"Hoarders" here I come?

I have a confession.   I'm embarrassed to admit it, it's silly really.

I am a book hoarder.  A word addict.  I read several books at one time.  There is always a book on my nightstand, in my purse, on my counter, in the bathroom....I can't pass up a book sale, or books at a garage sale or thrift store.  I buy them to read, but I also sometimes buy them just for how they look.

Bad example:  I bought an illustrated book "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman a few years back at a thrift store.  I liked the way the cover looked, and I liked that it made me look like I might actually READ Walt Whitman. I never actually LOOKED at the book, I just put it in a nice stack of books in my living room that holds up a globe (that I rarely look at, but like the way it looks....maybe this is a pattern?).

On a rare whim one day I volunteer to babysit for our youth pastor and his wife so they can go to a movie.  In walks the youth minister with his children, his eyes go STRAIGHT to my Leaves of Grass, HE goes straight for my Leaves of Grass and says "Wow, Walt Whitman!" (which may have made me swell with pride....) and proceeded to actually open the book.....which had pictures of naked women in it.  Yes, it did.  There's really no explaining that.  Really.

On a side note, they haven't asked me to babysit again.  (Ginger, if you're reading this I hope you love and forgive me....)

I actually have a system for my reading.  At least, I have a theoretical system that I repeatedly go back to when I get in the place I am in now....reading three books at once without actually enjoying any of them or remembering what I'm reading.  It's ridiculous, really.

So, yesterday I stood at my bookshelf with pen and notebook in hand and returned to my system.  I got the idea from a book (of course) I read once by Anne Ortlund, who uses this system for study and reading.  I have five separate categories of things I want to further my study in:

1.  Spiritual Disciplines

2.  Marriage

3.  Parenting/Homeschooling

4.  Personal Growth

5.  My choice 

I cycle through these five categories so that I'm never stalled on just one thing.  The book I am almost finished with now would go under the category "Personal Growth", so when I finish it I will move on to the next book on the list for "My choice".  "My Choice" can be anything I want - fiction, poetry, classics, comics, whatever.  Then on to the next on the list in Spiritual Disciplines and so on and so forth....does that make sense?

To make it easier for myself, and for accountability to STARE ME IN THE FACE, here I have the next 20 all set out for myself on the nightstand.  (Do you like my Pinterest-inspired bookshelf-nightstand?)

This also helps with another problem I have.....forgetting what books I already have and buying even more.  I have made a commitment to myself to not purchase any more books until I've read the books I own.  This could mean not buying books again until I'm 82.

Unless, of course, it's a pretty book at a garage sale.  With no naked women in it.

If you're interested in my list, I'm going to post it on my "Reading Room" page.  I've decided this might help keep me accountable if I have to report to YOU that I've done it.  Plus, if any of the books on my list have either been very helpful or horrible for you, I'd love to know!

What about you?  Do you have a book system?  What kind of books are your favorites?  Any books you really think need to be in my next cycle????




Linking up today with:  Raising Mighty Arrows, The Purposeful Mom, The Little Natural Cottage