So, the thing you are not supposed to do before you prepare for a major move is buy more stuff. But that doesn’t apply to books, right? Right.
Thanks, fellow book addicts, for supporting my delusional behavior.
My first transgression was at our annual library book sale last week… I didn’t try very hard to keep away. I managed to leave with just five books, which I thought was rather impressive:
- Mona in the Promised Land by Gish Jen — Historical fiction about a Chinese teenager who moves with her family to Scarshill, New York in 1968.
- Vacationland by Sarah Stonich — Linked stories connected to a cabin in northern Minnesota, sounds like my jam.
- Four Souls by Louise Erdrich — I want to read Louise Erdrich’s backlist, so snatched this one up as soon as I saw it.
- The Hamilton Case by Michelle de Kretser — Interconnected lives in Sri Lanka before independence in 1948.
- The Big Burn by Timothy Egan — The true story of of the largest forest fire in American history and it’s impact on Teddy Roosevelt’s legacy.
Last week, as part of my pre-move anxiety cleansing, I did a sweep through my bookshelves to gather some books to donate. We took three big bags to Half Price Books in the Twin Cities, and it seemed a shame not to use my cash for at least a few titles:
- The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore — I’ve heard tons of good things about this memoir, about how two kids named Wes Moore grew up in the same neighborhood but became wildly different adults.
- Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan — I have an ARC of this great memoir, but I’ve been hoping to replace it with a real copy.
- The Beet Queen by Louise Erdrich — Same as above, I’m excited to dig into her backlist. This one was published the year I was born, so it’ll be good for the Read Harder challenge.
- The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel — I’ve only read Station Eleven, but that book was so great I’m excited to try to backlist titles from her too.
So, nine more paperbacks in the collection. On Monday, when I was busy adulting, I finished organizing and decluttering the last two shelves in my house. Now, it’s just a matter of getting everything packed up and ready to go when we move next month. And from now on, no more books!
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Oh my gosh – you broke the cardinal rule! At least books a small 🙂
I loved Brain on Fire and want to read some of Mandel’s backlist as well.
This is true, books don’t take up much room, one at a time anyway.
Hah, I did the same thing pre move with all of my BEA acquisitions. And I did not cull my collection before I moved. Good luck with everything. And you’re going to love Brain on Fire.
You are a bolder lady that I am. I had to cull a bit so that it seems like the collection can fit into a reasonable number of boxes.
Haha oh you beautiful fool. It’s ok, we’ve all done it. Looks like you have some good reading ahead of you!
That’s true — buying too many books at inappropriate times is practically a book nerd right of passage.
But how many books did you cull? I really need to get to The Other Wes Moore. I listened to Discovering Wes Moore and it’s a fascinating story.
Six bags, so it’s still a net of books going out compared to books coming in for the month 🙂
You actually MUST buy books right before moving! Those new ones go in the car with you so you can READ when you are stressed without having to charge a device or unpack a book. Plus, what a great list!!
Ha ha, that is true! Trying to decide which books to pack up and which ones to leave out to read is hard too.
Hahahahaha, I mean, as long as you purged more books than you acquired, I think you’re absolutely fine. 😀
I did do that! I think six bags went out, and only nine books came in, so the ratio is still on my side 🙂
I mean, moving is stressful. You deserved to give yourself a treat. 😉
It seems like you picked some great titles!
My daughter is doing the same thing–acquiring books before moving all her stuff in her car from Arizona to North Carolina!
We’ll at least have a moving van to pack all the books and other things into. Squishing into a car would be hard!
When I am stressed out I tend to visit a bookstore, so I can see me buying new books before a move! lol
Luckily, it’s hard for me to get to a bookstore, so I don’t have the chance to stress hop very often 🙂
No more books? Riiiiight….😆
I can dream, right?
Haha yep. I’ve been living in a two bedroom apartment with my hubby, three teenagers, and three dogs for six months. No room, but do you think bag keeps new books away? No, they find their way in.
Haha yep. I’ve been living in a two bedroom apartment with my hubby, three teenagers, and three dogs for six months. No room, but do you think that keeps new books away? No, they find their way in.
Oh gosh, that sounds so cramped! I don’t think I could handle it.
There is never not a great time to buy books. Unless you have no money. Then no buying books. But everything else? Go for it!
Future Kim may disagree with that assessment, but Present Kim is totally on board!
Okay you got me interested in Emily Mandel’s (other) book. Station Eleven was terrific. And Timothy Egan is always great. My favorite of his? The Good Rain. Enjoy your books! And keep adding.
She’s a favorite, I can’t wait to dig into her backlist at some point.