The Annual Book Organizing

It has started. I spend a week cleaning off the shelves and making piles of books I think should go and those that will go. Sometimes the maybes go back on the shelf. It is interesting to note the giveaway pile usually contains the newer books. The stay on the shelf books are rarely new ones but old favorites, well thumbed and in many cases just plain tattered. It seems the publishing world has exploded, so many books are published and so many of them not very good. I hate wasting time on a poorly written book. Now I realize there is an ass for every seat, but let's face it, quantity doesn't mean quality. There are plenty of books I didn't like, and I toughed them out because they were well written and had something to say. The all time most disliked book on my list is Catch-22. I didn't like, but it was a worthwhile read. It was well done. Another recent book that went on my giveaway pile was "The Known World" by Edward P. Jones. I spent the whole time reading it wondering why it won the Pulitzer Prize. In a word I found it dull. It was the last book I toughed out. While I dislike wasting money, time is more precious to me. I would rather read a book I like twice than a so-so one once. I pulled some books from my shelf for putting in a very special place, my nightstand for rereads. It is not a little pile either. I have  a desk for a nightstand. What made the reread pile?

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Horse Heaven By Jane Smiley

The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx

Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck ( this was my Grandmothers book and always holds me in a very special place when I read it).

Uncle Boris in the Yukon and Other Shaggy Dog Stories by Daniel Pinkwater.

On a sad note, my ancient copy of Robert Frost poems gave up the ghost completely

so if anyone reading this has suggestions for a new compilation PLEASE let me know.