I'm one of the ones that resolved 'no more books', Susan. I like your solution so much better!!! But, I already have bookshelves in the bedrooms. All the bedrooms! (And the living room, and one closet...)

If I lived in a place of my own, I'd be super-tempted by your solution. Especially if I had a handy dandy hubby who could build them for me. :D As it is, I'm already at over-saturation...and I absolutely refuse to double shelve.

Personally I love the idea your husband had to decorate the tree with your daughters photos!!

What?!?!? Give up my lovelies? My precious books? Well, alright, just a few. I love to loan them to others, share them, or just give them to others on purpose, but just get rid of them? Ack! My books though are all upstairs and in my bedroom and not downstairs. That way I don't have to dust nearly as much - - Ha! I'm glad I have a big bedroom to fit the 5 tall bookshelves in. I love having a whole bookshelf next to my side of the bed. You will love it!

I enjoyed your review of Inkheart. I also really enjoyed Meggie. I haven't read Inkspell yet but it is one I want to get to. I listened to a podcast this week and got even more great book recommendations. Yikes. Can I order more hours in the day?? At least ones where I don't have to do anything but read?! Great review!

When it comes to getting fewer books or getting more shelves - the more shelves solution always wins! There's such great potential in empty shelves and thinking of all the great books you can get to fill them! =D

Yep, I'm really, really excited by the designs we've drawn up.

BTW - When I said "my favorite handyman," I didn't actually mean my husband - LOL. We have a handyman that does a lot of work for us, and he's going to make the shelves :)

Inside - If our tree wasn't 12 feet tall, I would actually consider leaving it up and just decorating it for the different holidays, but it takes up A LOT of space!

I like your idea of buying more bookshelves. I didn't make any resolutions or goals not to buy books or to buy less books this year because I knew I would fail utterly. I already have.

I passed a furniture store the other day that is going out of business and saw that they had bookshelves for sale. I mentioned it to my husband but he pretended he didn't hear me. ;-)

If it makes you feel any better at all, my tree is still up. I'm not sure when it's coming down.

Blissful sigh...new bookshelves...

Hello, I'm JCR. I found your blog through "The Library Ladder." I agree with you wholeheartedly about the bookshelves... I dream of floor to ceiling ones... :-) I can't stop buying books, although I get a ton for free also since I teach...

Absolutely wonderful blog... can I list it on my links list? It would be a great addition!

Exciting! New bookshelves!! Can't wait to see the finished product stuffed with books!

Heather
www.thelibraryladder.blogspot.com

Literary Feline - LOL. Truthfully, I was surprised when my husband came up with the idea of more bookshelves. Usually, he's the one going, "HOW much did you spend at Border's??!!"

P.S. - Glad to hear I'm not the last one to get my Christmas tree down :)

Bybee - I know! I'm SO excited.

JCR - You can absolutely add me to your links. Nice of you to ask permission :)

Heather - Supposedly, the shelves will only take a couple of weeks to build, so I'll post pictures as soon as they're finished.

You're a woman after my own heart. I don't even pretend that I will quit buying new books or to even slow down buying new books. I don't swap books either. I keep them all! I know it sounds pretty sad, but I can't help myself. My solution is similar to yours. I had planned to have new shelves built along the entire length of my dining room, but I think I'm going to wait a little longer (if I can) and turn my oldest son's room into a library. He's a sophomore in college and is renting a house with some friends. I will leave his things, of course, but I hope he doesn't mind being surrounded by all those books when (if) he comes home. Don't get me wrong, I would love for him to come home, but I'm a realist. I think I'm on my way to an empty nest (my youngest son is a senior in high school). Oh well, I'll console myself with my books.

Lisa - I think turning your son's bedroom into a library is a wonderful idea. I told my husband that once our kids leave home, we can move our other stuff into their rooms and make the master bedroom our library/study! 'Course, the oldest is only 8, so it might take awhile...