I have begun to reread some books that I maybe read when I was a child, but to tell you the truth I don’t remember anything about them.  I do want to reread all of Harry Potter (I did read and then listen to them all – does that count?) and unlike the almost daily comments I get from Twilight fans, I’ve only read the series once.

So that begs the question: why is it that I like to keep my books?  If I’m not going to read them again, why devote so much space to them?  I love to OWN books.  I must admit that it’s not very often that I buy brand new (but more now then ever since book blogging!), but I often come home from library book sales and thrift stores with huge piles of books.  I just can’t help myself.  I am also a large user of my library.  And let me tell you, if I really liked a book, it pains me to return it!

I’ve decided that the reason that I like to keep the books that I’ve read and enjoyed, even though it’s unlikely that I’ll read them again, is because I just like to look at them.  I mean, is nothing better then perusing your own shelf and remembering a particular story or characters?  I like to reminisce.

Plus, this is what people see when they walk into my home (full tour)

If that isn’t screaming READER! I don’t know what is.  I like to be surrounded by good books.  I grew up in a home that way and I have fond memories of simply browsing our home library for my next read.  I want the same for my boys.  If books hold a place of importance in my home, then my boys will know that they matter.

If you are like me, why do you keep your books?   I’m talking fiction here.  Do you keep them because you’ll reread them?  If you aren’t ever going to read a book again, why hang on to it?  Or if you don’t reread and don’t hang on to your books, is there a reason why?  Is it simply a lack of space issue or what? I’m not sure that my questions make any sense.  Perhaps I’m trying to justify my ever growing collection and defend myself from my husbands ever growing laments of “But you’ll never read them again!”

What about you?

For some odd reason (which I’m sure if you’re a book lover like me than you can relate) I love to be surrounded my books. Not just any books. My books. Although I do patronize my library quite a bit, I love to own the books I read and often buy a book after checking it out. I sometimes think I could just sit and look at my bookshelves for hours.

This is the view in our front room as soon as you walk through the front door. Isn’t that a wonderful sight to greet you? Most people ask, “Wow, do you like to read?” Second statement is, “Wow, you have a lot of plants.”

How about some close ups to give you an idea of what’s on those shelves (well, if you can make any of the titles out). These first two photos is a sampling of my fiction collection.  I’ve got a entire list that you can see here although it hasn’t been updated for a few months.

The next two photos represent most of our non-fiction collection.

On the left bookshelf are two shelves of animation and filmmaking books, one shelf which consitutes my husband’s fiction collection (that would be the four or five books in the middle), one shelf of parenting/advice books, one shelf of magazines, and the bottom shelf houses our “churchy” books. The right bookshelf houses my photography, art and bookbinding books.

The next two shelves are in with the fiction bookshelves. The first is my gardening books (I’m running out of room on this one) and the second shelf houses my handmade books (which, yes, I did make myself, thanks for asking!)

Next up are the books in the boys’ room. The left photo is what it honestly looked like when I went in. At least they are being read! The right photo is what it’s supposed to look like after I gathered them up from the four corners of the room.

The next three photos represent what is currently sitting on my nightstand. This first photo represents review copies and the bottom three books are ones off of my bookshelf to remind me to read them soon.

This next photo shows what my husband is currently reading. All acquired and signed from the author event that you can read about here.

These are the books I currently have checked out from the library.

This next photo are books that are currently sitting on the shelf underneath my desk. These are all books that I have aquired or duplicate copies of books to give away on this blog. In other words, these are your books! There is a whole other row behind the second row that you can’t see. Keeper and the Kid is about to be mailed out tomorrow and I’ll be giving away the Richard Paul Evans books shortly (straight from his hands to mine). Although, these are not the books in my next HUGE giveaway. Stay tuned in the next couple of days for that one!

Now for the books that have no home. Sadly, I’ve nowhere to put these. Some are stuffed in the corner of the living room, some stacked two rows deep in the office. Remember that library sale? Oh wait, this one too. And yes, that would be boxes of books underneath our bed.

I have a solution though for all these homeless books. This is a huge blank wall in our bedroom, which has always been left blank with the intention of putting in a shelving system from Ikea. This summer is the time! I’m really excited to get it installed.

Something similar to this, but white and with glass doors.

So there you have it! A tour of the books in the Maw house.

Enjoy your browsing?  Chris from Stuff as Dreams are Made On, Maree from Just Add Books, Alessandra from Out of the Blue, Chris from Book-a-Rama, Mel from Melody’s Reading Corner, Suey from It’s All About Books (who also posts a photo of a library that I used to live within walking distance of) and Tasses from Random Wonder all have photos of their own bookshelves as well.

Do you have a blog? Have you posted photos of your bookshelves on it? Feel free to leave the link.