Too many books, too little space. Here's a bunch of books I'm getting rid of because... I just didn't like them at all. Some were just okay, but I don't see ever reading them again and given there are a few highly popular authors in the mix, I'm sure there are people who would appreciate them more than I do. A few of those will go to my friends, who have offered to adopt (thanks Hagen, special thanks to Julia who is willing to offer new home to the book I absolutely loathe :p), the rest will go to a used bookstore.
* Neil Gaiman, American Gods & Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman just ain't my jam. I'm unable to connect to his stories on any level.
* Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper - nyeah. I don't think I will be trying another book by her.
* Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl & Sharp Objects - I want to like Gillian Flynn, but I don't. Gone Girl was too much of a curveball prose for me, Sharp Objects was just... unappealing.
* Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind - I don't get the hype. The book felt quite uneven (look at the chart I made) and there wasn't really anything new in it for me. Plus the appearance of a completely unnecessary dragon.
* Stephen King, Needful Things - I read first 3/4 of this like in 2 days (the book's a beast) and it took me about 2-3 months to read the rest. Not sure what happened there. It's probably me, not the book, though.
* Young Adult ones (all the rest) - didn't impress, won't keep any.
It's interesting to see a lot of 'popular' books that you intend to get rid of. It just goes to show how personal books truly are.
ReplyDelete:-)
Bits & Bobs
Totally true! :) I feel better knowing there are popular books in the mix because it's likely they will get a new home soon :)
DeleteI love the idea of an unhaul! There definitely isn't room for books you didn't like when you have limited space.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the most popular books can prove the trickiest I think -- you pick them up because you've heard so much about them, but they just can't be for everyone. I listened to Gone Girl on audio and enjoyed it in that format -- more than I expect I would have liked reading it in print (will write my review one of these days...) I plan to read Flynn's other books, but also on audio.,
My book club picked Coldest Girl in Coldtown for later on in our schedule and I'm not too excited about it :/ I do tend to like more YA though so I'm hoping I will like it even if I don't love it. *crossing fingers*
Yes, I saw you also rated Gone Girl with 3 on Goodreads - I don't think it's a bad book but it wasn't for me. And it's true that I picked it up because of hype, which probably affected my judgement.
DeleteThe Coldest Girl in Coldtown is actually one of the more decent YA books I've read, I think I gave it 3.5 but I'm not keeping it because I can't ever see myself re-reading it :) There were a few aspects I really liked so I hope you will like it!
I have such a hard time getting rid of books, even if I don't see myself ever reading them again. I'm always afraid that just maybe, I will feel like a re-read one day after all. I should take your unhaul as a good example and maybe do the same...
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean and feel the same, but I found it easier to make this decision now since I'm *really* running out of space, and I don't intend to keep 1-2 star books when I could get new ones for example by my favourite authors, which I am pretty sure I will love :)
DeleteGood on you - I really must do the same! I've had to double stack by bookshelves due to space constraints (the shelves are quite deep), and I've intentionally put all the books I don't like looking at too much (generally because I didn't like reading them) at the back. I think the next step should be to give them to a new home!
ReplyDeleteHope you're doing well :)
Thanks Lucy! I don't have deep enough shelves to put two rows in there, so that isn't even an option. :)
DeleteUnhauling can be a good, healthy thing, especially if you are giving it to other readers who might like it! Sorry that The Name of the Wind wasn't that interesting for you, I really liked that one. American Gods is stellar but I think that it's not for everyone. That's how I mostly feel about Neil Gaiman's books, I appreciate the literary merit behind it, but like you said, it's also not my jam.
ReplyDeleteSo many people are into The Name of the Wind that I have no doubt someone will snatch it :) Yes I agree completely about Gaiman, I feel like I can see, objectively, why he is so popular, but I just personally can't connect. But my friend wanted to try his books so I will send it to him :)
DeleteNeil Gaiman ain't really my jam either. I like him as an author, I guess. He seems like a cool guy. But I have only really ever enjoyed his kid stories. American Gods was a DRAG.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me.... I really, really need to do a book purge soon. Shelves are over-flowing.
Yep, Gaiman seems like a cool guy - just like Patrick Rothfuss. And American Gods *was* a drag.
DeleteI also giveaway books to periodically! My husband and I moved recently and I gave away forty books. Some I donated to the library so that they could be resold at their used bookstore and others I gave away to friends or released to Bookcrossing!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to make this a regular thing as well - no reason to keep some books that might be more joy to other people :)
DeleteI love culling books. It makes me feel free. Very very occasionally I've regretted it later -- gotten rid of a book that I found to be a so-so read, but then reread it later from the library and loved it -- but mostly it just makes me happy and frees up space for me to get more! better! books.
ReplyDeleteJenny, exactly. For me it applies with other things as well, not just books - it makes me feel mentally better to clean away stuff around myself from time to time. I can see how some of the books we give away we may regret later, but hey, there's always the opportunity to buy it again. :)
DeleteI can see at least 5 books that I'd like to read from this pile. I've never gotten rid of any books that I've bought yet but I seem to have enough space. Probably that's the reason it never occurred to me. However, I understand your predicament. It will leave room for new books!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog!
Thanks :) Space is definitely an issue (less now that I have Kindle, but still), and also knowing other people would probably enjoy some books a lot more than I did.
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