Filling up my new bookcases

A few months ago I posted about my new bookcases. I had bookcases before of course, but these were bought to fill an awkward corner in our living room and I am so pleased with them. They make the room look much more cosy, and I love sitting on the sofa and admiring my beautiful shelves.

Over the last few years I've not really collected many books. I either read library books or borrowed books, and many of the books that I purchased I passed on once I had finished them. I had also been decluttering older books that I didn't plan to read again.

But recently I've found myself buying lots more books, usually second hand from charity shops or online. I love a second hand book as long as it's still in good readable condition, I don't mind a gently creased spine, because it shows me that someone has read and (hopefully!) enjoyed the book before me. Not to mention of course the fact that I can buy a whole pile of second hand books for the same price as one new paperback!

I've been buying myself copies of excellent books that I've borrowed from the library over the last couple of years, for example The Binding by Bridget Collins, The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro and A Thousand Paper Birds by Tor Udall.

I've also been re-buying copies of books that I had decluttered and then realised that I wanted to read again, like We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver, The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and Small Island by Andrea Levy. I don't know why I got rid of them!

Although I'm really enjoying building my book collection I'm still quite picky, I'm only going to add the books that really do grab me in some way. I can still enjoy a book but not feel the need to hold on to it, and I still like to pass books on for others to enjoy.

The only trouble is that my news shelves are filling up fast. Luckily I do have a reserve bookshelf in my study which still as plenty of space for new acquisitions!