make space, books I might read again and cost pennies to buy for an e-reader. I completely agree about the classics. I think I'd need them in larger print now. The style of printing has changed so much. I open books I've had for years and realise I would struggle to focus on the small print.

A lot of us are re-readers. Those books are getting a lot of use.

Others are like having photographs - just seeing them brings back memories.

And some are beautiful objects, really lovely editions.

It’s worth having a cull so that the books remaining fit into one of the above categories (or others that matter to the OP) but books are definitely not just dust collectors.

I’d be with your husband! I’d rather have a decluttered home with more space for things for me and my kids that are useful! You can read the book on an e-reader if you want to - no need for the actual book!

or borrow form the library!

our bookshelf is only really for the kids (4&9month old) books as they obviously need the actual book not an e reader! But even then we do have a cull regularly with books my toddler isn’t really enjoying! And we take her to the library once a week and she borrows some books there!

both adults have a kindle and I use audible a lot

We had this dilemma recently. It takes a few weeks to get through the whole process and we eventually ended up with just our absolute favourites that were special to us and/or we knew would read again. Don't regret a thing. And as a side issue, they are very heavy and bulky to move in boxes, what we brought was quite enough.

This. I tried to streamline my bookshelf when decorating, and I realised it was making me feel miserable so I didn't.

I could not stand the clutter of that many books. I use the library.

Plus OP said she is moving and there isn’t room for them so she can’t keep them 🤷‍♀️

That said if that’s the issue I don’t see why she’s asking us if she would be unreasonable to replace them on Kindle.

Thin them out and keep a selection of classics you think may be read again.

I love books but get the logic of not keeping ones you will never look at again. Better for them to be donated where they can be enjoyed.

Most classics will be free or very cheap on the Kindle, as they're out of copyright.

I pretty much did that.

I got rid of most of my physical books but made sure anything I wanted to read again was available on Kindle and kept anything that I couldn't replace.

I didn't buy all the books immediately but just buy them when I want them.

I still haven't read any of the remaining physical books as I really struggle with the text size but have rebought and read quite a lot on kindle.

Replacing the paperbacks won't be expensive. You will have to work out how many books you will have room for and keep that number. Or don't move and keep all your books.

For those struggling with small print, I have found a little print magnifier that is drawn across the page.
It is a small glass dome with embossed brass surround and is quite a nice little object in itself.

Another one of these threads - they are almost weekly atm.

I got rid of at least half my books when I moved, and am currently passing on a whole load more, because I realised I can't even remember what the books were that I donated - I've certainly not missed them.

I think it can become a type of hoarding - but is seen as somehow virtuous, because "books".

So I'd recommend donating and then only replacing when someone actually wants to read a particular book - it's not like you'll be 'depriving' anyone as you can do it instantly with a kindle. I think you'll be surprised how few you replace.

Personally I never re read so once they come off the shelf and are read, they are passed on/donated. My bookcases are all full, so I have imposed a strict one-in-one-out rule.

I am.very jealous of your cellar library. I'm limited to 2x 7ft bookcases due to lack of space! You may need to be ruthless...

All this "I'd never live in a house without books!!". Op has made it clear she'll have books in the new house, the kids will have their books, she just needs fewer.

I think something that is very easy and cheap to pick up online, I'd get rid of you need the space.
Do you know how much book space you'll have in the new house? There's nothing wrong with having a clear out and passing them on to someone else.
I'd also get the kids to go through their shelves and confirm if there's anything they want to get rid of. No need to keep books they've outgrown unless they hold particular memories

My favourite thing when I go to a friend's house it to browse their book shelf and chat about common favourites. Likewise I love when people nose through mine. I would create one big book shelf of your favourites OP and carefully go through the rest, it sounds like you have far too many. Give most away but maybe keep a few boxes in the attic and rotate onto your one bookshelf every year or so. That keeps everyone happy.

I recently downsized our books before a house move and reviewing which ones to keep and which ones to donate inspired me to revisit some long neglected series. I would also rethink dismissing the thought of asking your children to winnow their collections, my DS had a lot of books and once he went through them all there were lots that he had outgrown and wasn’t going to read again. Once those were donated we had room for new books that interested him, even with reduced bookshelf space.

@Dontlletmedownbruce I don't take people to my cellar, so that doesn't change if they're on an e-reader or a shelf! I would like though, to have a bookcase for us in the living area rather than all DH & my books being consigned to the cellar.
@SleepingStandingUp I'm not quite sure yet, it will depend on how things fit in. We're still at the bargaining stage. DH wants to replace my tool bench with an exercise bike...

I do re read my books, many over and over, especially when a new one in a series comes out. Rereads happen when I’m reminded of something, watched a film or tv series. Eg. BBC series of Miss Austen, the book is much better.
A physical book is so much better than an ebook which I also have, I borrow physical library books and online ones, some books are not online. I prefer a real book, it’s something to do with the pictures a physical book create in your head.

Decluttering is also a favourite pastime many books have gone to charity shops over the years. Some because they were one time reads, others because I was being too ruthless and regret that.
Just this week I’ve bought 2 books I’ve previously owned, one on kindle. The other a paperback, which seems more descriptive than the kindle one. Same author, familiar story but something is missing from the ebook. Some of my collection are NOT available online.
Keep those you do love. One day you will want to read them.

The classics are easy to find in cheap editions and in the library plus are regularly mentioned so likely to pick them up. I would.prioritise the more unusual books and writers to keep as this will show a wider range to your children if you want to inspire readers.

I read a huge amount and love books but in the end they are just possessions and if you have no space you will have to cut down the collection. I maybe own 100 books which is no reflection of how much I read but I rely on the library. It also makes me wider read as I take more of a chance on authors as there's no cost.

I love rereading books so I feel you. Classic works are mostly now in the public domain so are free in digital formats, so that's a good compromise.

Project Gutenberg has your ebook classics for free.

I wouldn't necessarily keep classics for classics sake, but I wouldn't part with any I genuinely love. You can probably trim the collection down.

I get it, I just couldn’t do it. Some of my books are triple stacked a a result 🤦‍♀️