To get started on how I like to keep my books, I first want to note that when reading and storing them I try to keep them in as pristine a condition as possible. I’m sure you all appreciate the importance of not creasing the spine or bending the pages, and quite often I will refuse to buy a book in a shop unless the condition is perfect (or maybe I just have book OCD..?). I like to think most of my bookshelves look like they’ve come straight out of a shop, with the books looking perfect enough to buy!
So, to begin the tour! All of my books are kept in my bedroom, as despite wanting to fill the house with books, my family don’t seem to appreciate it! As a result, I am beginning to run out of space, so the majority of the time I will only keep a book if I intend to read it more than once. If it doesn’t impress me then I’ll place it on Read it Swap it, give it to a friend, or donate it to charity.
Click to Enlarge
This is bookshelf number one, a fairly small shelving space that is attached to one half of my desk. This is where I tend to keep my favourite books, or the ones that I’ve read most recently. The only shelf that tends not to undergo many changes is the top shelf, where I keep my beloved copies of Harry Potter. These are the few books present on my shelf that do have creased spines, as I read them when I was really young and didn’t understand the proper way to treat books! Also present here are my copies of Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, which I absolutely love, and Stieg Larsson’s Millenium trilogy (which I love, but the books take up so much room!).
Next up we have the shelf space above my desk, which once housed cuddly toys and is now home to my growing book collection! This space is where I keep my collection of Vintage Classics, some of which were bought for my school days, others for university and some out of personal interest. I keep my collection of Lisa Gardner books on this shelf too, and I think she’s a great crime writer whose books deserve a wider readership. My collection of John Green novels also live on this shelf, and his books are all amazing, definitely worth the praise he’s started to receive.
Click to Enlarge
Now for the continuation of this tour we must delve inside one of my wardrobes! This wardrobe isn’t used for clothes, but as more of a storage space which I have since claimed for my books. We’ll start off at the bottom of the wardrobe and work our way up, as this space houses a whole host of different genres.
Click to Enlarge
This is my newest bookcase, bought a few months ago when I realised that the number of books I owned were growing at an exceptional rate! I had a massive clear out of this wardrobe to make space for it, and I’m glad I did. This bookcase begins to deviate from the genres we review on BCC, as it houses the majority of my manga collection by artist collective CLAMP. I love their artwork, so I’ve been trying to read all of their series (which has taken me some time!).
I keep some old magazines on the bottom shelf, along with my collection of Anthony Hororwitz’ Alex Rider series, whilst the middle shelf is home to Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series. I own the American editions of these novels, as I picked up the first book in Borders and then wanted the next books to match on my bookshelf! The top shelf houses The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine, with some of the books I’ve reviewed for BCC also being present here.
Click to Enlarge
This next picture is still inside my wardrobe, and is above the previous bookcase. Starting at the bottom again, we have yet more manga, and those really thick books at the end of the shelf are the anthologies I used for my first year of university. More manga dominates the space above, which is now double piled due to lack of space! Next to it are more classics that have been used in school and university, and you can’t fail to notice the massive Shakespeare anthology placed on top of those! (And if you were wondering about the box in front of the books, this is a copy of Sirius Black’s wand from Harry Potter! He was my favourite character and I’m slightly obsessed with him…)
And now to wrap up the tour! That’s about all there is to see, as the only space I have left is another manga shelf, and the space under my desk where I keep my to-read pile! This to-read pile mainly comprises of books waiting to be reviewed for BCC, which then need to be moved onto a bookshelf (if I can actually find any more space…).
Click to Enlarge
I hope you enjoyed this tour of my bookshelves, I’ve loved sharing them with you all! 
26 Comments
I’m sorry, but I do crack the spines. I’ve gotten out of the habit of turning the covers, but I can’t get not crack the spine of a book. No to the extreme, but there are creases on some of my books. I do love the sound!
You are really organised as I am anything but. (You’ve seen the twitter pics.) I’m like you, I only keep books I absolutly adore. This has changed a bit over the years.
Fantastic post though
Reply
Gemma… that is pure blasphemy!! :O I just can’t bring myself to crack the spine, books should just stay perfect forever!!
I like my books to be as organised as I can get them, it still frustrates me that I have to double pile some of them on the shelves! I just like everything to have it’s place
And thanks Gemma
Reply
I agree on the borrowing thing. I loaned a book to a friend who split curry sauce on the book. I was devistated but i had to snile through gritted teeth. its not much, but man was i upset…. i still get choked up now
Reply
Great post! I would love to do a post like this but all my books are in boxes at the moment because my room needs decorating. I see you study English lit in uni like me
I hate the massive anthology books with a passion! They are so heavy. I got rid of my poetry anthology…probably shouldn’t have really (but I hate poetry!) but I have to buy a Shakespeare one this year for a module next term. Thanks for showing us your bookcases, you have so many books its amazing! So jealous 
Reply
Thank you!
Oooh if you do end up doing a post, let me know, I love seeing other people’s book collections 
Yes, I hate the anthologies too! Especially when you look at a few texts out of them and not the rest, considering how much they cost it’s kind of a waste!! I also hate poetry too, I’m just holding onto mine for nostalgia of being my first module!
Reply
I am exactly the same way. Before I buy a book from the shop I have to inspect each one and I buy the best version of it, if it has creases then I wont buy it and I go to another shop to buy it. Also all my books look like they could be in a shop, and I could even take them all back after being read. I hate broken spines, creased pages and food/drink stains on them…which could be a reason why nobody will borrow them off me
At the moment I have 2 bookcases taller than me (5ft6) which have 5 cubby holes in them, all stacked two high and two depth into case, plus two smaller, longer ones full of books (one is my waiting to be read bookcase), and two stacks of twelve books on top the waiting to be read one.
We have just unpacked our boxes from our recent move and found a lot of books, so not we can’t see the radiator, the tv cabinet, the bottom of the coffee table or the end of the sofa………….we may need to do a clear out and send more books to the library soon.
Thanks for sharing your shelves
Reply
Yes, I totally agree with you, if the copy in the shop isn’t perfect then I won’t buy it! I try to dissuade people from borrowing off me, and make them fully aware of the condition they need to be returned in, some still come back in bad shape though
Oooh wow, your book collections sounds AMAZING, I’d love to see it!!
Reply
All that beautiful CLAMP! you’ve even got Tokyo Babylon! Thanks for sharing all the photos!
sigh. I should really treat my books better. I love them, and I love them hard. and if it’s a title I really want to read, I don’t care if the condition is terrible when I do find a copy of certain rarer titles. I break spines, I drop books, I stack them badly on sagging bookshelves.
Reply
Oooh I’m glad you appreciate the CLAMP!
I love their artwork so much!
Yes, if I get really really desperate I’ll consider buying a book that’s in bad condition, but most of the time I’ll just pay that bit extra to track one down that’s perfect
Reply
I sympathize with you greatly… here’s why.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1085000703500&set=a.1084999383467.12031.1780873737&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1085000703500&set=a.1084999383467.12031.1780873737&type=3&permPage=1
Since these photos were taken I’ve rearranged the books and found a way to triple pack them in. I need another 6 floor to ceiling Ikea bookcases to just catch up. LOL
Reply
Oooh wow…. Your bookshelves look amazing!! And triple packed??? That is some achievement!!! :O
Reply
Wow! Look at all those pretty books! I love CLAMP as well, have you read their new series Gate 7? I read most of my manga from the library. Someday I’ll fix up my shelves and show them off, but I have seven full bookshelves so there’s lots of fixing to be done.
Thanks for sharing your shelves!
Reply
Yes, I have volume one of Gate 7, it just got cut off one of the pictures!
Will probably invest in the next one fairly soon! ;D
Oooh seven full bookshelves??? Sounds exciting!!
Reply
YES! My books look the same. I cannot stand creased spines or dog earred pages. My husband makes fun of me, but I don’t care. They must look beautiful.
Gorgeous shelves. I’m a little envious.
Reply
Thank you!
Yes, I have to say I completely agree, they have to look beautiful or there’s no point! 
Reply
OMG your bookshelves are pristine!!
Wow! Mine sort of start that way and start to collect tat along the way, spare pens, post, the odd magazine. A CD or two, then I clear them up and we start all over again.
I have to confess while I am vehemently anti page folding, I do crack spines *ducks*
Reply
Oooh I do love having a bit of a tidy up though, throwing things out and such, I just like the excuse to reorganise everything
But you crack the spine??? A small part of me just went to weep in a corner. :’(
Reply
I hate creasing the spines of books… but sometimes if I get really absorbed in a book I end up doing it accidently.
Maybe that’s why I prefer hardbacks… heavier but more robust.
Reply
Yes, they are more robust, but I still prefer a good paperback ;D
Reply
I love it!!! I was just saying to myself yesterday that I wanted to do a post like this. I’ll be moving into my own apartment on Saturday and have already purchased 2 bookshelves (secretly worrying if all my books will fit or if I’ll need to put more shelves around the room somewhere). After living with my parents and being forced to have my poor books crammed into boxes in my tiny room with my little dog attacking every book I forget to keep away from him I’m ready to have them in a nice location. (I even made sure to get a bookshelf with doors so the dog cant mess them up)
I know what you mean about pristine condition. I do the same. No creases, cracks, accidental food splatters, or dog teeth marks are welcome and will cause my books to be given away (except for my beloved Harry potter collection. I’m the same as you were) It’s funny, the other day my grandmother wanted to borrow one of my books, I froze, wondering how on earth I was supposed to say no to my grandma. I mean come on…you can NEVER really say no to grandma. I swear I was staring at her for like a full 2 minutes before my mom came to my rescue and told her that I’m strange and selfish and so I never let anyone bother my books. HA! Never before had I been more excited to hear that I was strange and selfish. As for Grandma….she just smiled and laughed and said she, being a book reader also, completely understands.
Reply
Aww thank you!! I do the exact same with my books, and when people ask to borrow them! I’ve literally had to hide them from my Dad and Nana and pretend to have ‘forgotten’ where they are just so they can’t read them….
Reply
Ha! I’m glad I’m not the only one who uses that technique!!
Reply
Great bookshelves, Rebecca! When I was younger I used to fold page corners and crack spines, but now I ALWAYS use a bookmark and try to not crack spines, although sometimes it does happen. I think I will do an update post of my bookshelves soon too
Reply
Thanks Carolyn
Oooh I can’t wait to see an updated post about your bookshelves, I’m sure you have way more books than I do!! 
Reply
Alas I am a corner folder. I can’t stop myself. Although its much harder now with Kandy the Kindle!
I have purged books in recent years and now only have 1 small book case of my all time favs or books you can’t buy easily anymore. More and more I try to by e-books mostly to save having to dust.
I also have a stepson who shares the same passion for books as I do so I give a lot to him.
I greatly admire your organisational skillsl!
M
Reply
:O It would be so hard for me to purge all my books, I love them all too much!!! and I don’t have a Kindle, I’m sticking with paperbacks for as long as possible!
Thanks
Reply