This week’s question is suggested by Kat: I recently got new bookshelves for my room, and I’m just loving them. Spent the afternoon putting up my books and sharing it on my blog . One of my friends asked a question and I thought it would be a great BTT question. So from Tina & myself, we’d like to know “How do you arrange your books on your shelves? Is it by author, by genre, or you just put it where it falls on?”
Once upon a time, my bookshelves are divided into two categories: one shelf will hold all my read books, while the others to-be-read books. I always arrange them according to their genres. But because these shelves are long fully filled, thus I moved all my read books into boxes and store them in our storage room.
However, it does not end there as my bookshelves are once again filled with to-be-read books (I am sure most of us can relate to this, hehe) so any newly purchase books will have to be moved to the storage room thereafter. The thing is, I stack them up against a corner instead of putting them into boxes for easy access but this has posed to be another problem for me since that means I will have difficulty finding books behind the staggering stacks, or if I want to get the very first book from the bottom. (I suppose it is time to buy more bookshelves!)
So, how do you arrange your books? Do you face the same problem as I do?
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I have stacked my TBR pile on 4 tote bags on the floor . Each tote bags are split and stacked into two section. I never put them on my shelves, although I have that many readers does it.
I face the same problem as you in that I am constantly adding new books to my TBR pile! I think I probably need to have a good sort out and give some to our local charity book shop. Happy BTT!
I arrange my books in to-read and read. And like you my bookshelves are full, but I cannot keep my books in storage. I just can't do it :(
I never thought of arranging mine by read and unread, but it sounds like it might help motivate me to read them!
Happy BTT :-)
After a BTT question, I weeded out my collection and now I am better organized. Still ...
There's the "read" and the "to be read", in no certain order whatsoever! It is a mess! I do purge now and again to make room!
I ish I could be organised! Apart from the same authors together I have no real system.
I would be in big trouble if I divided my collection by read and unread. I think I would feel overwhelmed by all the books I had to read.
Definitely buy more bookshelves. One could never get enough of bookshelves! LOL
More shelves! :-)
The more I think about book organization, the more appealing the kindle begins to look...
I sure do know about those staggering piles of books and wanting to get to one that's on the bottom. Sometimes, I just give up trying to get to them. LOL I do keep my books in boxes, though. Or as many as I can. I still need more boxes.
LOL your staggering stacks of books sound like the piles setting around my house. My poor cats are afraid to get to close to some of the stacks.
LOL! I don't even separate new books from old!
I didn't even discuss my TBR pile. Soon, like you, I will need bookcases for them too.
I keep acquiring new to be read books, also, which now are in stacks on the bookshelf in front of old books. I don't know how I will ever fit them in the shelves!!
I realized after reading others' posts that I didn't answer this question fully! All my "read and keep-forever" books are in one set of shelves, sorted by nonfiction subjects, fiction by author, and children's fiction-random because the kid keeps going through them. All the books I haven't read yet are in the bedroom in an overflowing bedside-table shelf, two stacks on the floor, and two stacks on the dresser. All the books I've read and plan to give away/donate are in a box in my room and another stack in the living room against the wall. Books all over the house! It's starting to drive my husband nuts.
I definitely have some order to the book madness. TBR books go into their own shelves (yes, shelves because I have so many!), poetry gets its own section as do the keepers. I also have another bookshelf devoted to my creativity & craft books & magazines. I need a library! :)
I think all of us who love to read have something else in common. All of our homes could pass for libraries. We have books all over the place. At least I do. Happy BTT!
I agree with the others.. buy more shelves!! I can't live with my books stored away, they have to be always within reach. :D
Books that I know I will never read again are in boxes, we only have room for 1 bookshelf and it is pretty fully and I just put them on there, no special order any more,lol.
I definitely face the same problem. I have my books so piled up-books in front of books that I can't find anything. lol. I posted some pics today. I should really get myself some stacking boxes for the ones that are read. Aaaaaaah, the trials of a book lover hey. lol.
Organization? What organization? I'm horrible about organizing my shelves! My tbr pile is kind of organized... but only in a fashion I would ever understand.
Julia - Hehe...that's what I thought. I think tote bags are good idea! :)
Dot - I think that's great that you're giving some to the charity! :D
Violet - I've no choice but to put them in our storage room, but that's just a temporary place to store my books, LOL.
Jennifer - I've got a feeling my unread books are more than those read ones! ;P
Sally - I haven't thought of sorting them out... I'm too scared to think of it, haha.
Sandy - Now I wish I've more room for those books!
Jo - I think sorting by authors are pretty organized too!
Nicole - *chuckle* I know that feeling!
Alice - Yes, definitely more bookshelves... and books, and there goes the vicious cycle, LOL.
Janet - I've nothing against ebooks but I'd still prefer holding a book in hand. :)
Yvonne - I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who have this problem, LOL.
Kathy - I know that feeling! My husband wouldn't dare to go near them too, LOL.
Beth - I'm afraid that's the only way that works for me at the moment.
CeeCee - Yes, we definitely need more bookshelves! :)
Barbara - I guess the only way to solve this problem is to stop buying more new books but I know that's impossible to us booklovers. ;)
Jeane - LOL. I understand... it drives my husband nuts too.
Iliana - Wow, I'm impressed! How I wish I've more space like yours.
Charli - I love the idea of having books all over our place! ;)
Claire - I can't keep my TBR books in boxes, it's too inconvenient for me. ;)
Social Frog - I hardly re-read books, because I'd rather use that time to read my other unread books. ;)
Dar - Boxes are easier to get as compared to bookshelves, at least in my opinion, LOL.
Kim - LOL. I'm not too organized myself when this is concerned, but I've my own way when it comes to shelving my books. :)
Yeah, the storage thing is a problem for all book lovers, I think... which is too bad, seeing as book lovers are the ones who need bookshelves most.
Ideally, I have my books in alphabetical order by author, and then chronologically by series within each author. But it gets to be a chore to check the chronological order every time I move, so right now they're just alphabetical by author... at least the paperbacks are. The hardcovers are all over the place because I don't have enough room for them. *sigh*
The TBR pile, though, is now in alphabetical order by author. Yay! (hopefully) no more doubles!
Yes, I never have enough and I fill them as I get them...maybe I should re-sell my least favourites, huh?
My to-read books fill the bottom rows of one of my bookshelves. The books that I need to read and review are on a separate shelf in my basement, just so they don't get mixed in with the non review books!
LOL--how many boxes of books do you have?? I have a bookshelf for my read books also, but the others are all over the place.
I try to arrange my books by author and genre but it doesnt always work out :)
I know what you mean, I wish I could have an entire room just for books...lol. that might help.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
I missed BTT this week since I was out of town. I separate the classics and designate a section for books to be re-read. Otherwise I shelf my books according to the subject matter in alphabetical order of author's last name.
I shelf my books by author's last name in alphabetical order. For fiction and literature, I single out the ones to be re-read and put them on a different case.
Anonymous Child - Indeed! We definitely need more bookshelves (and space!) for our books. :)
Darla - You're more organized than me! As for hardcovers, I rarely buy them except by my favourite authors. I find keeping them can be another problem too due to their size.
Bethany - I think re-selling our least favourite books is a great idea. These days, I add them onto my BookMooch list for anyone to mooch them.
Shana - I think I've only one or two books for review at this moment. I dare not ask for more as I fear I might not get to them, haha.
Trish - I think there are about five or six boxes (huge ones), haha.
Naida - We need a library to accommodate those books, LOL.
Matt - I wish I've some time for re-reading! Even though if I liked a book, I don't think I'll re-read it as I'd rather use that time to read my other TBR books. However, I'll store them at a place where they're easily accessed, hehe.
My new books all get stuffed onto my nightstand. It is quite full. I really want to get a bookshelf in my bedroom for those.
Mari - I don't keep my books onto my nightstand... I'm afraid they'll topple if I wake up in the morning to set my alarm off and accidentally hit them, LOL.