Play Book Tag discussion

Do you organize your books?
How do you do it?
Does anyone organize by color?

This is such an interesting question. But I thought when I saw the question that you were asking about how we organize our lists to read, which is actually not physical books. But that’s a more complicated question. And I could probably go on ad nauseated m about my secret not so secret phone lists. But it would be boring to anybody else but me. Who spends far more wasted time on my book list that I am prepared to admit. Even though I just admitted it. But let me answer the question about how I organize my physical books.

There is a pile of neatly stacked books in our opening hallway tucked in between a table and a tower. These are the books I own, and I am hoping at some point to read her to get to. There are also some stacked underneath the hallway table. My husband hates it, but decor why’s it doesn’t really look too bad and it’s kind of warm and inviting. He hasn’t said how much she hates this yet, but I’ve also been talking books that I’m currently reading or library books that I’m next to read, on the stairs, but in between the tines. Harry Potter seven is there. Also, the Lacemaker and the princess.

Because I’m on my phone, I have to do this in sections. But then there’s what to do with the library books. Which tend to sit in a decorative basket in the car. Or in a bag in the car or in the trunk. But we’ve noticed that that starts to smell up the car. So now they sort of exist in the garage with maybe one or two atop the neatly stacked pile in the hallway, or now in between the tines on the stairs. But there are in fact bookshelves downstairs. And I gather that’s what you’re asking about his. How do we organize our actual physical bookshelves? Well, I have an entire bookcase filled with psychology. And another in my office. All of my most favorite authors in psychology land either in the office or in the bookshelf in our downstairs Den. But, a long time back when we were remodeling an extra bonus room in between the downstairs basement den and the laundry area, we had a room called the hall of shame. It’s where everything landed. Old candlesticks and dishes, it’s where all of the old bar mitzvah decorations still live. Wrapping paper. Photo albums. But at one point, we remade the whole thing, and fix the walls and installed bookshelves. The Hall of Shame was starting to look nicer and more organized. So I have to tell you what those bookshelves look like, although these days they’re barely touched.

There’s a whole shelf for parenting and raising kids. There’s a whole shelf for Jewish. I think there’s even two shelves. There’s a shelf for music and Shakespeare combined. Plus, Family, authors or authors. We know that have signed copies of things. There are music and theater anthology’s. And there’s even some poetry which will make a couple of you laugh because I don’t advertise often how much I really despise poetry. Lately underneath the bookshelves line, all the photo albums and some really beautiful dishes and candle sticks that are prominently displayed. Some of these books on the bookshelves are things that I read when I was younger that I couldn’t part with that were old beautiful things that meant a lot to me. There’s even one or two text book like things are college like things that live in there. But the most profound thing that happened to the hall of shame, is that during the pandemic, we needed three spaces for kids to work at school. And my older two boys shared a bedroom. One of the first things that happened during the pandemic very quickly, is that our middle son Shain, asked if we could rework that bonus room as a place for him. So the Hall of Shame became the Hall of Shain. We cleaned the whole thing out, and we got him a big desk that goes against the door that can lead to the stairs up to the outside.

We added a football rug and a cozy chair. We even installed those fun lights that the teenagers like. We got him a monitor, and he actually plays the Xbox down there. We had places for plugs and got him a sports lamp and a wastebasket. The hall of Shain It’s kind of his room now. When he’s home, we find him living there a lot. He hangs with his friends online and on the phone. I mean he comes up for air obviously. But it still his space. My little guy has sort of taken over the office area in the downstairs basement den, and he works at the computer and plays on the monitor we put right next to it. Both of them have incredible bookshelves nearby, or to the right of them, or behind them, and to be honest with you, neither of them notice. But they are definitely organized by subject. Although in the basement den, there is another night table that has books stacked on the bottom and top, and nearby on the mantle is another set of seven beloved books. Which I always thought I would use for the swap. But nowadays I like the idea better of using Amazon, and picking a more popular book that’s wanted and desired now. Anyway, that’s the answer to my question. I hope it was interesting to some. I think books make a house warm.

When I had physical books I arranged them by size on my bookshelf. But now that I only have my Kindle, there's really no organization. Not even sure if that's an option. LOL! I just try to delete them when I'm done so that I've got enough space on it.

I arrange my physical books (probably around 3000, most yet to be read) first by genre. Historical mystery section is then arranged by decade of the setting as is historical fiction; contemporary mysteries by author; general non-fiction by Dewey # (can’t erase the librarian in me). There is a separate book case for cookbooks and one for gardening/wildlife topics. I also keep folklore/fairy tale, science fiction, biog/memoirs, YA, chick lit, & general fiction grouped together. There are special cases or sections for more topics but I won’t bore you all with that.

Mostly random as long as they fit on the shelf. The newest ones are in the living room. I do have one smaller bookshelf that I recently arranged by color, for the first time ever. All the others are in the basement where there is a whole wall of bookshelves (some are my husband's). I do have mostly fiction in one section.

I have a bunch of romances in a crate. I have a small table next to my desk with library books and other books I plan to read soon. Then there are the books I have read and don't need to keep, I put them in a tote in the front closet until I take them to a resale shop.

Phair wrote: "I arrange my physical books (probably around 3000, most yet to be read) first by genre. Historical mystery section is then arranged by decade of the setting as is historical fiction; contemporary m..."

Wow, this is very organized!

I really only keep all the horror books, horror adjacent books, together. I have a shelf for classics and then a small section of only vampire related, but can't fit all the vampire books together so it isn't complete the way I would like.

Otherwise it is kind of a free for all.
I have this need metal display shelf from Article (kinda artsy shelf) which each shelf has a sorta theme.

Then there are little piles hidden here and there, usually stuff I've most recently bought, and there is no rhyme or reason to where they are or how they are organized.

Someday I would love to have books by genre at least.

The books I am currently or will read within the next 3 months are on my blanket shelf. The rest of them are piled but author under my bed-LoL

When we bought this house a major feature (for me) was the study/library, with built in wall of shelves. Of course, it took no time at all to fill it ...

I do have one shelf that has my "favorites" ... it's right at eye level in the center, so I can look at them whenever I want. I also have 1+1/2 shelves for books about or featuring elephants. (You certainly cannot be surprised about that!) I have shelf that is strictly nonfiction. One shelf is for those over-size books, like the world atlas. The rest are filled with books that fit where they fit.

The cookbooks have their own bookcase in the kitchen.

And then there are the boxes in the closets, and the piles on virtually every available surface in the office.

Library books usually live in my Babar tote bag until I am actively reading them, or listening to the audio. The ones I've finished but still need to be reviewed are in a pile next to the keyboard by the computer.

@Book Concierge - Jealous of your study / library.
My husband and I have been discussing different options for built-ins, but haven't landed on a fixed plan yet :(

Do Kindle readers use the folders at all to organize your virtual books?

Well, chaos pretty much reigns with my physical books at this time, with packed shelves needing to be purged and towers of books growing everywhere. I also have books and bookcases in everyroom in the apartment -- though in the bathroom, which is a tiny NYC bathroom, just a small pile for reading while soaking in the tub. The chaos actually bothers me for a whole lot of reasons but I have yet to summon the energy to do what I want - organize them.

Once upon a time I had all my books organized -- by genre and then alphabetical by author. Hardcovers on back of shelf with paperbacks in front as I have too many books not to double shelve. Many are read but also many are not.

Wny the chaos now? I moved once too often in a short period of time - 3 times in 3 years - and the last move into this apartment over 10 years ago was in December, 4 days before I left to spend Christmas in Germany with my brother, and I had a difficult work load. I didn't even get the place painted until months after my return - practically camping out in the apartment for months. The books were unpacked about a year after that move -- and just thrown onto shelves just to get the boxes out of here. So bad.

But I did manage to put most of the cookbook and food related books in the shelves in the eat-in dining room adjacent to the kitchen (remember - NYC apartment- I have the luxury of an eat-in kitchen but it is not a big kitchen).

I've figured out a plan to start purging the shelves so I can finally organize my books again. A bookcase at a time will be purged and I'll clump genres together on the depleted shelves, using space as it becomes available for a rough sort. Then I'll do what I did the first time I did this - organize by genre then alphabetically by author, and if a series in order. I put my reference books in the foyer shelves near my desk, needlework books and some fiction in the bedroom, most of the fiction, biographies, non-fiction and the fiction is subdivided by genre. The 2 biggest collections are general fiction and crime fiction. I have a special small bookcase for really special books like my hardcover and paperback sets of Beckett, HP, GRRM ASOIAF, LOTR, Dorothy Dunnett and Proust. I also put the art and oversized books on the bottom shelves as a weighty stablizer to the shelves (and making them easy to reach).

I would NEVER organize by color! That's ridiculous and to me a lack of respect for books and reading.

I know I can purge a lot of books primarily due to the evolution of ebooks since the last time I did it and organized them. I have things like the complete works of Dickens in ebook for example. All those old tatty paperbacks no longer need to be kept. I also always find books that I am no longer inclined to read.

But for now - it's utter chaos and I have to rely on my memory of where I think I might have seen a book ....

Meli wrote: "Do Kindle readers use the folders at all to organize your virtual books?"

I didn't even know there were folders. LOL!

Until recently, I had no order except shelves of cookbooks were separated and mostly in the kitchen.

This year, I organized my shelves removing books, I would never read (some of which had been on my shelves for over 30 years. Recently, I alphabetized them by title and A-Z from the front of my house bookshelf to the back bookshelves, because that is the easiest way for me to search.

I noticed members talking about difficulty reading physical books and when recently choosing books for the Subdue porter, I realized I had books which were difficult for me to read, so I'm going to go through and remove those which I can't read(one way to make the tbr smaller)

I have a whole over 6ft bookshelf with children's books and professional books that I want to only keep the ones I really love. I've given away many to former employment, nieces and nephews and now need to give to library and elsewhere.

Kindle- I have so many. and except for them all being listed on my shelf on Goodreads there is no organization. Many haven't been labeled except as TBR. I want to go through and find the older ones (from 2012 on) and label them somehow, so I don't forget about them.

Ebooks - I have both Nook app and Kindle app on my phone. I far prefer reading and using Nook for lots of reasons including and especially the organization options for your library that are in the app. You can organize in shelves and Ivdo by genre plus one called preorders! Their archive option is so useful. All is run in the app. Als the one negative is Libby is not linked to Nook, only Amazon Kindle. Ticks me off.

I have never bothered trying to organize on Kindle. Too cumbersome.

Both apps have good searchability if you know title or author.

I am very oriented to color, I can remember books by covers. Same thing with icons on the computer or phone, I look for the color. But I only used that on one shelf in the living room just for the heck of it.

I also have all of Dickens in paperback but when I wanted to read one, I was amazed how tiny the print was, so I read the free version on my iPad. I guess I should get rid of the physical books! I buy books from both Kindle and nook but read only on the apps on the iPad. I had actual nook and Kindle readers in the past but I'm sure they are too old now and it's great having everything in one place. I have the books shelved in GR by Kindle, nook, Audible, and Libro.fm, so I know where to look for them.

~*Kim*~ wrote: "When I had physical books I arranged them by size on my bookshelf. But now that I only have my Kindle, there's really no organization. Not even sure if that's an option. LOL! I just try to delete t..."

I also organize (in part) by size. Not all my shelves are the same height, so I need to put the taller ones together!

I have two large bookshelves organized alphabetically by author. I have one small bookcase for physical books I have read but not yet donated. I have one bookcase for books I have read that I want to keep. These are mostly non-fiction history books that I refer to periodically. My physical library books are on my bedside table.

I mostly read e-books and listen to audios. These are on my Kindle and linked to my phone (but I rarely read on my phone - the screen is too small). I will often listen to audios on my phone. I keep a spreadsheet of all my purchased e-books & audios and just search the Kindle for the one I want to start reading. I do not see a need to put them in folders.

Regarding organization by color, I have not done it, but I can see it would be useful for some people, especially those who rely more on visual memory. It can be easier for some people to find a pattern or color than to remember a title or even an author.

I also organise alphabetically by author.

The problem is I only have nine large bookcases (not counting the plentiful craft books and cookbooks which are in their own spaces). So there are a lot of completely unsorted books on the floor, the kitchen counter, the night stand, propped against the wall, the desk, in boxes in the garage, doubled up out of order on some of the shelves…

The several hundred electronic books are completely unsorted and unmanaged (except I try to remember to remove them from my phone once I’ve read them, to reduce the clutter) but at least I can search those lists.

I have just moved my library of privacy-related books to work so my team can borrow them and so it gets them out of the boxes that are populating the hallway.

I think I need an intervention.

My book organization is mostly not organized. I have a stack of books next to my bed, those are the books I am reading or plan to read in the near future. With the exception of my shelf of Alice Hoffman, my books are placed on the shelves where they fit. It does make it a challenge when I am looking for something specific, but I can usually find it eventually, since I only have three book cases. My cookbook collection is stored in a cupboard in the kitchen.

Nonfiction shelves and fiction shelves, alphabetical by author. The favorites shelves in the living room are grouped by author and publisher, since they’re my fancy copies of my favorites.

Mostly my books are sorted by genre. There aren't so many that I'd need to alphabetize so they usually fit where they can by by size. I know that I rarely read physical books any more. I listen or I use a the kindle app. ( I recently bought a new kindle paperwhite, but I find that it's clunky compared to reading on laptop or ipad).

I don't often buy new DTBs (dead tree books), but I like to 'sample' from books that I already own. It's like visiting old friends. I hate dusting, but I use it as an excuse to visit a few pages here and there. I have poetry collections on several shelves, but I never read those books from cover to cover. I just visit them now and then.

I have shelves of picture books that are within grabbing range of small hands, but there's more than one shelf of picture books that are far out of reach because they are author/illustrator signed, usually inscribed to one of my children. They aren't unread, but they are always supervised, mostly at bedtime. I have a set of Harry Potter books that have been loaned out (and replaced) over and over again, but there's also a hardback set, and a partial illustrated set that never leave the house.

I currently have a dozen or more Book of the Month hardbacks acquired since my son gave me BOTM credits for birthday and Christmas. I've asked him to stop. Although I can usually find a book that I want to read in their selections, they are rarely titles I want to keep. I'd rather get them from the library.

My goal is to only keep books that I value as objects, for the beauty of the binding, illustrations or for some personal memory like an inscription. I'm a long way from reaching that goal. I also have a superstitious (or paranoid ?) need to always have some paper books that I haven't read in case all the electronic sources disappear forever.

There used to be Kindle folders, but I just got a new kindle so I am not sure that is still a feature... although I don't see why it wouldn't be.

Have you guys seen these monsters who shelve their books spine IN!? And are you one of them?

I follow a youtuber who does it because she likes the asthetic of the muted colors ... she is autistic so I think it helps keep her mind at ease with the muted colors. Otherwise this is kinda wild to me because how would you find anything!?

I’ve seen that there are people who buy boxes of books just to fill shelves with spine-in books. Pretty sure they aren’t readers!

Jgrace wrote: "Mostly my books are sorted by genre. There aren't so many that I'd need to alphabetize so they usually fit where they can by by size. I know that I rarely read physical books any more. I listen or ..."

I agree with you on what books to keep. I keep beautiful, colorful covers to display and I have been keeping the best of the best for my daughter. I started a box and I am leaving a note in them to her why I left her this book. She will have a little piece me when I am gone😁

Meli wrote: "There used to be Kindle folders, but I just got a new kindle so I am not sure that is still a feature... although I don't see why it wouldn't be.

Have you guys seen these monsters who shelve thei..."

Why in gods name would someone shelf their books spine in? Is there a reason for it?

I think it is this beige craze... minimalist, white out / beige out aesthetic that seems to be popular with lifestyle / mom-blogger / décor influencers.

pa-shaw-that is is ridiculous! Color makes the world a better place!

Joanne wrote: "pa-shaw-that is is ridiculous! Color makes the world a better place!"

Yes!! I can't stand all-white interiors. As far as books, I assume the spine-in people are the same as those who buy books by the foot, it's just decor.

During the Zoom era, it was interesting to see what books were behind the various speakers on TV. Sometimes I could pick one out. It's interesting that so many people used bookshelves as backgrounds, whether real or virtual.

Robin P wrote: "
Yes!! I can't stand all-white interiors. "

I'd be too afraid of spilling something and it staining. LOL!