"A House Without Books is......

...like a room without windows."
Horace Mann, educator

I so agree! I cannot imagine living without books, and we are definitely a family that likes to surround ourselves with the books we love. From the moment you walk in the front door, and through every room, (even in the closets) you'll find evidence that we are book lovers.

J. Kaye at J.Kaye's book blog had a fun post this morning, and I thought this would be a good time to welcome visitors of my blog into my reading world. The post was, "Post a Picture of Your Bookshelf;" J. Kaye took pictures of all the different places she stores her books, her methods for recycling her books, and her future plans for her world of books. Sounded fun to me, so here goes:

Most of my everyday reading takes place in my office/craft room which is an upstairs bedroom. Here is a small bookcase where I store all my current books (TBR or just finished). You'll find mostly historical fiction, classics, historical romance, period mysteries, and the paranormal.



One of my favorite spots to read is in this chair in my office. It is a bright, sunny spot to curl up with a good book, and since I have beautiful trees right outside the balcony, I feel like I'm in a treehouse.

Next to my reading chair is a little magazine table where I store all my current scrapbooking magazines so they are close at hand when I have time to sit and think about what I want to create next. Also on the table you will find the books I am currently reading.



One of my favorite ways to organize and keep things tidy around the house is to use baskets -- all sizes and shapes like the one pictured here next to my reading chair. Since we have books all over the house, I like to have one place in each room to store the books so they don't get lost, shoved under the furniture, or worse, eaten by the pup. He doesn't always make wise digestive decisions! :)

Here is my most valuable collection of books. They are my family's memories. These albums represent about fifteen years of journaling and chronicling photographs, and these are the only material things I took with me in 2005 when we had 24 hrs. to leave the city. They are my treasures.



There is a big walk-in closet where I store all of my research books, grad school textbooks, and teaching materials. I haven't had time yet, but I would like to install more adjustable shelves to make space for more book/magazine storage. There is a collection of heavy winter coats currently taking up valuable book storage space, so the coats are about to get dry-cleaned and sent to charity. Who am I kidding? We need heavy coats here like you need snow skis in Florida.

As for my future plans, I know e-books are the rage, and I do see many benefits to e-readers....but, for me, I think I will always love the printed page. Perhaps I will get a kindle for the convenience of always having something with me when I am out and about, but for me, at home, there's nothing like cozying up with a good book and a cup of coffee.

So, how about you? What is your reading world like?

Click here for J. Kaye's book blog so you can see her post and find links to other bloggers' responses.