SEEKING SIMPLICITY

BOOKS, I CAN'T QUIT YOU. 

 

I just can't stop collecting books. I know that I should be on the 'e-reader' bandwagon by now. I know it. It's right up my alley, etc and so on, but I just can't do it. I like a real book in my hands, maybe it's because of past professions, perhaps I have a clinging loyalty to the 'ink on paper' way of doing things. Surely it's a habit that I could just break and I'd probably be happy to be free of these piles of paper that are just....hanging around the place. For those of you who buy your books in a digital format, this is probably a non-problem. You are maybe to be applauded for the ecologically sound practice of buying digital media, but I just can't do it. SO, for me - the constant accumulation of ACTUAL books can be a challenge to my limited space. There are fairly few that I'd consider reading again, and those I hold onto of course. And there is that subset of books I've read that I would not read again, but that I've nontheless decided is a 'classic' or 'school-type' and which I'm holding onto for my children to read, at some point. Why buy another copy of "Sister Carrie" in 10 years when I have it right here.... Right? (Hmmmmm...)

I just can't make the leap to digital, though most of the other members of my book club, and many other people I know and who are real appreciators of literature, totally back the experience of reading on a tablet of some sort. I just can't do it. I like the feeling of a real paper book in my hands when I'm settling in for a nice read. I'm a voracious and rather indiscriminate reader, so this means that there's almost nothing I won't pick up off a stoop or take for free if it's being offered. If I'm not currently reading something, there's almost nothing that's beneath my 'giving it a try', because reading nothing is something I can't tolerate. 

Luckily (or maybe not...) for me, just living in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn is like having a free library open 24-hours a day all around me. It's a smorgasbord of free reading materials around here. Rarely does a day pass when I don't see a box, bag, or pile of books sitting on a sidewalk, in a doorway or on a stoop. I cannot pass them by without looking. I don't do this with anything else (toys...NO! clothing DEFINITELY NO!) but I cannot pass by the books.  I'm like this guy is with gum, except it's books. 

And though I don't always take something, I would say that half the time I do, because I just can't leave them sitting out in the weather to go to waste. I understand why people put their books out, I really do (after all....someone will take them...right?) But, I do wish that people would take the time to find a more responsible way of passing on their unwanted reading materials. 

I keep a bag in my bedroom, usually a reusable shopping bag in sturdy paper, doubled, and whenever I finish (or find) a book that is clean and whole but that I already have, finished reading, cannot sell, or do not want, I pile it into the bag. When the bag is full, I take it to Housing Works. 

I also sell books on Amazon.com, or give them to book drives when I hear of one. Sometimes a local library will hold a book drive - selling used books for proceeds to support the program. Scout troops recently held drives to replace books for kids who lost homes in Sandy, our recent unwelcome hurricane visitor. Some great kids books went there from our house recently, and I was glad to be able to help. 

I'm always talking up Freecycle, but I guarantee that if you offer a bag of books, you will get a taker. Especially children's books.

Daycare centers and childrens' playspaces and shelters will take kids books too, they get so much use there that they run through them like nobody does at home, and they need 'new' ones often.  

These are just a few ideas of ways that I've given books away, and tried to at least keep the number going out equal to the number coming in.
Today, a friend brought to my attention another great resource for recycling of books; Better World Books. 

The link is: http://www.betterworldbooks.com

What they are offering is kind of a clearing house for many (not all) of the still-good-quality books you may no longer want to keep. If you have books that you want to donate, you can do so at their expense. They will send a lable for you to use to ship the books which they then sell. The proceeds go then in part to the great cause of literacy programs, it gets the books out of your space, and keeps them out of the trash! They also offer information about other ways to pass books along in a responsible manner, as well as the option to sell them yourself. The next time my bag is full, IF I can't make it to Housing Works, I will try out this option. I'm so happy someone is doing this! 

This post is in honor of my book club friends; see you tonight! I'm looking forward to discussing "Gone Girl" with you! By the way - I bought "Gone Girl" in hard copy (I know, I know...e-reader blah blah blah), read it in a couple of days, listed it on Amazon, and sold it and sent it out before the week was finished.... The ideal book experience for me!