The Hopefuls discussion

Heya!! I was looking at carries bookshelf tours and wondered what everyone else's book shelves were like!! Do you alphabetise? Mainly use kindle? Where are your bookshelves?? Use the library??

I have a bookshelf that has my "to-read" books on them. At the moment it's got 15 books on it! I get a bit obsessive with buying books! Once I've read them I either put them in storage boxes under my bed (if I've enjoyed them or of they're part of a series), or I give them to charity.

I have 135 books, 75 unread and 60 read which is a bit concerning, this number doesn't include books from my childhood so there might be more read than unread!!

I like to own my books rather than use my kindle or the library, I like to look at them and forte to return books to the library.

My shelves are in an alcove in my bedroom, my dad kindly shelved it out for me, I also have some ikea cubes as we didn't realise I'd fill the alcove so quick!!

I have a tbr jar on my shelf (to reduce the 75!!) I also have some bits from a Rachel Cain book signing.

I hate getting rid of books!! It would kill me!!

I divide them by genre, it's much easier. Alphabetising or separating by color takes way too long! :)

Storage boxes is a good idea!! I have a to read shelf too!!

I don't like getting rid of books I like (so I don't) but if I didn't enjoy it, I feel it should be put back out there for someone else to enjoy

I tryed colour co-ordinating but I didn't like seperating series es, also a lot of my books are black for some reason...

I guess that makes sense xx no point keeping something that someone else would love more!!

I used to separate them by colour when I was younger. Now I arrange them by height and I find it very annoying when books in a series are different heights because I either have to separate the series or make an axception to the height order, haha :P

I prefer them in non height order!! It looks more rugged I guess but I can't stand it when a series does a cover change or makes one bigger *cough cough city of heavenly fire**

I don't really organise my to-read books, they're just piled on top of each other on a shelf (because there's not enough room from them to be upright as its only a small shelf) the books I've read are organised by author but in no particular order, unless it's in a series.

I have 481 physical books (give or take. need to do a recount, occasionally I will get rid of a few books I don't want or need anymore, but don't really want to even try right now)and a few ebooks on my kindle. They are kept on my normal tall bookshelf, a small bookshelf that is attached to the wall (kind of like a small like bathroom cabinet but for books?), a small shelf that is a part of my bookshelf, and a plastic storage bin that is under my desk... I have even had to start stacking some on my little table xD There is like very little organization to my shelves and I love it that way, authors separated, a couple series separated, stacked books, two layer of books on multiple shelves. I just love how it looks! I mean some places are kind of organized? Like my Stephen King books are together and take up half of a shelf, my Mitch Albom books are together, my comics/graphic novels/mangas are together, my John Steinbeck books are together (and they are beautiful all stack up beside my Stephen Kind books!)... and that's about it really when it comes to being orderly or whatever. I just put books where they look nice. I would say my bookshelves are controlled chaos. Cluttered but clean. Cozy. My bookshelves just screams bibliophile and I love it:3 I also decorate my bookshelf. I have a red masquerade mask I got in my prom goody bag thing (a prom I didn't even attend lol) and I have attached it to my bookshelf on the top shelf, I have a piece of copper that is shaped to look like my name that my dad made me attached to the top of the bookshelf so it kind of hangs down over my books that are on that shelf, I have a tiny stuffed dinosaur sitting beside a Harry Potter book, I have a few little figurines, and a little tin that holds my book marks. But yeah that is how my bookshelves are... Have a lovely day :)

Ashley wrote: "I have 481 physical books (give or take. need to do a recount, occasionally I will get rid of a few books I don't want or need anymore, but don't really want to even try right now)and a few ebooks ..."

And I will rarely use the library. I love the library but I just never go... I need to fix that xD

I don't use book marks, I uses TV remotes, receipts, dog poo bags (unused!!), blankets... I'm hopeless!! I don't no why I do it, I only noticed when mum complained because she needed the remote but it was hidden inside my book!!

Ailish wrote: "I don't use book marks, I uses TV remotes, receipts, dog poo bags (unused!!), blankets... I'm hopeless!! I don't no why I do it, I only noticed when mum complained because she needed the remote but..."

xD Never heard of anyone using a remote before that is so brilliant :) And I am rough on my bookmarks so I don't buy them I get the free ones from the library and sometimes my mom will give me one that they had at the school she works at. They always get bent and destroyed by the time I am finished reading a book. I bought two really pretty book marks with tassels and beads hoping I would quit destroying bookmarks but it didn't work... one is bent and both of their tassels are broken -_- I just play with whatever bookmark I am using at the time while I read and when I look up I discover I have ruined yet another bookmark. And I have also been known to use receipts and ripped pieces of paper as well xD

I have around 150 books, some currently lent out and I keep most of them on my 6 shelf bookcase. I tried to organise by series and genre, but now they go wherever there is space. I keep my to-read books separate, except from reference books that won't fit anywhere else or school books. I used to prefer ordered bookshelves but now I see the beauty in the disorder. I still know where all my books are though! I also use any scraps I can find as bookmarks (sometimes I even dog-ear - shush...). Do you guys have to stack books on top of rows of books?

I used to have 1 shelf (it was a depressing time) and my books were double stacked an had books on the top and hanging off the edge!! I really like to see my books so I don't double stack and also I dislike putting books on the top because I can't get to the ones underneath as easily!

Don't worry I won't tell ;)

Chloe wrote: "I have around 150 books, some currently lent out and I keep most of them on my 6 shelf bookcase. I tried to organise by series and genre, but now they go wherever there is space. I keep my to-read ..."

Oh my goodness, yes I have books stacked on top of rows of books xD And I loved how you worded "I see the beauty in the disorder" I totally agree. I can never imagine my bookshelves being organized and stacked upright (though even if I did want them stack upright and not double stacked it would be impossible atm since I have so many books 0-0). :D

My bookshelf needs a serious reorganisation!! I think I'm going to put my tbr somewhere out of the way where I can't see it to encourage me to read them so they can be displayed! (If you get what I mean!!)

I also want to display my cd's and some of my DVDs, not on my bookshelf but just in general, I really love album art and I just want to see it!!

My bookshelf can be in any order, but series of books MUST be together. So like I'll have the maze runner trilogy and prequel next to the hunger games trilogy.

I have series by the same author together but not all my series together, I don't have many singular books anyway so it's not an issue xx :)

My books aren't really in order. I don't buy that many books - I like owning books, but I also don't want to own too many and I don't really see the point in owning books I won't reread. Also I can't really afford to buy all the books I read - I read too much for that. Plus my parents are very skeptical about letting me buy books online and since I don't live in an english-speaking country but hate reading translations, it's limited how many books I can get from bookstores. I probably own around a 100 books. I have two shelves over my bed, where mostly english ones are kept. They're not really in any order - I like them kind of height organized but not too much. I'm not a fan of organizing by color either - YA books are so colorful, so it gets too rainbow-ish and colorful for my taste. I got a bookshelf as well with books on the shelves mixed up with other items like souvenirs, pictures, whatever. I keep children's books there - they're often bought used and not very pretty, as well as the twilight series (c'mon its pretty even though its not really quality books) and various books that i just didn't have space for on the shelves over my bed or book that's aren't pretty to look at. And then I have my 3 John Green books in the window next to my bed :)

I usually borrow my books from the library and then buy them if i love it and/or if they don't have it and i'm dying to read it. Except if I'm on vacation and get to visit bookstores with lots of english books - then i just go crazy :)

I have an addiction to owning books, I can't not own them, there my pride and joy, yeah I guess ya books are a bit colourful!!!

I usually arrange all my books by genre, but i do have a to-read shelf as well. Although I'm completely obsessed with owning books, it's getting more complicated for I don't have enough space or, what is worse, I can't find the books I want to read in any book store (I'm from Argentina which kinda sucks). So now I got myself a kindle and I'm pretty much in love with it. If I read a book which I absolutely adore, then I might as well order it on line to own an actual physical copy.

If I've borrowed it or have it on kindle, I won't buy it because I've all ready read it so I buy it because otherwise I'll waste money on a book I've already read if that makes any sense, also I love the experience of being in a book shop, and browsing rather than clicking a few buttons :P

I'll post a pic on my Instagram in a second so you can see mine. *I'll post a link to the pic on here once I post it*

They're not exactly organized at all. The top shelf is the less visually appealing one with most of the stand-alone books on them.
Shelf 2 contains series and books by the same author. I've got most of the Series of Unfortunate events, Warriors, some AVI books, the 2 Miss Peregrine books, and 2 Tales for the Midnight hours.
Shelf 2.5 is my pattern books (I'm 16 and I knit... I was born to be old), and books I haven't gotten around to reading for some reason or another. 3 of them haven't been read for the simple fact that they're in German....

http://instagram.com/p/s_Gb1wi3L_/

Here they are! Also my fancy trombone decided to make an appearance. The area underneath is just storage, and the pretty box on the shelf stores my makeup!

I usually organize my books by whether or not they're in a series (all of the series goes first on my book shelves, then the singular books) and then by author

Putting a pic on Instagram was a good idea!! I might do that!! Wooohh pattern books!!!

Haha, why do you have German books?? I went to Italy and bought 'City of ...' Still not sure what, I can't read that either!! Wish I'd got doll bones, it was soooo pretty!!!

I can't be bothered to look for authors!! I've sort of got genres groups, mine needs organising!!

Darby wrote: "http://instagram.com/p/s_Gb1wi3L_/

Here they are! Also my fancy trombone decided to make an appearance. The area underneath is just storage, and the pretty box on the shelf stores my makeup!"

:o your bookshelf is so pretty! I may post a pic of my main shelf on my profile soon too (i don't have an instagram lol)

Ailish: I've taken 2 years of German at school (I've since forgotten most of it... Sorry Mr. Nelson) but somehow my parents thought I could handle whole novels. I haven't removed them from the box yet....

Ashley: thanks ^-^ I need more space though. Shelf 1 is about to become a 2 row shelf like the middle one.. :/

Darby: Ohh!! When I did French at school my dad encouraged me to watch films in French, he talked about buying books but I only know 'ca va' and 'ananas' so it wouldn't be very useful :/

Darby and Ailish: This is my 5th year learning French at school and I really want to get a book in French just to see if I understand it :D

Wow!! You must know a lot!! I did 4 years in school but haven't done it in 2 years because I opted out :/

Ailish wrote: "Wow!! You must know a lot!! I did 4 years in school but haven't done it in 2 years because I opted out :/"

I wouldn't say I know a lot :P I find it easy to write and understand when someone is speaking, but I still need practice when it comes to speaking myself haha. Anyway I think it's a really fun thing to learn :)

Yeah, languages are pretty fun! Really useful too, I wish I knew more French, I was going to put some French music on my phone so I can pick bits up

Ailish: Ananas infuriates me because WHY DO THE ENGLISH HAVE TO CALL IT A PINEAPPLE?!
And at my school you only take both years if you like the teacher. His name is Mr. Nelson and he's this really serious middle aged man with a Shitzu named Willy, and a monotone voice. Picture Squidward.... He's just really fabulous and he let us watch SNK fan videos on the big smart board during class XD.

But German movies are super weird, so I usually look for English movies with German dub.

Catalina: My BFF is about to take French 4. The teacher wants her to be an exchange student to Quebec and she's just shocked. I don't think she's going through with it, but she was just so shocked and flattered that the teacher said those lovely things to her ^-^

Darby: might be a stupid question, is it a 'pineapple' in America? Yeah it is a bit wierd!!

I personally hate it when it's down to the teacher, you can help who you have!! My yr 9 science teacher was awful, I ended up with a c (which isn't too bad but ya know) then year 10 I had a lovely teacher and came out with an a*!! Teachers make a humongous difference but you just have to stick with what your given.

I don't like dubs, I always get critical :P

Ailish: it is pineapple and it distresses me 0-0

Hahaha, it's just one of those wierd thugs about the English language!!

Darby wrote: "http://instagram.com/p/s_Gb1wi3L_/

Here they are! Also my fancy trombone decided to make an appearance. The area underneath is just storage, and the pretty box on the shelf stores my makeup!"

I posted a picture of one of my bookshelves on my goodreads profile if ya'll want to see it. It is kind of messy so sorry about that :)

Ashley wrote: "Darby wrote: "http://instagram.com/p/s_Gb1wi3L_/

Here they are! Also my fancy trombone decided to make an appearance. The area underneath is just storage, and the pretty box on the shelf stores my..."

Also sorry the picture is such bad quality. And you can't really see a lot of the books because I double stack, also since I have more books in other places those aren't all of my books. Anyways hope you all have a lovely day :)

Ashley: took me forever to figure out how to access the pictures, but it looks really lovely and diverse. I hope you're proud of your book shelf baby :,)

Darby wrote: "Ashley: took me forever to figure out how to access the pictures, but it looks really lovely and diverse. I hope you're proud of your book shelf baby :,)"

Ahhh thank you! :D That means a lot to me. And I am proud of it, it took years to build up my collection. I just love books :3 Thankies :3 <3