Claire’s Corner

Posted on | February 18, 2010 | 42 Comments

In this week’s Claire Corner I want to discuss my current cull of books, which you will see from above is very much a work-in-progress. Like Carrie Bradshaw and her walk-in closet of Manolo Blahniks, I like to hoard books and keep a hold of favourites and store unread ones for a rainy day … just like a pair of shoes saved for that special outfit, some books are meant for the right time. However, like Carrie in NYC, London shoe-boxes are not meant for vast quantities of books and whilst I retain the dream of a huge house with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in the future, it is not so practical to have all of those books right now. So, I am having a little pre-spring cleaning. I won’t be weeding out too many but a few duplicates have piled up recently and there are a few books here and there that I simply won’t have time to reread and probably won’t want to in thirty-odd years. For the most part I will be simply trying to create some extra space and creatively shelf the books that I already have e.g. shelving all of my hardbacks together. I do plan on being a little ruthless where I can as my boyfriend has intimated that if I can prove that I can successfully cull some books then a new Ikea Billy bookcase may be in our future. Hee, you know you’re a true bibliophile when the prospect of a new bookcase has you jumping for joy.

What is your criteria for keeping books in your collection? For me, it is the desire to have my own personal library and my love of having books in a living-space; I’m a collector and it’s as much about the aesthetic as it is the content. Conversely, what is you criteria for culling books from your shelves? Do you enjoy periodically going through your accumulated to-be-read books and weeding out those that no longer appeal? I am quite fickle when it comes to being attracted to a book at a certain time, acquiring it and then later questioning why I wanted to read it in the first place. On the other side of that, I am looking forward to spending some time with my books in bulk and unearth a book or two that I had forgotten about and now have the opportunity to read on a whim.

Yesterday I read this Guardian post on unreliable narrators. Personally I love a good unreliable narrator, someone whose story you never quite trust, and have read 7/10 books cited as an examples with another -The End of Alice- glaring at me from my wish-list (I also love a novel shrouded in controversy). The most memorable unreliable narrator I have read recently is Merricat in We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson and I am surprised that she doesn’t appear on the list; saying that, Jackson does seem to be unknown this side of the pond and it was only via other bloggers (and a timely and serendipitous reissuing of her books by Penguin) that I discovered and loved her work. Do you like a narrator who perhaps leads you a merry dance? I enjoy never being certain of what I have read, whether it played out that way or was a figment of the narrator’s overactive imagination or means of protecting themselves; its the fiction within the fiction that captivates me, the fully-constructed characterisation and nuanced narrative. Do you have any unreliable narrators to recommend?

Time for a crazy bibliophile confession: I HATE when an author or book title’s name is misspelled and it is one of my pet peeves in the blogosphere. I think that if you are going to the trouble of reading a book and writing about it then you should extend the courtesy to ensuring you spell it correctly. I appreciate that not everyone has the time to meticulously write their blog-posts and certainly not to proof-read their comments but there are particular mistakes that I think are unforgivable … the one that has driven me batty recently is the erroneous spelling of Jane Austen as Jane Austin. I have seen this countless times and it has made me see red. You may think that I am nit-picking but this is Jane freakin’ AUSTEN we are talking about and not some new writer with an oddly spelled surname. It is not an erroneous typo in my eyes but an egregious one that is tantamount to blasphemy. I hasten to add that it is not just on blogs that I have seen this but across other media and in a BOOK! Okay, it was “Austinesque” as opposed to “Austin” but it’s a new conspiracy that even editorial staff are in on. Get it together, people, you are referring to one of the literary canon’s greats and the least you can do is know how to spell her name. Did I miss the memo where the reading public conferred and changed the author’s name by deed-poll? On that note I will cease my ranting and off to re-watch the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice for the millionth time.

Comments

42 Responses to “Claire’s Corner”

Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
February 18th, 2010 @ 1:43 pm

I LOVE your bookshelves! I really need to get some more bookshelf space as all my books are piled up in random stacks and are ugly to look at. I need to have a big clear out as well. I know that I’m never going to get round to reading some of my books, so it would be good to get rid of some.

I love your little Austen rant! I’m not sure if I am to blame, but if I am then my excuse is that my husband is called Austin, so sometimes it comes out like that automatically.
Annabel (gaskella)
February 18th, 2010 @ 1:51 pm

Like you I find I often have to cull books from the TBR pile – mostly impulse buys from the charity shop or supermarket.

I also try to keep fewer of the books I read nowadays, nothing under four stars unless they’re collectable or part of a series, or a classic my daughter might like when she grows up (that’s a good one), or …. the list of criteria for keeping goes on and on.

But what would we do without Billy bookcases though?…
JoAnn
February 18th, 2010 @ 2:02 pm

Now you have me laughing out loud. We share a pet peeve – Jane “Austin” drives me crazy!
When I do cull books, they are either from my tbr and no longer appeal, books I’ve been saving to reread but probably won’t, or books purchased and read that I don’t want to keep.
Cristina
February 18th, 2010 @ 2:13 pm

Oh, I love Billy bookcases and thank you for treating us to a piccie of yours. I like how you’ve arranged them in that corner and your books look so colourful. Sadly (or luckily?) my book reducing exercises are timy compared to most bloggers and are usually about getting rid of duplicates or a really disappointing read. I tend to borrow from libraries more than purchase books… especially these days. Though I find that my library books pile up and I have to ruthlessly reduce them and make a note to borrow them again at a later date.
I saw ‘Austin’ only yesterday on a Google search result and thought that was lame
Verity
February 18th, 2010 @ 2:13 pm

OMG – love the picture of the bookshelves and the books piled up in front. No wonder you need a cull

I was contemplating culling my books again this morning; I find it difficult to get rid of things as I am very selective in what I add to my collection in the first place. Books that I cleared out earlier this year were mainly charity shop buys that I’d read just the once and didn’t think I’d read again and a few review copies that I hadn’t enjoyed.

I find misuse of apostrophes even more frustrating than spellings!
Molly
February 18th, 2010 @ 2:19 pm

I am still oohing and ahhing over your bookcase!

I do periodically weed through books, but I also tend to keep the majority of them for another moment in time when I know I will be inspired to read, or re-read, these personal treasures.
Michelle N
February 18th, 2010 @ 2:27 pm

Good for you for working on culling your collection. I’m thinking about having a book swap party in the spring to do just that. I can’t wait to buy real estate so I can have all of my books in one place (some are in storage, sadly, but I refuse to move them here and there — it’s HARD!). I especially hate it when people misspell Austen as Austin, as it reminds me of one of my high school teachers I hated so much, Ms. Austin. To misspell the name of such a well-known author is just inexcusable and discredits whatever the misspeller is talking about, you know?
Steph
February 18th, 2010 @ 4:49 pm

Generally I do on-the-spot culls, that is, as soon as I finish reading a book, I decide whether it’s going to go back on the shelves. My criteria essentially requires me to answer the following question: Do I love this book enough that I know I will re-read it again? If I don’t see myself wanting to re-read it in the future, into the “sell” bag it goes! It’s as simple as that. I used to keep books for posterity, showcasing certain titles simply because I’ve read them, but with space a key issue, I can only afford to keep around the books I really love and want to read again.

Also, I really hate it too when people misspell authors’ names, ESPECIALLY Jane Austen. As you said, it’s not a particularly hard name to spell, and I just find it unintentionally hilarious when someone claims their favourite author is “Jane Austin”. Really? If you love her so much, maybe you could spell her name right!
The Book Shelf
February 18th, 2010 @ 5:10 pm

The question of book space is one I’ve obviously been a’pondering recently. I think one of my criteria for a keeper is a good book bath. The kind that you can pick up and dip into whenever the mood catches you, and no matter how many times you read it, you still enjoy it.

I’m also a big fan of heirloom books. When my grandma died, I inherited quite a few of her books and I really treasure them. They don’t have any value, and to be honest, many don’t really interest me, but I’ll never throw them out.

Thanks for your visit by the way!
anothercookiecrumbles
February 18th, 2010 @ 6:11 pm

Wow! that’s stunning. While I am a collector, my present collection is about a fourth of yours. Love the way you’ve got yours sorted as well. There’s a major case of book-envy-itis going on here.

Oh, and I love The West Wing. Have the boxset, and was watching season 3 over the Xmas break.

I haven’t read a single Austen, but still think Austin is unforgivable. I am more sympathetic to Bronte instead of Bronte (with the accent).

My book culling included putting loads of books on ReadItSwapIt and managed to get some really incredible books. Have another pile I’m planning on taking down to the local Oxfam.
Rebecca Reid
February 18th, 2010 @ 6:43 pm

I love your organized bookshelves!!!!

Austin bugs me too. I can really relate.
Nymeth
February 18th, 2010 @ 7:25 pm

Those misspellings are a BIG pet peeve of mine, though I’m sure I’ve been guilty of them in the past. It particularly upsets me when it comes to names in languages other than English, because I sometimes get the impression that people think that in other languages it doesn’t really matter, you know? Which can feel a bit dismissive to someone who speaks one of the language. For example, I hate Paulo Coelho with a passion, but it still makes me cringe to see his name spelled “Paolo Coehlo” or any other such variation (though I have been amused by the spelling “CoehLOL” ) – especially when the misspelled name is right next to a cover image where it’s spelled correctly in big fat letters! I’m sure this happens in every language, but I always notice the Portuguese ones, for obvious reasons “Jose Samargo”, “Eca de Queirios”, etc… and don’t get me started on spelling Portuguese “Portugese”…ugh :\ [/rant]
Simon T
February 18th, 2010 @ 9:08 pm

Lovely bookshelves

When I started reading your final paragraph, my immediate thought was “I HATE it when people write ‘Austin’ instead of ‘Austen’” – and then that was the very example you gave! Great minds…
Tony
February 18th, 2010 @ 10:22 pm

You claim not to have a lot of space, but that (corner of the) room looks surprisingly spacious and airy – compared to my cluttered ’study’ anyway! Oh well, that’s what happens when you have kids…

As for culling, I just can’t bring myself to do it. There are a couple of not-so-good books I wouldn’t care about seeing the back of (‘Vernon God Little’, thy destination is the local Op Shop), but I’d say that a morning’s spring clean would produce no more than ten books I’d be prepared to part with. It’s just not worth it!
Jo
February 18th, 2010 @ 10:24 pm

Oooooooooo…..I LOVE your bookshelves! I, too, need to cull my books, which always proves to be an extremely painful process. The last time I moved, I was bound and determined to ruthlessly go through my books and get rid of some so that I didn’t have to move all of them. Out of the 300 odd books I have with me (many more are being stored in my parents’ basement), I chose…..5 to get rid of. Sigh. I just like books too much to get rid of them! Now I need to be even MORE ruthless because I am out of shelf space, and I’m almost out of floor space! You know you’re a book addict when…
Mrs.B
February 19th, 2010 @ 12:18 am

Love your very organised bookshelves. Mine is a mess. The only books in order are my Persephones and Viragos but that isn’t too difficult of course. I must get to it one day. I’m inspired by your colour coded books.

I agree on every point about your Austen rant. I’ve seen the same misspelling several times and it’s enough for me not to read anything else on someone’s blog. Misspellings in general bug me but if it’s an author’s name then that’s really unforgivable.
Eva
February 19th, 2010 @ 12:39 am

We’ve already bonded over Austen.

I’m not overly attached to my books, mainly because I hope to move around a lot, so if I do ever have a fancy personal library, it’ll be in the far off future! That being said, I do still have books overflowing my 3 bookcases, so I don’t get rid of books all the time, lol. For my ‘permanent library,’ my standard is: books I want to reread/reference one day and books by fave authors.
Colleen (Books in the City)
February 19th, 2010 @ 3:08 am

I love looking a books shelved like that!

Living in NYC, I cannot let the books get too out of control or I would have no where to actually live! For that reason, I rarely keep books that I have read – I usually pass them on the friends of swap them. But I do hoard books to be read and have a hard time giving up on them so I hold on to them with the intentions of reading them someday.
kiss a cloud
February 19th, 2010 @ 6:35 am

Haha, I’ve been seeing ‘Austin’ for months, even with those who claim her as a fave, and I just find it funny because how can you misspell an author whose name is supposed to be engraved in your heart?

Anyway, I cull ALL the time. Once I read something that didn’t really feel anything special, it goes to my friends or to Goodwill or Salvation Army. I consider books I don’t love as clutter and I hate having clutter about.
Karen
February 19th, 2010 @ 8:24 am

Like so many others Claire I love your shelves! I have been wanting to post about my shockingly unorganised shelves for ages now but I feel too embarrased to share my mess at the moment!! I also have the same (or very similar) Buddha statue as you!
I have found myself slipping more and more into being collector of books lately and not just a reader of them. I have been picking up some books which I think I may not even ever read but I just really love the look of them. The budget might put a stop to this very soon I think!
Michelle (su[shu])
February 19th, 2010 @ 9:19 am

I haven’t amassed enough to cull yet, but just looking at the amount of books I’ve purchased in the last couple of months as opposed to the actual number I’ve read (I read mostly from the library), I’m thinking I’m a little obsessive and possessive about books.

And I think your confession isn’t crazy at all. I’m a stickler for spelling author names and book titles right too..
Dot
February 19th, 2010 @ 10:11 am

Wow! That looks pretty organised to me! It’s good to have a cull every now and again, I sometimes forget what I have as well!
Sakura
February 19th, 2010 @ 11:22 am

I immediately noticed your row of Pratchetts! Nice. My main reason for culling would be limited living space plus the idea of lugging all my books when I have to move again. Things will change when I get a place of my own, and like you, I’ll be looking around for some glamorous shelves.
Paperback Reader
February 19th, 2010 @ 6:42 pm

Jackie, I have lived with stacks of books all over the place and I know how difficult it can be. I’m hoping to feel unburdened by freeing up even just a little space.
You’re not to blame for my Austen rant, at least as far as I am aware, but you do have a very valid excuse!

Annabel, we would be lost without our Billy bookcases! I like you keeping books for your daughter when she’s older … I don’t have that excuse but it is lovely reasoning.

JoAnn, I’m always pleased to make you laugh and I’m relieved not to be only one irked by it!

Cristina, I try to use the library where I can but the library piles overwhelm me and more often or not they are returned unread and usually added to my collection at a later date; I abhor being rushed into reading a book and usually they are requests that by the time they arrive and I get around to reading them, no longer appeal.

Verity, the pile at the front isn’t usually there! It is freaking me out but a necessary evil while I work away at the shelves.
I am attempting to be more selective with books because of space constraints.
Misuse of apostrophes frustrate me too.

Molly, that’s my weakness – holding onto those treasures in the hope of one day having the time to reread them. Sigh.

Michelle, most of my books are still at home in Glasgow (mainly academic ones) and I wish I could have them all together; the thought of moving any or all of these puts me off the idea of moving! I completely agree that the misspelling of Austen discredits the user as it comes of as unknowledgeable and lazy.

Steph, I require your discipline and restraint! That’s a wonderful habit that I wish I could practice myself… I need to do something with space such a key issue in my case also.
I knew you would empathise with my Austen irritation! As Eva said to me via Twitter, what does the capital of Texas have to do with Jane?! I have no faith in anybody who misspells the name of a writer that they purport to be a favourite.
Paperback Reader
February 19th, 2010 @ 9:16 pm

Cate, I like your book bath analogy! I don’t have any heirloom books myself but I have a number with sentimental value.

anothercookie, I do like to show off my bookshelves! Hee. This is actually about a quarter of my collection as I have so many books still at my parents’ home.
The West Wing is a fabulous TV show and I still well up at “Two Cathedrals” from Season 2 even though I’ve watched it numerous times.
Bronte without the accent I can understand because it is so difficult to format accents on the web without purposely going elsewhere and then copy&paste.

Rebecca, it seems that a number of bloggers feel my pain regarding Austen. I don’t feel so much like the spelling police now!

Ana, I can only imagine the frustration that causes. I agree that people are often dismissive of spellings of names in different languages, which is entirely disrespectful.

Simon, great minds indeed! Actually when I was writing it I thought of my fellow Austen fans on the blogosphere .

Tony, it is quite the spacious corner indeed but the sofa was pulled forward a little for the benefit of the photograph! I hope I’ll cull more than ten books but we shall see…

Jo, thanks! I empathise completely; when I was moving from home I was supposed to be ruthless and drastically failed.

Astrid, I’m glad you feel inspired and hope your books have some semblance of order one day.
I’m relieved that you feel as strongly about the Jane Austen misspelling as I do. It hasn’t made me stop reading any blogs yet but if it persists then I am more than prepared to do so.

Eva, I like your standards for retaining books in your collection and share them; I like to keep books on my shelves for potential reference too. I don’t think I’ll travel as much as you will, certainly not for long periods, but I do like the thought of freedom to travel and a personal library holds me down…
Paperback Reader
February 19th, 2010 @ 9:36 pm

Hi Colleen, thanks for commenting on my blog for the first time and I’m pleased you enjoyed seeing my bookcases.
I would love to live in NYC but I’m not prepared to sacrifice my books! Hee.

Claire, I love that “engraved on your heart” question! It’s in the same vein as literary tattoos that are misspelled/misquoted *rolls eyes*
I don’t like clutter either but I couldn’t consider my books as clutter! My mother would disagree however about the ones still at home…

Karen, the Buddha was a gift from me to my boyfriend and I love him sitting there.
Budget is the main deterrent to my collecting not that it is entirely a bad thing. A true bibliophile loves the look of books as much as the content, in my opinion.

Michelle, I’m a little obsessive and possessive too! I recently came to the stark realisation that the amount of books bought/acquired to books read ratio was too high to ever be realistically achieved.
I’m glad I’m not being seen as the spelling police and so many fellow bloggers and book lovers appreciate where I am coming from.

Dot, so pleased it isn’t just me who forgets! I do have random order to my shelves but other parts are higgeldy-piggledy.

Sakura, to be fair that’s a row of my boyfriend’s row of Pratchett books!
The thought of lugging my books from living space to living space in different cities is the main reason I want to cull and continue to periodically cull.
bybee
February 20th, 2010 @ 11:18 am

Good for you for speaking up about Jane “Austin”…ugh.

I enjoy a book with an unreliable narrator. Holden Caulfield is another good example.

I love your bookcase corner set-up..you’ve given me ideas!
Simon (Savidge Reads)
February 20th, 2010 @ 1:02 pm

Hahaha the Austen comment made me laugh, I think I might be guilty of that, though I never read her and rarely write about her (this could soon change).

I love going through and sorting books, makes me feel like I own a book shop haha. Most jealous of your shelves!
Paperback Reader
February 20th, 2010 @ 5:35 pm

Hi bybee, thanks for commenting for the first time. I’m pleased you agree with me about the disgusting “Austin” fascination going around.
Holden Caulfield is the epitome of the unreliable narrator.
I like that my bookshelves have inspired you!

Simon, as far as I am aware you are NOT an offender! Hee. Good luck with Austen! I hope you enjoy her.
Ah, if only we did own a book shop or a library like the Beast gives Beauty… I do love my shelves!
A Bookish Space
February 20th, 2010 @ 7:51 pm

I am so envious of your bookshelves! I have only three small ones scattered in different rooms, and would love yours. I love the way that books furnish a room and say something about you, which is why I like to display mine. I am thinking of having a book cull soon, and will be getting rid of ones that I have read and can’t see myself wanting to read them again.
Jenny
February 20th, 2010 @ 9:07 pm

I err on the side of caution when culling my books – but I do find it satisfying when I can give away books I don’t want anymore, and have their space on the bookshelf for other, better books.

I love the IDEA of unreliable narrators, but in execution I am picky about which ones I like. I loved Lolita and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, but I am generally unfond of descent-into-madness sorts of books, where the narrator is unreliable due to craziness. I always want to love them! But I rarely do.
Paperback Reader
February 20th, 2010 @ 11:52 pm

A Bookish Space, thank you. What they say about me and my love for them is definitely my intent behind displaying my books too; I think that bookcases instantly make a living space homelier and inviting.

Jenny, wise approach but also a sentiment I share regarding creating space for future book experiences.
Interesting comment about mentally unstable narrators… I find them curious studies but prefer the morally or emotionally unreliable.
Mae
February 21st, 2010 @ 4:18 am

I’m a huge book hoarder too. I’m dreading the day when I have to pack my books to move them.

Love your collection. The Penguins and Virago looks so sexy together. And I see Gilmore Girls!!
Sarah
February 21st, 2010 @ 10:42 am

I recently discovered Alice Munro spelt incorrectly (by me)on my blog. Oh, the shame! The simpler the name the more likely a misspelling; for instance I wouldn’t dream of attempting Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie without first looking it up

Those are great bookshelves despite the London ’shoe-box’ effect. Good luck getting your hands on some more.
Paperback Reader
February 21st, 2010 @ 11:38 am

Mae, it almost puts you off ever moving, doesn’t it?!
I am particularly proud of my entire shelves of imprints and they complement each other well.
You do indeed see Gilmore Girls! I love the series and imported the later boxsets so I could have a full collection.

Sarah, I can appreciate that; I misspelled Holmes (as in Sherlock) as Homes in a comment once and was thoroughly mortified! I actually know how to spell Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie without looking it up but then I’m a bit of a spelling freak (grammar, not so much).
kimbofo
February 21st, 2010 @ 8:05 pm

I’m late to this, but your bookcases and all the books arranged on them are absolutely gorgeous!! I don’t have all that many books — I usually get rid of them a couple of months after I’ve read them — but the ones I do have aren’t arranged in a particularly attractive way. It’s all higgedly piggedly (sp?) — although my Persephones and my Penguin modern classics do have shelves all to themselves!!

PS> Your piccies are always crystal clear. What camera do you use?
Paperback Reader
February 21st, 2010 @ 8:12 pm

Thanks, Kim! Arranging by imprint is my preferred way of arranging books and your Persephone and Penguin Modern Classic shelves will, I am sure, be very attractive. Don’t you have lovely oak bookshelves too? They’ll offset the white Penguins beautifully.

My photographs are taken with a Canon 400D with a 50mm lens.
Vasilly
February 24th, 2010 @ 9:55 pm

Your bookshelves are beautiful! There’s so much color.

I’m noticing a lot of bloggers have been ranting about Jane Austen’s name being misspelled. So far, I haven’t ran into the people who have been doing it so I’m happy.

I only get rid of books I’m sure I’ll never reread, have duplicates of, or just no longer want. In the last two or three months, I’ve given away at least 100 books. I feel better now.;)
Paperback Reader
February 25th, 2010 @ 9:01 am

Thanks, Vasilly. I do like the brightness.
I hadn’t noticed anyone else ranting so relieved I’m not the only one! There was a recent spurt of offenders and it was most infuriating.
You should feel better, that’s quite the cull! If only I had your discipline… Mine is going slowly.
Rachel
March 1st, 2010 @ 7:55 pm

I rarely go through my books and pick some out to sell or give away. My book mood swings are so varied I’d hate to get rid of something and find myself wanting it in future.
Jodie
March 2nd, 2010 @ 2:18 pm

The colour coordination works well, so pretty.

Ooo I want to talk about unreliable narrators because I’ve been getting back into stories featuring them. For a while I found them a bit over used, unsurprising since I knew I had to watch out for them. I finished ‘Liar’ by Justine Larbalestier recently which has a fantastic narrator who changes round the idea about unreliable behaviour by telling us she’s a liar from the start. I also remember Joanne Harris created a good unreliable narrator in ‘Gentlemen and Players’.
Paperback Reader
March 3rd, 2010 @ 12:31 pm

Rachel, that is my concern with culling my books also. I have such an eclectic taste but it often moves in different directions and often onwards.

Jodie, I do enjoy an unreliable narrator who sets out that they are one from the get-go; it makes an interesting, distrusting read (Humbert Humbert is the most famous to do that).