One of my favourite things in the universe is my bookshelf. It is! I used to be the kind of bookworm who just read library books and tossed ’em back when I was done. Then I accidentally got into collecting books. Oh gosh. Don’t underestimate the addiction. Pretty covers, book photography, a million ways to organise them?! THE LIST OF GLORIOUSNESS GOES ON ETERNALLY.
I would pretty much like to collect books forever.
My shelf has rebuffed this, unfortunately, and I’m now stacking books on top.
So Deborah tagged me for the #Bookshelftag and I thought, “YES. I NEED TO DO THIS BADLY.” Nearly a year ago I did another version of this tag, but we need updates. We totally do.
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DESCRIBE YOUR BOOKSHELF AND WHERE YOU GOT IT FROM:
It is a thing of beauty to behold. Although taking photos of it is a NIGHTMARE, because directly opposite of it is my window. Light, too much light. Hence the glare. BUT! Let’s pretend it is flawless.
I’m also not happy with how it’s stacked, but what’s an overcrowded bookworm to do?!
And it’s from IKEA. I’ve had it for 1.5 years. Next year, I presume, I’ll be building an igloo out of books and living in it.
HOW DO YOU ORGANISE YOUR BOOKS?
It’s sort of by colour! I say “sort of” because the top row of shelves are my favourite series that cannot be split up omg how dare anyone suggest it. And then now there is a row of books on top of the bookshelf and they have no meaning.
It’s sort of a catastrophe around here.
WHAT’S THE THICKEST/BIGGEST BOOK ON YOUR SHELF?
City of Heavenly Fire is not only astronomically tall, it’s gargantuanly thick. It’s my weapon of choice for the apocalypse. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is thick, but also short. I also bought it for $1 at a library sale. So proud of my hunting skills.
WHAT’S THE THINNEST BOOK ON YOUR SHELF?
Bridge to Terabithia isn’t even 200-pages! I haven’t read The Ocean At the End of the Lane yet. Shame on me.
IS THERE A BOOK YOU RECEIVED AS A BIRTHDAY GIFT?
NO. You know why?! No one gives me books for my birthday. It breaks my heart. It truly does. But my little sister gave me Paper Towns for Christmas, so that’s sort of close.
IS THERE A BOOK FROM A FRIEND ON YOUR SHELF?
I have the nicest friends. Jo gave me Tithe and Charnell gave me Dangerous Girls and Amanda gave me Thirteen. They’re all freaky, dark and scary books — so clearly I have made good friends. Also, you three, I am eternally grateful just LET ME GIVE YOU CAKE OR SOMETHING.
MOST EXPENSIVE BOOK?
Do you know how long it took me to figure out the answer to this one?! I DON’T BUY BOOKS. Or, when I do, I buy them for a few dollars from second-hand stores. But I actually bought Heir of Fire full price (about $15, if I remember correctly) and that was quite a big deal for me.
I AM RULER OF ALL. All should gift books as homage to my queenly rulership, to be honest.
THE LAST BOOK YOU READ ON YOUR SHELF?
I finally read this one! FINALLY. I’ve had it for absolutely months, and just felt no motivation after all the mixed reviews. I ended up liking the plot and just cringing over the characters.
DO YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE COPY OF A BOOK?
Weirdly…yes. Sometimes publishers send me (accidentally?) two copies of the same book. OR. I buy a book and then get a review copy (like The Maze Runner, and Blue Lily) which is so frustrating. Or I win a book and then get a review-copy (like Fire and Flood).
Someday I will give the extras away. It will be after I’m crowned.
DO YOU HAVE A COMPLETE SERIES?
A Series of Unfortunate Events is my most proudest collection of EVER. They all match. They’re all hardcover. They are my favourite childhood series. I even know what VFD stands for. Ha. Ha.
WHAT’S THE NEWEST ADDITION TO YOUR SHELF?
Well, hello there, Dumplin’. I was tossing up requesting this one and then — TA DA — it arrived as a surprise in my mailbox. Penguin Teen knows things.
(I am a bit nervous though, because I didn’t like the author’s first book, Side Effects May Vary. So we shall see.)
WHAT’S THE MOST RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOK ON YOUR SHELF?
An Ember in the Ashes came out in June, 2015! I actually (weirdly) haven’t been keeping up with new releases so much this year. I’ve wandered off to devour older series. Next year I’ll probably regret this.
(And yes I posted this photo yesterday. BUT I’M PROUD OF IT, OKAY?)
THE OLDEST BOOK ON YOUR SHELF?
Okay, technically, Hornblower doesn’t live on my shelf. This is because a) it stinks like an old book and IT KILLS ME TO INHALE, and b) it’s perishing. Seriously. If I even look at it too long, flakes of the book just spirit away. So it’s in a dark corner in my cupboard. Also it stinks. Did I mention that?
BUT COME ON, PEOPLES. 1938!! And it’s Hornblower. I have such love for the TV show. (Not so much the book. I read, um, one book and fell asleep.)
This is my favourite scene:
A BOOK YOU WON?
I won Dorothy Must Die from…agh. I have no idea. Some wonderful person. I APPRECIATE YOUR WONDERFULNESS, UNNAMED WONDERFUL PERSON.
A BOOK YOU’D HATE TO LET OUT OF YOUR SIGHT? (AKA NO ONE IS EVER BORROWING IT. EVER.)
No one will ever read this magnanimous deluxe edition The Hunger Games books. NO ONE. Even I can’t bear to crack the spines myself yet.
MOST BEAT UP BOOK?
I found Mortal Coil for fifty cents at a library sale. AM I COMPLAINING ABOUT IT’S CONDITION? Nope. I am such a Scrooge.
MOST PRISTINE BOOK?
Why yes, this trilogy is on here twice. Remember how I said no one could touch them or read them on pain of me setting my ferocious fluffy puppy on them? (Okay, I totally didn’t say that then, but I implied it.) THIS IS WHY THEY’RE SO PRISTINE.
A BOOK FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Can you believe I actually never finished the Inkheart trilogy?! MY CHILDHOOD IS IN RUINS. I will. One day. Oh! And I actually really adore the movie. Mostly these two adorable things.
A BOOK THAT DOESN’T BELONG TO YOU?
A Storm of Swords (book 3) is a library book. (I like having the audio and book around. It is just a super nice feeling.) And, can you believe, I actually don’t have many library books out right now?! This is the only book and the other two are comics. WHAT IS LIFE. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?
A BOOK WITH A SPECIAL/DIFFERENT COVER? (EX. LEATHER BOUND, SOFT FUZZY ETC.)
This isn’t technically on my shelf, but pfft. If I followed ALL the rules, you peoples would be worried. I am a ruler breaker. It’s just who I am. But Captain Jim (which is part of a fabulous Australian iconic series called Billabong by Mary Grant Bruce) has a sort of cloth cover. It’s nice to pet.
A BOOK THAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR?
Orange is my favourite colour. SUNSET ORANGE. Not prison orange. I am probably Peeta.
A BOOK THAT’S BEEN ON YOUR SHELF THE LONGEST AND YOU STILL HAVEN’T READ IT?
I won this (years ago?) and just haven’t felt any motivation to tackle it’s hugeness. BUT! I posted about this recently and a lot of you said I should really give it a chance. (So maybe I will. I’m agreeable like that.) Also this is a super old ginger beer bottle I stole from my parents cupboard. It’s good for photos. And doesn’t it match ridiculously well!?? #steallikeanartist
ANY SIGNED BOOKS?
I just won this, actually! And do you know excited I am? FREAKISHLY EXCITED. I loved Talon. Sassy dragons — Oh gosh. Was it written for me? And now I own Rogue (it’s so shiiiiiny) and it’s signed and life is dragonishly good.
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As always, STEAL THIS TAG IF YOU WANT TO. If you link to me (or tell me you posted!) Il’l come and read it! And, warning! I skipped some of the questions, so sneak over to Deborah’s post if you want them all.
Tina @ Read the Bloody Book // Emily @ Loony Literate // Kara @ Diary of a Teen Writer // Hawwa @ It Was Lovely Reading You // Charnell @ Reviews from a Bookworm // Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight // Alliyah @ Risk to Write // Kristin @ Simply Bookish Things
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Your bookshelf looks amazing! I don’t really have a system; I just try to fit as many books on my shelves as I can because I’ve run out of space 🙁 I kind of like my shelves though – I like seeing how full they are, but I do wish I didn’t have to double shelf them.
No ones ever bought you a book for your bday? That’s all I ever ask for, so I make sure I get books lol. When’s your bday? I’ll send you a book. Every bookworm needs to be bought books. 😀
Those THG books are gorgeous! I’ve never seen those covers before.
I forgot to ask how you make those origami stars? They look perfect. I can’t seem to pinch the corners to make the star shape.
Sorry for butting in, but your comment is at the top, so I kept seeing your name as I wrote mine. 🙂
Anyway, I want to see your shelves, Chantelle! You should do this tag. Also, you’re very lucky your family listens to you and still buys you books!
Aw, thanks. I might do it. I have another tag to do first, so may try and do this one another time. Haha, yes, I have them well trained 😉
Teach me your secrets! 😀
I UNDERSTAND THAT WITH THE SHELVES. Mine are double stacked a bit, and I hate that because I can’t behold the beauty of my books! *growls* AJFDLKS BUT YOU ARE SO NICE. Haha, my birthday is been and gone though, so don’t worry. 😉 Still your family is completely amazing to do as you say. Mine needs take lesson from yours. heh. And those white THG books are LIFE, I tell you, LIFE. They are the most beautiful books I own I’m 100% sure of it.
Oh! And with the stars: do you follow a lucky star tutorial? I use a pencil to rub the edges until it becomes a point. I have a horrible success rate though. 🙁
Yes, I have looked at YouTube videos but it’s the shaping that I’m finding really difficult. I will try using a pencil and see if that works. Thanks!
I had answered a similar question on bookstagram of what is my most expensive book and I had trouble thinking about the most expensive book I have! I mostly buy from secondhand bookstores and sales.
The most recent addition to my shelf are the four classics about last week! They’re only about $4 for all four of them!
*hi fives for bargain hunting* CLEARLY WE ARE AWESOME FOR IT. I mean, if I had the money I’d totally buy new and support my favourite authors. But I caaaan’t. So I review and support them that way. xD
“No one gives me books for my birthday. It breaks my heart.”
THIS. It’s the story of my freaking life and it makes NO SENSE whatsoever! I mean, you’d think getting books for a self confessed bookworm would be the easiest decision ever, right? But no. *shakes head*
Ooh the Inkheart trilogy were one of the most important series of my childhood. It was the first series I’d read that was so dark, & with a bittersweet ending to boot.
I totally get the whole ‘don’t touch my books’ thing. I can’t count the number of books I’ve lent in pristine condition and were returned with a stain, or a tear :/ So no more lending, unless it’s someone who I know loves books as much as I do. But still, I’m never ever lending my Lumatere books or the Lotus War series (which is my most recent book buy). I spent a small fortune on them & there’s no way I’m letting them out of my sight! Lol don’t ask about how I organise. There’s no system as such, except probably that they’re somewhat roughly arranged by height.
I knoooooow, right?! What more can we do?!! Everyone I know is like, “Yes, but don’t you want clothes or something useful? You have too many books as is.” AND I AM JUST STANDING THERE THINKING, “BOOKS ARE USEFUL AND I NEED THEM AND YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY, GOSHDARNIT.” *hyperventilates*
My sister read all three and said the last one was delightfully creepy, so I DO want to read it. The size scares me a little. xD
AFDLSK LUMATERE. :’) That’s another trilogy I desperately need to finish. Omg, I love Finnikin. But exactly! When one spends money, (and books ain’t cheap) you don’t exactly want them to go walking. I always feel…LIKE THERE’S SOMETHING MISSING IN MY LIFE, if I’ve lent books. Even to my sister who is, um, like across the hallway from my room. xD
Agh thanks so much for the tag, and this was such a fun post to read! My bookshelves USED to be organised in a way once upon a many years ago but the piles of books around the ‘organised’ part just keep growing. Looking forward to doing this tag, and revealing all soon!
Organising is fun and sometimes terrifying. xD Like I totally need to sort through mine and make them neater, but every time I pull a book out to take photos for instagram, IT DESTROYS EVERYTHING. So I just leave it all as is. xD
Your book posts are always so beautiful! Stunning collection you have here. I adore A Series of Unfortunate Event, I had the whole series in hardcover back home, but now that I’m overseas and constantly moving I can’t hoard physical books anymore. *cries*
AFJSDLKA, thank you Aentee! AGH BUT THE PAIN OF NOT HAVING BOOKS. Zomg. I feel for you, I do. :'(
Your picture are always so awesome! I suck and pretty much read ebooks and library books so my bookshelf is small and books are thrown all over (because that is how I roll). Love your semi-color coded shelf 🙂
YOU DO NOT SUCK. I was pretty much aa 90% library reader until these last two years when I started getting a ton of books from publishers. And THEN I got addicted to collecting. x) But libraries save lives. THEY DO.
I love posts like this, they’re so interesting! And I love your square bookcase! It’s so cool!
I will not be stealing this one, because most of my books are not on my bookcase… because I have more books than bookshelf space. HOWEVER, only just yesterday did my Dad and I finish putting up some new bookcases! My books can come off the floor, off the desk, off the wardrobe! Whoop! However, I need to make room in my bedroom for these shelves, so… the shelves are in the passage, the books will go onto the shelves in any hodge-podge manner (for now), then I can get a new wardrobe, transfer the contents of one to the other, remove old wardrobe, a chest of drawers, and my desk, move my bed and other chest of drawers, remove books from bookcases, put bookcases in my room, AND ORGANISE THE BOOKS! I am excited! That was probably more than you were interested in reading, but this all makes me very happy.
Though I currently don’t know how I will do that. I kind of like the idea of alphabetical, but then you have to move everything around when you get a new one. And by colour… Not sure if I can be bothered with that. I will see I guess!
However, my current bookscases… because of the amount of books I have, they’re shelved two-books-deep, so the ones on view are the series or fave books, because yay for seeing your fave books and having them make you smile, and series just look good together. I need a huge clear out of all my books though. I’m pretty sure, even with my three new bookcase (which I can only shelve one-book-deep), I still won’t get all my books on them. It’s time to get rid of some, I think 🙁
I tend not to lend books to people, simply because people aren’t interested in the books I like. I’m not sure I’m too precious about my books not to lend them, but I DO NOT LIKE IT when people crack the spines too much. If I can read my books without destroying the pretty spines, so can everyone else who borrows them. It’s not hard. It requires no effort at all, actually. I don’t even have to think about being careful about spines, they just very rarely get any damage. I can only assume people are trying to damage the spines on purpose, in which case those people should not be allowed near books, ever. Or just read their own books. Oh, those poor spines! :'(
And I couldn’t tell you the most recent addition to my shelf because it’s been years since I put a new book on them. I have no idea!
And yaaaay for Tithe!
THAT SOUNDS LIKE MUCH WORK. But also wonderful. Newww booooookshelves!! *dances with you* My sister moved her bookshelves out of her room in favour of putting the piano in there, so I spent HOURS reorganising them in a different room. It’s is fun. I never get tired of stacking books. :’) Agh, but the decision of how to organise them is HARD. I kind of want to try genre one day? But I’m too in love with how colour coding looks. I LIKE COLOURS. I apparently read far too many black-spined books though. -_-
That’s true for me too! Exactly NONE of my friends ever read books and now I live too far away from them to even bother offering to lend. HEH. But I actually struggle to have my books out of my sight. I just feel…gah. I undone. I NEED THEM IN THEIR PLACES.
Your bookshelf is so much neater than mine. I have a shelf, but it’s old and full so my newer books are either piled on top of the older ones, double-shelved in my cupboard or above my desk. I have books EVERYWHERE. There is no organisation, only piles of mess. I don’t actually have a problem with other people reading my books (a wrecked book has clearly been loved) but I will admit that I get a bit twitchy if it takes them more than a week and a half to get it back to me. My most recent addition? Ignoring the manga, I bought Linger, I’ll Give You The Sun, and Paper Towns all on the same day (my purse is crying 🙁 ).
Well that is true about wrecked books. *nods* And actually I was taking photos of books the other day AND DROPPED ON IN THE MUD. OMG I NEARLY DIED. I cleaned it up, but still. It has been marred. *hangs head* I try to convince myself it’s not “wrecked”, it’s just been used as a photography prop. I still cry.
Anyway. I digress. Totally and completely.
I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN, THOUGH. I love that book. I adore it. It’s completely not the style I write in, buuuuut it is so beautiful it inspires me to do GREAT THINGS. AND WRITE AMAZINGNESS. AND MAYBE ART ALL OVER THE PLACE. :’)
Oh goodness, I’m in the same boat as you. I have a very small room, and all three of my bookcases are maxed out. And did I mention my room was small–so I can’t fit any more shelves in, and I’m sure one day all my books will fall on me and kill me. But it would be the most beautiful way to die. In answer to your first question, what book would I never leave out of my sight, that’s probably most books. If the books are beat up, I’d probably lend them out, but if I bought them new, I wouldn’t. I like them to stay shiny and perfect and pretty. But probably the one I would guard with my life is my 111 year-copy of Lorna Doone and my even older copy of Perlycross by R. D. Blackmore. They’re both in excellent condition, and if you touch them, you’re dead. In answer to your second question, what is the newest addition to my shelves, last week I bought Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeiffer and The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. And I gobbled them up pretty much as soon as I bought them.
Oh, and my shelf organization. It’s very idiosyncratic, which makes it difficult to add new books. I arrange by color, size, author, preference, and mood. So good luck finding anything on my shelves, but I have them all memorized.
So if you ever go missing, we should turn up at your place with SHOVELS to dig you out from a mound of books?! THIS IS WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR. *stockpiles shovels* It would be a very noble way to die. Death by book, I mean, what is more poetic?
DID YOU JUST SAY 111-YEARS-OLD? Dude. That is insanely. HA. Makes my ’38 edition of Hornblower look adorably young. xD People would die too, if I owned such old old books.
PATRICK NESS IS SO AMAZING. And disgustingly talented. I mean, come on. How can he write things that break your heart so easily? MANCHEEEEEE.
Thank you for the tag! I must clean up my bookshelves for this one.
I tag you for like all the things. XD I WOULD SAY SORRY BUT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY IS JUST TOO BEAUTIFUL AND I MUST TAG YOU ALL THE THINGS.
Oooh I love looking at other people’s bookshelves so of course I ADORE this post. I’m still SO JEALOUS of your editions of The Hunger Games trilogy. They’re so beautiful I want to cry. ;_; And your photography is impeccable as always. You turn me into a jealous pineapple!
YES BEHOLD THEM AND CRY. MWHAHAHAHA. *ahem* But seriously, I’ve waited my whole life for those white covers. And they are so glorious and worth it. :’)
My close family (mom, dad, brother etc) never want to buy me books for my birthday and you know why?! They say “But I wanted to get you something special..” and I’m like books are special, why can you not see that?! *wails* But I still love them anyway..sometimes, maybe..just kidding.
OMG I seriously need to start the Skulduggery series, my brother even read it before me (and he wrecked my copy.) and he says he loved it! And so I got them out from the library for him and he refused to read them because he wants to collect them, ahhh I have taught him well *pats self on back*
I love the colour coding on your shelf, looks so prettyyyyy *drools* I’ve tried to do that to my shelf but I cannot separate my series, and I suck at sorting my books into different colours. *face palm*
Awesome post, always love seeing what people have on their shelves.:D
OMG I UNDERSTAND. And mine also say “But you have so many books…what about NEW CLOTHES?! don’t you need some of them?!” And here I am like no I do not need new clothes when there are millions of books I’m desperate to read. GAH. Non bookworms are the death of me sometimes.
YEsssss read Skulduggery IT IS AMAZING AND HILARIOUS. And then suddenly it turns feels wrenching and heart-scream worthy. Seriously, I have lost so much hair with all the torture those darlings go through.
Shelf tours are SO fun!
I tried arranging my books by colour, but I have so many Penguin Classics that the amount of black kind of overwhelmed all the other colours……. So I went back to alphabetical. Although my non-fiction books are still arranged by colour!
I did a bookshelf tour on Youtube in January, and it already makes me cringy to think about how much has changed!
AH. I can understand that. I did the family shelves colour-coded too and AAGHHH. Why do so many classics have white spines?? It’s frustrating. -_- Shelf tours are things that need to be constantly updated. *nods sagely*
LIRAEL IS ONLY FOR ME. It’s the new A and U edition and I bought it in december last year and when I’m back in december this year I’m getting Sabriel and maybe Abhorsen so my collection will be complete….. I don’t have many books, but the High Lord by Trudi Canavan is some thing I got a few months ago. (and the magicians guild books are excellent, check them out sometime) Thanks for the excellent post 🙂
I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. I NEED TO READ THAT SERIES ALSO. Omg, why haven’t I read a single Garth Nix book? I am in shame.
Those Maggie Stiefvater books look good as duplicates. I would keep them both forever. Also, have you read Steal Like an Artist? Good stuff.
I’m currently collecting Maggie Stiefvater ENTIRELY in hardcover. :’) It makes my heart so glad. Buuuut, I paid for the paperback myself, SO I CAN’T PART WITH IT. Plus it’s actually blue. I don’t understand why the hardcover of BLUE Lily Lily Blue is…green.
Ooo, I might steal this tag ’cause it’s awesome and I love it (shhh). The problem? More than half the people I follow don’t follow me back and are on Blogger so I can’t comment to tell them that I tagged them. I could just cycle through the nine or so people on WordPress, but I think they’d eventually get tired of me tagging them.
But your bookshelf is lovely. I keep debating if I want to organize it by color or not. I have it in alphabetical order now, it just doesn’t look very pretty.
YES STEAL IT. DO. I basically want to tag everyone because I am so
noseycurious and want to see your shelves, okay? You can tweet people you tag! I do that sometimes. But you can’t comment on blogger blogs? That is sadness.*whispers* Colour is beeeest and superior and BEAUTIFUL.
CAIT!!!! I LOVE YOUR PICTURES!!! (*squeeeee*) Okay… I’m done screaming. I’m sorry. I just love your book-photography. I think I will save this tag for after I get moved & can set up a nice, picture-worthy bookshelf. XD
Out of curiosity, could I make a post-request-thingy?? 🙂 I would die of happiness if you would make a post explaining how you *take/edit/set up your book pictures for your blog & Instagram*…
FAJDKSL THANK YOU. XD I HAD SUCH FUN TAKING THEM. I literally took 200 pics and then spent hours going through them. :’) No regrets.
AND YES I COULD DO A POST LIKE THAT. I will totally put it on my to-do list!!
Loving these questions! I have this weird bookshelf that has shelves on the top that are squished together and shelves super wide on the bottom, so I sort my books by size. Unfortunetly, I have not read many since I always read books from the library and never have time to pick up one that I own. Except for my copy of The False Prince. I love that book like a child. When I first bought the book, I let my friends borrow it for a bit, but I was panicing the whole time thinking that they would return it broken and destroyed. So unless you’re a trusted friend, you will be finding your own copy.
The most recent books i have are those i bought at TBF (teen book festival). And, of course, i am still waiting to read most of them (i did manage to read two).
I also have a copy of Cold Calls signed by Charles Benoit. It was also given to me as a gift, so two questions for one.
Omg, I am the same, though…I always read all my library books and forget to read the books I actually OWN. I think, for me, it’s because library books have that whole “DUE DATE” looming and I just devour them real fast. And then stupidly get more. -_- I’ve banned myself from the library for a while until I read some of my older neglected books, ehhehehe.
ANYWAY.
Thank you! *dances* I’m glad you enjoyed this post. XD SHELF TOURS ARE SO FUN.
And I desperately want to read something by Charles Benoit.
I LOVE how this is organized by color! And I can’t wait to see your review of Dumpin, if you plan to review it. Looked like such a good book. Also, you can solve your double book problem by forwarding all of your extra books to ME! (Especially Blue Lilly). I’m too tiny for publishers. (This is not a complaint.I’ll get there some day.)
Oh I will DEFINITELY review Dumplin on the blog! I’m quite keen for it too, and probably starting it today even though it doesn’t come you foreeeeever. I swear, all the books are coming out in August and nothing fun is in July. -_- I HOPE YOU GET THERE SO YOU CAN GET REVIEW COPIES TOO REALLY SOON!!
Me too! Can’t wait to read your thoughts on Dumplin! Then maybe I’ll get it myself. Because no one will send me a copy D:
D: D: D:
*Pity partying*
Colour-coordinated shelves look pretty… but I’m afraid that I’d never find any of my books again! I wouldn’t be able to remember what colour every book spine was. (Besides, now that I look at my physical books, most have dark or greyish spines. A few have blue. It wouldn’t be very interesting if I arranged them by colour!)
My bookshelf is a mess. I’ve got self-help books smushed in next to vampire books, photography books up against poetry, recipe books up against an old French-English dictionary. And then I’ve got a whole other shelf where I’ve got novels sharing space with DVD computer-game boxes. What a mess!
I have such a thing with colours. XD I ALWAYS REMEMBER. I even colour-coded the family shelves and my sister/mum was always coming in going, “Where do I find [insert title] on the shelf?” And I’m like, “OH IT HAS A YELLOW SPINE.” I have a very peculiar mind. XD
Wow, going through your books looks pretty incredible! YOU HAVE SO MANY. But it’s also cool to know about the character of your books, and how they all sit together and play nice on your shelf. I appreciate that. I don’t think I have a book I would not lend to anyone, but my most recent addition on my shelf are a bunch of self-pubbed Facebook thoughts from this workshop I went to, which I’m not looking forward to. I always organize my shelves alphabetically by author’s last name! I can’t imagine doing it another way, hahaha.
They are like a very colour family of wonderfulness and happiness. Although some don’t get along. I swear, Egg & Spoon never wants to come out of the shelf and Clockwork Angel NEVER is in line. -_-
I love the look of your shelves, and you take some awesome bookish photos. I have books EVERYWHERE in my house. It’s really difficult to organize, though I do have a new bookcase-ish thing in my sister’s old room that holds a lot of my future ARCs that I got from BEA so that’s awesome and it looks kind of cool.
As for books I wouldn’t let anyone else touch — hmm…I can’t really think of anything. I don’t really have any cool editions of things! If I did, I’d probably be wary to lend the book out unless it was my sister or something. I can trust her. haha
-Lauren
YAY FOR TRUSTING SISTERS!! XD I…um…don’t trust me. xD hehe. Okay, but she bent my copy of Paper Towns and I probably need to let that go. >_> I mostly trust her, if the book stays in the house and she isn’t gallivanting over the cities with it.
1: There’s a few – I don’t often lend books out as they’ve ALWAYS come back in a worst condition and I prefer books to be pristine. Probably my signed copy of TFiOS, and my Harry Potter first editions. PEOPLE CAN STAY AWAY.
2: Hmm, I can’t remember – because I bought a few books in one go – I think it was I’ll Give You the Sun
3: I organise my books by colour – not in a rainbow, but just what goes well together (in UK covers, part of my shelf goes the Divergent trilogy, Anna and the French Kiss trilogy, Rainbow Rowell books, then John Green books – Divergent is the same colour as Anna, and Eleanor & Park matches with Paper Towns and TFiOS), and then author within that. Organising bookshelves are particularly stressful – but fun.
1. AGREED. I leant books and they come back with bent covers and THAT IS SO NOT OKAY. Signed copy of TFIOS?! omg.
2. THAT IS SUCH A GOOD BOOK THO. Have you read it?!
3. It is kind of stressful isn’t it?! So many options. Like I’d enjoy organising by genre (mostly to see what genres I have the most of!) but then height is a problem. And colour coding can be a problem if, like me, you read WAY too many blue books and not even nearly enough purple books. -_-
I normally would say that I have no trouble loaning books to people, but I recently loaned a SIGNED COPY of a book to a neighbor who has given absolutely no indication that she has even started it… I didn’t push it on her, she asked to read it, so I feel a little more squishy about not having it back yet.
I organize my fiction shelves alphabetically by author’s last name… that’s the only way I can both keep a uniform organization throughout my collection AND keep my series together. And I have my books spread out on three bookcases in two different rooms in my apartment, so the alphabetization is helpful.
Omg, that is the exact feeling: squishy. O_O I always feel like I need to know where my books are at all times. They need to be in their place. Even when my sister borrows books (and she literally lives across the hall) I feel all wrong about the books being on her floor (grrh, she doesn’t take good care of books either) than on my shelves with their siblings.
Your book collection is absolutely beautiful!! I love how you organize them by color. It is so bright and cheerful! I really enjoyed reading about all your treasured books. I am still mostly borrowing books from the library. I hope my collection grows one day to organize my shelf by color. Awesome post! 🙂
Libraries are GRAND inventions, they totally are!! I used to be an exclusive library reader until I fell prey to book-blogging, but still. About 50% of my books come from the library. xD
YOUR SHELVES ARE SO PRETTY. I want to steal them. I might, actually. Beware. *shifty eyes*
I don’t think I’d ever let anyone else read my copy of A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court (loveeeee Mark Twain) just because my copy is very old and lovely and I want no one to touch it everrrr. BUT I JUST GOT THE SECOND SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT BOOK. Also the first one. Because I read the first one and knew immediately that I had to own them allll. (I blame you for that.)
YOU’LL HAVE TO GET THROUGH MY FEROCIOUS FLUFFY PUPPY FIRST. He’s scary, I tell you. He might lick you to death.
I happily take ALL BLAME for Skulduggery love. And trust me, you will need the next books (AND ALL THE MIDDLE BOOKS. Like book #6.5 is like 300-pages and needs to be read) and just will probably need to devour them STAT because they rapidly change from hilarious to ZOMG STAHP HURTING MY BABIES. Excellent writing. :’)
ALDKFJSDLKJ YOU DID IT! 😀 I loooved reading this post and seeing all your fantastic pictures! *happy flailing* Seeing people’s bookshelves makes my little bookish heart so so happy. ^_^
Oh my, you organize by color? :O THAT LOOKS SO COOL. I’m not sure I could because I would feel lost and I don’t know if I have enough interesting colors (I feel like mine are all red and brown and yellow…) but I’m now super tempted to try it, at least for awhile! 😀
Umm. Even *I* read Ocean at the End of the Lane. O_O (Only because of my bookclub BUT STILL.) YES YOU MUST READ IT. I think I gave it two or three stars because of scariness and how my heart was kind of ripped out at the ending BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS MEANS IT WAS JUST MADE FOR YOU. XD Plus it’s a tiny tiny read. It would probably take fast-reader you like half an hour. XD
You don’t get books for your birthday? D: That’s like all I ask for for birthdays and Christmas… WHY DO YOU LIVE SO FAR AWAY I WOULD TOTALLY GIVE YOU BOOKS.
Hornblower. XD *snorts*
I need to read the Inkheart books! They are literally sitting on my shelf waiting and ignored. It’s kind of sad… I DON’T HAVE ANY LIBRARY BOOKS RIGHT NOW EITHER. O_O
BILLABONG. I’m fairly sure I heard that in some Australian song but have no idea what it means anymore. It sounds extremely familiar and Australian though.
BUT WHAT ARE THE ORANGE BOOKS I CAN’T SEE THEIR TITLES AND IT’S KILLING MEEEE.
Anyways I basically adore this post (I almost typed book) if you can’t tell. LOVELIES!!!
I LOVE SEEING BOOKSHELVES TOO. Bookshelf tours should be like a regular occurrence, TBH. Because they are glorious and beautiful. And you knoooow how much I loved your post. *dances* AHHHH I’M SO GLAD YOU TAGGED ME FOR THIS. I spent like hours taking photos and IT WAS THE BEST OF EVER. :’)
I need to read The Ocean at the End of the Lane. >_< I HAVE LITERALLY NO EXCUSE! It's so tiny. And Neil Gaiman is kind of a seriously epic writing master. I ASK FOR BOOKS AS GIFTS BUT NOOOOOO. Everyone is like "You've got so many books. DON'T YOU NEED CLOTHES?!" No. NO I can wear the same pair of jeans all my life, but I need new books to read goshdarnit. HA. You're probably thinking of Waltzing Matilda. 😉 There is a billabong in there. BUT. A "billabong" is another word for, like, a lake sort of thing? It's basically a big Aussie pond. And the series is fantastically wonderful and I grew up rereading them aaaall the time. I kind of want to reread them now, but I feel like I might not love them as much. I live in terror of rereading childhood favourites. XD WHICH ORANGE BOOKS? OH OH. IN THE PIC OF COURSE. Lemme see...Chasing Jupiter, Juvie, and Dead Ends. *nods* Excellent books, though Juvie is a bit meh, but Chasing Jupiter and Dead Ends are ajfdkls wonderful.
So help me god, I will set MY ferocious fluffy puppy on you if you don’t read The Ocean at the End of the Lane! It is a masterpiece, I LOVE IT. Neil Gaiman has some serious skills. I also never finished the Inkheart books… I read the first and thought it was good, yet, alas, never did continue the series. And I AM SO GLAD I got City of Heavenly Fire on my Nook because that monster is…monstrous.
OKAY. I WILL. I PROMISE. I really have zero excuse because it’s tiny, and I love Neil Gaiman, and I own it, goshdarnthis. What is my problem here?! *glares at self*
It’s so shelfish of you to display all of your pretty, pretty books. I jest, I love this.
I LIKE THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY COLOURS. It’s beautiful to look at.
My book shelf is one shelf. But the good thing is is that it’s so deep that I can stuff at least two rows in there. The stuff in the back are ones I probably won’t read and the ones in the front are the nicest-looking ones or my beloved series.
SHELFISH. YOU WIN. YOU WIN. XD
fajlksd The fact that they are gold leafed (or red or blue) just makes my heart sing, because whoever designed them UNDERSTOOD the beautifulness of deluxe books. I could marry my Hunger Games trilogy, tbh. We would be very happy together.
I can get two rows on my bookshelf too!! BUT I HATE IT. I want to see all my books, not hide them. *sobs*
CAN I COME AND MAKE A BOOK IGLOO AND LIVE THERE TOO?? I WILL BRING MY CAT. HE WILL PET THE BOOKS LOVINGLY. Basically I love your shelves, I am such a bookshelf perv, I love seeing how other people organise their shelves. TO YOUR QUESTIONS:
1. What book would I never let anyone else read? Ok. Well the only book that I physically cannot let go of like ever, which makes showering really difficult, is ‘The Scorpio Races’ by Maggie Stiefvater, because I cannot let that book leave my house in case I suddenly need to read it. It is of vital importance. Otherwise I’m pretty cool about lending books out, BUT I have to be sure the person will enjoy them. So for example, my Husband was not a big reader when we started dating, so I lent him The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern as a TEST. And he PASSED (thankfully) and since he enjoyed that one I knew he would love The Scorpio Races (again he did, otherwise there would be no husband status…) So with each book I’m testing the waters for another favourite to make sure he is ready to appreciate the BRILLIANCE. So far it has worked.
2. Most recent addition? I just TODAY received in the post Lorali by Laura Dockrill and Paperweight, only the author name is escaping me and I cannot move from my sofa fort, BUT I am reading it because you posted a photo of it recently so this is ALL ON YOU.
3. Shelf organisation is ABOUT TO CHANGE. Currently it is organised alphabetically by author surname, because ORDER. But it’s become a little haphazard recently, and with filming Bookish Brits videos each week I get bored always being in front of the same books so I am thinking about MIXING IT UP, but I’m not quite sure HOW. I am taken with the rainbow idea, so there will be an EPIC OVERHAUL SOON.
BUT NO I AM ALLERGIC TO CATS. SO YOU CAN’T BRING YOUR CAT, BUT I WILL GIFT YOU A SMALL CAT-SIZED DRAGON INSTEAD SO YOU WILL BE HAPPY REGARDLESS. *nods* Bookshelves are glorious to look at. They are just so beautiful and wonderful.
1. I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE MAGGIE STIEFVATER. I’ve adored The Scorpio Races for eeeever but I only jUST bought a copy (hardback. omg, be still my beating heart) at such a discount over Christmas, and tbh, it’s so shiny and wonderful. SO YES. Ahem. I understand this. Your husband is also quite wise to like good books.
2. I JUST READ PAPERWEIGHT. I Would love to loudly proclaim the author’s name but…pfft. I have no idea. I cannot even tell you the main character’s name. Omg. WHAT IS IT?! *wrackes brain* Nope. Gone.
3. Colour-coded is superior. It just is, I tell you.
OMG A CAT SIZED DRAGON IS LITERALLY ALL I’VE EVER WANTED. You spoil me. Colour coded it is, tomorrow is going to be a books all over the flat kind of day, I can tell. Also, Stiefvater is THE BEST and I want a hardback of The Scorpio Races SO BAD. ONE DAY.
I love that the books you’ve receved off friends are all themed and dark and horrible and creepy, such good friends we are indeed, and I’m so pleased you liked it, even if you had a few issues overall.
1. I don’t think I’d be too bothered about somebody borrowing a book, although I would obviously want it back, because my books, you know? Hey, I might be proven wrong, who knows.
2. I haven’t bought a physical book since January, which is amazing and baaaad, but it was Killer Instinct<3
3. It's not organised as anything much. There's genres, and a little by colour or series, but otherwise, nope, nothing. I'm considering by colour, I'm just not 100% sure yet, the unevenness, not good.
Such a pretty shelf, so many books, I'm impressed! 😉
Pfft, I have issues with ALL books these days. xD But overall I like most of them. (I’m getting so picky in my old age. Omg. I need to stumble over some truly incredible books and stop my moaning. xD)
1. Well GOOD FOR YOU!! I’m so pedantic about my things. 🙁
2. Ohh, you are very restrained. 😉
3. There are definite downsides to colour. Particularly when, say, you buy a green book but there’s no room for green books…so therefore you feel beholden to only by YELLOW books and LIFE IS SO COMPLICATED. *cries* I really hate splitting the series too, though. Throne of Glass is wonderful because they’re all white spined. xD Except for The Assassin’s Blade. Grrr.
I am so doing this now.
1) I have all three books of The Hunger Games in hardback. I loaned them to a coworker a few years ago, then last year I discovered that her child had written in it. I was so sad, but I generally don’t have a problem loaning out books.
2) I just bought a copy of Emma by Jane Austen from a local book store. I traded a few books that I didn’t want anymore for in-store credit. =)
3 I want to organize by color, but I’m not sure I can get it to work. I sort by genre, then by author.
When I was younger, though, I sorted by height.
Omg, yaaay!! I can’t wait to see your bookshelves!! *dances*
Oh. NO. REALLY???? That is devastating. I leant my sister a book and she bent the cover and I was pretty wild about that. BUT STILL. Drawing in them is totally worse. 😐
Sorting by genre would be AWESOME, tbh. I kind of want to try that because colour is hard when you want to add, say, a green book but have no green space only BLUE space. *growls* I need to resort. XD
I probably won’t let anyone read my copy of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, because it’s signed and personalized by the author. MINE. 😀
The newest addition is The Water and the Wild, which I won in a giveaway. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned this at least twice, but you seriously need to read this book. It has Cait written all over it, and it’s GORGEOUS. (Obviously, if it has Cait written all over it.)
My books are organized by how much I like them. Aside from a few new books this year, my book collecting stopped when I went to college and apparently there was a group decision without my knowledge that I shouldn’t get books as presents anymore. :'( Now it’s all about “practical” things. People are cruel.
I very much enjoyed your bookshelf tour. 🙂
SIGNED AND PERSONALIZED. Yes. Yes. I quite understand keeping that preciousness to yourself.
Wait waitwait I don’t even remember you mentioning The Water and the Wild (though you probably did. XD My brain is cheese cloth) but OMG I JUST GOOGLED IT AND YES. I need it. Gorgeous books are my weakness.
What is it with that whole “Oh you have so many books CLEARLY YOU DON’T NEED MORE” thing?! *cries* People are cruel. There is no such thing as too many books. THERE IS NOT.
I think I mentioned it on Twitter, which I’m guessing is the WORST way to ensure you see something. I’m glad you looked at it though. I was pretty much thinking of you and my friend’s daughter Charlotte the entire time I was reading, haha. (Seriously, though, I kept thinking to myself, “I bet this is what Cait’s life was like growing up!” :D)
NO. SUCH. THING. This should be your first law when you become supreme ruler of the universe.
Wot?! I don’t get how you don’t buy books :O That’s one of my biggest dilemmas in life, saving money for books by sacrificing potential coats and boots. Tell me your secretsss.
Also, why am I not surprised that City of Heavenly Fire is the largest tome lol And that Farid and Dustfinger gif *clutches my frozen robotic heart*
I DON’T SPEND MONEY ON ANYTHING. Literally. The most things I spend money on is library book reservation fees. XD hehe.
FARID AND DUSTFINGER ARE A BIT ADORABLE. Completely underrated in that extreme adorableness. :’)
AHHH. DUDE. Can there be a “Get Someone’s Talent For a Day” day? Because seriously. Your photos are amazing. Seriously – if I had half your talent for photography I would be a very happy person. Thanks for
making everyone jealous withsharing your pics! ♥AFJDLKS, ZOE. LEMME JUST, I DON’T EVEN KNOW. GIVE YOU CAKE OR SOMETHING?! YOU JUST MAKE ME SMILE AS WIDE AS A CHESHIRE CAT. THANK YOU. :’)
It’s colored coded! I love it. 🙂
My shelf is not organized. . . at all. I tried to organize it by my favorite books, my least favorite books and the books I still haven’t read yet. But because the shelves have dramatic height difference, I had to just put them anywhere they would fit. But the textbooks/nonfic is all on the same shelf. And most of my favorites are separated from the others. Because they’re special.
What?! You don’t get books for your birthday? I don’t understand. You give bookworms books on their birthday. It’s obvious.
Usually, I’ll let people borrow my most beloved books, because I want to spread the story around. But once there was this one terrible time, I let the wrong person borrow my favorite copy of Pride and Prejudice. In the margins, it had notes on the different movies, some of the historical aspect, cute comments; IT WAS THE BEST EVER! And I never saw it again. I don’t think they even read it. So now I’ll lent out any book, but not to just anyone.
My most recent addition is probably the The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes. It was a dollar at a library sale. 🙂
Agh, yes, shelf-height is a real trial. The family shelves have that problem and I was colour coding them with some difficulty. I had to break the rainbow pattern just for logics sake. Gah. BUT STILL. Rainbow is the bestest way to do it, in my humble but wonderful opinion. *nods humbly*
The family seems to think I have too many books. LIKE WHAT?!! HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE. Gah.
Omg, they stole it?! BOOK THIEVES. Those kind of tales are exactly why my books don’t leave my sights. HAHAH. Okay, actually, I have exactly zero friends who read. My life is shameful.
OH MAN CAIT. YOUR SHELVES ARE ABSOLUTELY TO DIE FOR. You are so organized and you have so many books that I want to make grabby hands of. Can I make grabby hands? May I? HAHA. It’s such a pleasure to look at! One glance at it and it feels like my bookish soul is at peace.
BOOKSHELVES ARE JUST SUCH PLEASANT THINGS TO BEHOLD. There is not much prettier. :’)
Oooh, this is such a fun tag! I’m so doing this. Also, again: You take the most AMAZING book photography! I aspire to your greatness.
I love your shelf arrangement! Mine are by genre, at least on my first shelf. The rest are a little sad and random… But not as pretty as your lovely squares.
C.J.
Sarcasm & Lemons
AFJDSKLA, THANK YOU, CJ. I try hard, but tbh, I have no idea what I’m doing. xD I’d love to learn professional photography someday *dreamy sigh* Ahh, genre is COOL THO. I wish to try arranging by genre one day, mostly to see which I have the most of. XD
Psh, you have tons of ideas of what you’re doing. You just have a natural eye. Think what you could do with training! 😀 I hope you get to do it some day.
I mostly decided to do that because when Borders went under, I bought one of their shelf separator blocks. It said Writing, so I decided I wanted all my writing books by it…and voila. I’m so creative. xP
C.J.
Sarcasm & Lemons
YAY CAIT THANK YOU FOR TAGGING ME, CAN’T WAIT TO DO THIS ONE :D:D:D
Also, omg, your photos are soooo pretty <3 <3 And your shelves have filled up a lot since last time I saw a picture! Congrats on that 😀 Funnily enough, there aren't any books that I wouldn't let people read. I even let my Nanna borrow my signed copy of TFIOS.
I KNOW RIGHT?! NEXT TIME I’LL BE SHOWING MY ENTIRE ROOM FULL OF BOOKS WITH NO WHERE TO STAND. *nods* It’ll happen for sure. (I take, like, bi-monthly shots, so I really should line them up at some point. hehe.)
You are clearly a MUCH nicer person than me.
I like this tag. I wish I had so much books as you, haha.
I definitely count myself a lucky reviewer! ^-^
I WILL NEVER EVER TIRE OF LOOKING AT PEOPLE’S SHELVES BECAUSE OH MY GOSH THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL. And YAY thank you SO much for tagging!!! I’m going to have a looooot of fun taking photos.
I keep saying this, but THE TAGS LATELY HAVE BEEN SO FUN TO DO!!! You can just see people’s creativity shining through them and I love it! Also, I’m not sure if I’ve said this before, but I love how bright and vibrant all your pictures are, Cait. <333 Totally fangirling over how organized your bookshelf is. WHO CARES ABOUT THE MESSY STACKS, THE RAINBOW COLORS RULE ALL.
Omg, that $1 hardback copy of OotP… I bow down to your book hunting skills. NO ONE finds a hardback of the thickest HP book for $1. And wow, I didn't realize Bridge to Terabithia was such a short book! The movie was loaded, though. I watched it probably a decade ago but I can still remember it.
Your most expensive book costed only $15 AUS?? That's like $11 USD and haha, I feel like such a spendthrift now. I mean, I'm okay with spending nearly $20 USD on hardback books. O_O But I hardly do because there are some pretty epic book sales in my country and I end up buying all my books then. Resulting in the monster horde of books I have to read now. And all I want to do is reread Harry Potter. Someone save me.
And yay for that signed copy of Talon! I haven't read the book yet, but so far I've liked what Julie Kagawa books I've read, so I'm excited for it. 😀
AWESOME TAG, AWESOME POST.
AFJSDLK THANK YOU, MEGAN. <3 I have been working hard on my photography skills, hehe. But I seriously need to actually progress OFF automatic. But shhh, let everyone think that I know what I'm doing. *nods*
RAINBOOOOOOWS FTW.
I know right?! My library sale finds can be INSANELY good. There is another sale coming up this month and heck yes I will be there. AND YES. Books are expensive here. Like wickedly expensive and it makes my bookish heart cry. HARDBACKS ARE EVEN WORSE. I got a voucher for freelance blogging and ended up buying a hardcover for $30AUD. That...that is insane. Without the voucher, I wouldn't have done it. XD
Aaaah, I love book shelfies. This post made my day 🙂
And what book would I never ever let anyone else read? Probably my hardcover anniversary adition of Outlander signed by Diana Gabaldon herself. It was a gift from my friend and I treasure that book above all others and would never borrow it to anyone !
And I try to organize my books by series and by color. It never works 100% LOL
I’m like an 80% colour-organiser. XD If you peer in closely to my Skulduggery Pleasant shelf, I’ve actually squished the Lunar Chronicles in there as well and THEY ARE RED AND BLUE. NOT BLACK. But shhh. Let no one know I’m a huge cheat.
IS IT SAD THAT I HAVE NO ORGANIZATION OF ANY SORT??? *hangs head* Wayy too many books, and too little shelf space. Speaking of which, your book shelf is gorgeous <3
SO MANY PRETTY BOOKS *_*
YES IT IS SAD. FIX THIS, NIRVANA. hhaah, I am juuuust kidding with you. Too little shelf space is a real trial, it totally is. *nods*
Oh wow! I feel like I really did just get a whole bookshelf tour. 😉 I have soooo many SJM books. I think 12? Which is kind of funny because she has five published books xD Girlll, you take such pretty pictures!! City of Heavenly Fire is really tall and thick! It was so cumbersome to read that book xD Nice post <3
YOU DID. It was quite a long post, right?! *collapses in exhaustion* OMG THAT IS A LOT OF SJM BOOKS! HEH! I only have 4, and I really need to by Throne of Glass, because the rest of my ToG series is like missing its eldest sibling. They are sad. They need their family.
First off, lovely tour. You have a lot of nice books! And beat up ones, which is a-okay by me. I love a good sale. I don’t get too territorial over my books, I lend them out all the time with the hopes they return. I gave a colleague The Book Thief months ago and haven’t asked for it back (even thought that is a good book!) My most recent addition is actually three books I bought together to treat myself: Me and Earl and The Dying Girl, Nimona and Hawkeye: My Life As a Weapon (comics vol. count!). I actually love my shelf because my hubby made it with his dad and it is custom to my specifications. I still haven’t filled the whole thing so I feel like I am waiting for that to happen before I take pictures! Who knows if I will ever reach that point because I keep giving books away lol.
Oh oh have you read Me and Earl?! I’m torn about that book. I laughed my head off, but it was kind of crude. >_< STILL. And yessss, second hand books are life. They're basically 80% of my book buying habits, though I would like to support authors by buying new. BUT WHEN I AM RICH AND FAMOUS, I WILL DO THIS.
Not yet! But I do like crude, so yeay? Haha. And you will be rich and famous, I just know it!
KINDA WANNA DO THIS. I loved everything about this tag! Also I also have series that I cannot split [like my cass clare books] so they totally don’t go with the rest of my author last name shelving.
Cait, you take such beautiful pictures and I have no idea how you do it.
Accidentally hit enter. Hate that.
But OH your bookshelves are beautiful! I LOVE it when people have them sorted by color. It always looks SO GORGEOUS.
Your editions of the Hunger Games are the most beautiful things i’ve ever seen.
I would never let anyone read my boxed set of the new Percy Jackson covers. They’re paperback, which makes them easy to damage and they must stay PERFECT.
I just recently bought Night Film by Marisha Pessl at Barnes and Noble and got quite a good deal on it actually. I am pleased.
I like to keep my paperbacks and hardcovers separate. I also try to keep them divided by genre. Contemporaries together and then…everything else. I actually just reorganized today. I have most of my unread book together now, stacked on my headboard. Which is nice for keeping track of what you have and haven’t read. But also mainly because I have officially run out of room. Like, six months ago. but they do look better now.
Also, CommentLuv is not working for me? It just keeps showing my weekly wrap up from last week even when I refresh. Just wanted to let you know in case it’s something you needed to fix.
Olivia @ Fluttering Pages
First, I want to flail and hug you for tagging me because I LOVE this tag! Then, I want to book my ticket to Australia so I can buy the Luxury Editions. After that, when I realize I am broke, I will try to hire someone (very cheaply, so it’ll have to be a simple fellow) to hunt you down and steal the books and send them to me. Then I will realize I can’t do that and cry. SO PRETTY.
I just gave away my City of Heavenly Fire, so I can no longer squish rodents with iT! YAY. Also, Heir of Fire is the most expensive book I own as well- since I did pay full price for it on a whim! (Bad Shannon!) And those old books? They are AMAZING! 1938!? I mean, were you even BORN in the 1900s?! (Yes, you were, I do understand math. Some of our blogging friends weren’t though!)
I tried to do the color order thing after a very informal Twitter poll. But I worked on it for HOURS and hated it every time. So I gave up, and I am back to my boring alphabetical by author’s surname. Womp womp. Except my favorites shelves… those are kind of random? they need an order, but not alphabetical. I DO try to keep the 5 stars front and center!
your bookshelf is so lovely, Cait! And that’s cool that you have all of the Series of Unfortunate Events…IN HARDBACK! I remember buying my first SOUE book and I was so scared to read it because of the book cover and creepy/mysterious writing. I still have not read it today, but I did watch the movie! Wow your copies of THG looks so pretty. Maybe I’ll purchase the awesome looking white covers just for the heck of it.
I’m not kidding when I say that shelf action gets me hot under the collar. I love storage. LOVE. IT. I currently have three almost entirely full, floor to ceiling bookshelves. And that’s AFTER having a clean out. I’ve got paperbacks, signed hardcovers, leatherbound, clothbound, series, half series, spin off series, middle grade, young adult, even poetry and adult. I’m lucky I have room to turn one of my spare bedrooms into a home library. Eventually I plan on having wall to wall books in there, and just a comfy lounge and floor lamp to read by. It’ll be my booknerd cave. No entry. Of course I’ll have to make a dark cape and only come out at night.
I am so jealous right now. About 80% of the books that I own are back at my mum’s flat in Belgium and I just miss them soooooo much. Though I have amassed a pretty nice shelf so far. They’re on the gent’s bookshelf though so I might have to buy pretty shelves for myself soon… 🙂
I don’t generally lend books to people unless I have specified really distinctly that they are NOT allowed to crack the spines. I avoid cracked spines at all cost. Don’t ask me why, I just don’t like it. I’m a bit odd.
Ooooh, look at all the pretty photographs!!! 😀 To answer your questions…
1) I will never let anyone touch my copies of Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue. I’m going to yell at you (in general, not just you, Cait) to read those books but you’re going to have to go out and find your own copies. I don’t let friends borrow books, though. That’s, like, a huge no-no in my life.
2) Most recent addition to my shelf? I don’t buy books because I’m poor, so I have to tell you an ARC I got: The Drowning by Camilla Lackberg. Don’t really know what it’s about but it’s some sort of crime book, and I’m finding I’m interested in thrillers these days.
3) I organize my standalones and first books in a series by color! Or, I used to until very recently. It was a beautiful rainbow shelf I had. But all my shelves are different: One shelf is for series that are hardcover AND paperback, one is for series that are just in paperback. I have a shelf for hardcover standalones or just first in series, as well as one for paperback standalones or just first in series (that’s the one that used to be a rainbow). I have a shelf for books that are of abnormally small sizes, and a few shelves for hardcover series that are of abnormally big sizes. All my books are alphabetized by author. And did I mention I have to double stack everything? 😀
*Jumpjump* Hornblower!!! I LOVE THAT GIF. 😀 I’ll have to use that sometime. 😉
And I won’t go into another Hornblower rant here, because I already did that once in my last comment… 😛
Wow, just look at that shelf! It’s so organised! *Glances at my own cluttered heaps of books* Why am I such a lazy and messy person?
I am so going to kidnap you and bring you to my home to organize my shelves! *creepy laugh*
It sucks when there’s no one to give us bookish gift, huh?;( There’s no person in my whole family who reads,- half of them don’t even understand English- and my friends are dead afraid of the concept of reading books! I am not kidding, it’s the sad truth that’s my life! And I have no one to buy me books! *Go sobs in a corner*
Inkheart! I love that series! Being a silver tongue is probably one of the coolest super powers ever!
And Dustfinger and that guy- I forgot his name!;)- were so adorable together!:)
And girl, all those photos! *swoons* You and your camera make an awesome combination. End of story!:)
WHERE DO YOU GET THOSE STUNNING THG BOOKS?! I NEED THEM…NOW 🙂
I have never seen this tag before, I just might STEAL it from you xD I love how you organize your bookshelf as well, it looks super cute and different. I love seeing shelves organized by color, I wish I could do that but my books are already stalked – I usually organize by height order, my favorites and by the texture. I loved reading your answers though, great post!
I wish my shelf was color-coordinated! I should do that. It would look so pretty. To answer your questions: 1. I’m wary of lending out any of my books. But I do so anyway because I’m already a borderline book snob and I get weird looks when someone says “hey, can I borrow that?” and I tell them “NEVER.” *shrugs* 2. I just got a ton of books! One of the most recent additions is Unbroken. So excited for it.
Now, I’m off to color-coordinate my bookshelf.
Thanks for tagging me!!! 🙂 I did this way back in September last year, when my shelves looked VERY different. That one is here. But I would like to do it again now, showing off my new shelf layout and all the new precious I have acquired since.
I don’t split up my favourites on my shelf either, especially not the series…. THEY MUST STAY TOGETHER…. ALWAYS!!!!! I forgot I got you Dangerous Girls, but I remember really wanting you to read and love that one, which I am very glad you did. I love gifting books! 🙂
I adore those white editions of The Hunger Games, I really must buy them for myself. I want them sitting on my shelf and looking all gorgeous.
I feel like bookshelf tags are things that can be done regularly right!?? I nearly didn’t do it because I’d done one last year but then WHAT THE HECK I LIKE MY BOOKSHELF. lol XD You are the most marvellous gifter of books. I TOTALLY STILL FEEL SPECIAL ABOUT THAT. <3 THANK YOU.
Gah, so many pretty books (and pictures).
I just bought a new shelf so I need to figure out how I want to organize my books! They were originally alphabetized by author, than size and currently just everywhere 😛 But now I have rooooom! I probably wouldn’t let people read my watercolour cover version of Pride and Prejudice. I have a separate reading copy for that, haha.
afjdskl, thank you, Cyn. *dances* I HAD FUN DOING THIS ONE. Watercolour cover?!! ooh, I totally want to see a picture of that, it sounds divine! And I can’t read my deluxe THG set, so I know how it feels. 😉
Wow so many books! I’m jealous of that deluxe edition of the Hunger Games lol. It’s one of my favorite series ever. The most recent addition to my shelf is Omega Dragon by Bryan Davis. Have you read any of his books? I organize my books by who are my favorite authors so they get most of the room and then everyone else gets to squeeze in or sit on top. XD
Oh my word! You did MY tag! I created this tag-but I never thought it’d go beyond my little circle of blog friends, haha. I’m glad you liked it. Did you take all those photos of the books? They are really beautiful. 🙂
OH. HELLO, NATALIE!! You make epic tags. 😉 I totally enjoyed these questions. And yesss, I take all the photos. THANK YOU.
Aww, thank you so much! I really appreciate your saying so!
And wow, yes, your photos are amazing. Great job!! 😀
I’m gonna sneaky tag myself in this one, for sure. I love shelfies! 🙂
NOBODY TOUCHES ANY OF MY BOOKS! EVER!
Like, seriously, I can’t think of any that I am happy to lend out.
And the organisation of my bookshelf is a combination of size, author and genre. Which makes it an incredible pain when an author writes books in different genres. Like…WHY? I can’t put them on the same shelf, because they’re different genres, but they are the same author and they NEED TO STAY TOGETHER!
*cries*
I can’t organise by colour. I just can’t.
I love the pictures. Very pretty books 🙂
Hey cait! I’m new to your blog but I just want to say that I am SO INCREDIBLY JEALOUS of your book shelves. It looks absolutely amazing. Books are some of my favorite things of all time. I would love to do this tag on my brand new blog but I don’t think my shelf is impressive enough to show people. Tips for expanding my collection for cheap?
HELLOW AND WELCOME, MARISSA!! *WAVES* Ahhhh, bookshelves are insanely precious things. *hugs mine* I’ve been building up mine for about 1.5 years now. So not too long. 😀 And I totally don’t spend much money on it, either, because I am a poor bookworm. I mostly shop second hand. Do you do thrift stores/op-shops/second hand stores? Library sales are great too. I also get a TON of review copies from publishers. But library sales are life. <3
Books shelves are so precious. I plan to have a library in my house when I get older because how amazing would that be?! Actually I never used to get second hand books until recently! I found this AMAZING website for used books called thriftbooks.com. I just got $45 worth of books for only $10 on there. So I will be going back there to start building up my collection. But oh man, the struggle of being a poor bookworm.. I totally feel your pain lol! Thanks for replying! If you happen to check out my blog
(always-marissa.blogspot.com)please leave a comment somewhere so I can welcome you as warmly as you have welcomed me to your lovely blog
I sort of colour coordinate the books behind my bed- they’re all pastel/white-ish, but all the other books are sorted by series/author/genre, or at least I try haha.
I love your shelves by the way! <3
I ALSO HAVE THE COMPLETE A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS IN MATCHING HARDCOVER!!!! WHOOOOO!!!! *hi 5*
My most recent addition is actually A Bridge to Terabithia, because I really want to read it and have feels because I haven’t read a feels book for AGES (blame year 12, I think I’ve just commented on 3 of your posts complaining about year 12, sorry, I shall stop) and I am going to read it soon because it is short, I really want to and also I have seen the movie but not read the book which has left me with a disappointed in myself feeling. Thanks for sharing Cait! xoxo
This is a fun tag and I LIKE YOUR GINGER BEER BOTTLE. But now I want ginger beer. *sobs* Although there’s no reason why I can’ have it, because it’s in the pantry, awaiting me. I’ve gone off point, I’m sure of it.
This is seriously an awesome tag, though- I wants to do it- and your photography is so on point, Cait. So many pretties. AND your Hunger Games series. Gorgeous. I can imagine the pain over whether to read them or just keep them evermore pristine. It’s hard, especially when they’ve just coloured edging and everything. xx
Cait, your bookshelf is so gorgeous! I’ve been stalking all your bookshelf tour posts and it’s so cool to see how your bookshelves and the books you own have grown. I used to own the most gorgeous bookshelf with over 500 books but i had to leave it behind when i left that country. I’ve moved around so much that i hardly buy paperbacks or hardbounds *insert teary face
Hence the dream is that when i finally settle down, i’m able to own rooms full of books – with an outside view like yours 🙂
Ahhh I’m so glad you like my shelf set up! I am quite fond of it too.😂 But nooo I’m so sad you had to leave your book collection!? TRUE DEVASTATION.