Fine-Tuning Your Personal Library: What to Keep, What to Let Go

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how I reduced my personal library by more than half. Since that time, I've been asked for more details on how I decided which books to keep and which ones to give away. Apparently lots of people are interested in this because Florinda of the Three R's Blog was asked the same thing.

So I thought, on this holiday Monday, that I'd try to explain my process. Just to recap, I looked at each book individually, holding it my hands while making my assessment. I did not follow the Kondo test, however, figuring that most books bring me joy.

The Easy Yes

There were several categories of books (often overlapping) that were easy to say yes to.

• My favorite authors. This is kind of obvious, but it's true, some authors will always live on my bookshelves.
• Books that moved me when I read them and I still remember why. I don't know about you, but sometimes I loved a book when I read it, but months or years later I couldn't tell you why. If just looking at the book brought back the words or the character or the emotion, I kept it.
• Books that both Mr. BFR and I loved and that we still talk about or refer to.

The Easy No

When culling my library, I was surprised by how many books I had that I was never going to read or reread.

• Genres that I just don't read, such as horror.
• Yellowing, old paperbacks with no sentimental value.
• Books I simply lost interest in. Most of these were DNFs (did not finish) that I kept, perhaps thinking I'd give them another chance.
• Books I've read but didn't love enough to revisit.

All the Rest (Unread)

As you can guess, the vast majority of the books I had fell somewhere in the middle of immediate yes or no. Whether the book or ARC was new or old, I went through the following process for each unread book--and, yes, it took some time. (And clearly I need to practice using the drawing tool!)

After going through my flow chart, I used following additional criteria to help me remove a book from my house:

• If I also had an eGalley, I donated my print copy.
• If I was only vaguely interested in the book, I checked to see if I could get it from my library or bookstore. If so, I let the review copy go.
• If the print was really tiny, the ARC was poorly bound, or the leading was small and I could get the book or eBook from my library or bookstore, I donated my print copy.

So there you have it. I hope this clarifies my technique for culling my library. And because I know I'll have to do this again in another year, please share any tips you have for deciding which books you want to keep and which ones you're willing to donate.

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Weekend Cooking: Tasting Whiskey by Lew Bryson

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

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The fun thing about culling and organizing your personal library is discovering books you forgot you had but really wanted to read. Lew Bryson's Tasting Whiskey falls into that category. Although we generally stick to a glass of wine with dinner on a daily basis, when we go out, our drink of choice is almost always a whiskey/whisky of some sort.

I'm more of Scotch drinker, but Mr. BFR has become enamored of bourbon, and the American spirit is growing on me too. Although I've made a point of learning more about wine, I have to admit that I'm still fairly uneducated when it comes to whiskey. Need a bottle of bourbon? I've been know to grab whatever's on sale.

This is where Tasting Whiskey comes in. Bryson's well-researched and fun-to-read treatise is a great introduction to whiskeys from all over the globe. The book is beautifully styled in browns and whiskey gold, and the awesome graphics (see the scans; click to enlarge), maps, and beautiful photographs break up the text, not only providing eye candy but giving readers different ways to absorb the information.

In the early chapters, Bryson talks about the history of whiskey, how and where it's made, and the distinguishing characteristics of each type. He even sheds light on the whiskey/whisky controversy. What the heck is the correct spelling? As it turns out, the spelling variation is just a regional quirk and carries no real meaning. Regardless, many people restrict whisky for Scotch, Canadian, and Japanese spirits and use whiskey for Irish and American drinks.

The back half of Tasting Whiskey gets into the details of learning to taste the different flavors in whiskeys and provides a guide to the major producing regions (Ireland, Scotland, Canada, United States, and Japan). Here's where we learn the differences and similarities between Kentucky and Tennessee bourbons, the different peat levels of the Scotches, the reason rye isn't more popular, and the origins of Japanese distilleries.

One of my favorite lines from the book, and one that shows you Bryson's general attitude, comes from the chapter on learning to enjoy whiskeys. Just as there are wine snobs, there are whiskey snobs. Bryson has this to say:

You shouldn't let them influence your choices. Because just like there is no One Best Whiskey, there is no One Best Type of Whiskey, either. . . . To confuse personal preferences for world truths is no way to go through life. (p. 61)

Bryson ends the book with a chapter on the classic cocktails--such as the Rob Roy, Mint Julep, and Rusty Nail--and another on how to pair whiskeys with food. You'll also find resources, a glossary, and an index.

I recommend Lew Bryson's Tasting Whiskey for a wide range of readers. Naturally both the newcomer to whiskeys and the die-hard fan will find a lot to love here. But so too will readers who are interested in the history of distilled spirits and those who are curious about how whiskey is made. My favorite chapter was the one on tasting, followed by the chapters that introduce the different whiskey regions.

NOTE: The scans come from Tasting Whiskey and were used in the context of this review. All rights remain with the original copyright holder, Andrew Heath, and may not be used in another context. The photograph is my own, and I retain the copyright to that.

Published by Storey Publishing, 2014
ISBN-13: 9781612123011
Source: Can't remember (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Sound Recommendations: A Mixed Pair

In her most recent collection of personal essays, Anchor & Flares, Kate Braestrup talks about the emotional roller coaster of watching her children become young adults and choose their own life paths. Along with thoughts on her personal life and a variety of related topics, Braestrup takes us into her professional world, where she is a chaplain to the Maine [game] Warden Service. Although her faith informs her worldview, Braestrup is not a proselytizer, and her musings cover a wide range, including the exemplary record of the Danes during World War II, talking with the families of accident victims, and her anticipation of the birth of her first grandchild. This is one of the rare cases in which I can wholeheartedly recommend an author-narrated audiobook. As I said in AudioFile magazine, "Braestrup's sincere compassion for others, love and respect for her family, and easy sense of humor color her delivery, inviting listeners into her world." (Hachette Audio; 8 hr, 55 min)

Sarah Vaughan's The Art of Baking Blind introduces us to the five finalist in a British national baking contest. The winner will become the new Mrs. Eaden (think: Betty Crocker), the face of a popular supermarket chain. The chapters alternate among the main characters, each of whom has entered the contest for a unique reason. Woven throughout the modern-day story are diary entries written in the 1960s by the original Mrs. Eaden, who was the wife of the supermarket's founder. All the contestants are facing a personal crisis or a turning point in their lives, the resolution of which hinges on how well they do in the bake-off. Narrator Julie Barrie captures each character's personality and her pronunciation of the many cooking terms gives her performance an authentic feel. Listeners who are very sensitive to swallowing and breathing noises may be bothered, but the rest of us will find the audiobook to be a light, enjoyable escape. Warning: You may start craving a Victoria sponge or perhaps some scones. (Macmillan audio; 13 hr, 18 min)

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Wordless Wednesday 357

Walk through Marshlands, 2015

Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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Today's Read: Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart

What would you think of three sisters who lived alone on an isolated farm at a time when women were supposed to marry young and have a man to protect them? If you think they might cave under threats and violence, think again. Constance Kopp is willing and able to do what it takes to defend herself.

Our troubles began in the summer of 1914, the year I turned thirty-five. The Archduke of Austria had just been assassinated, the Mexicans were revolting, and absolutely nothing was happening at our house, which explains why all three of us were riding to Paterson on the most trivial of errands. Never had a larger committee been convened to make a decision about the purchase of mustard powder and the replacement of a claw hammer whose handle had split from age and misuse.

—Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015, p. 1)

Quick Facts

• Setting: 1914; Paterson, New Jersey; surrounding towns and countryside
• Circumstances: When a rich silk merchant, Henry Kaufman, crashes his car into the Kopp sisters' buggy, he refuses to make restitution. Little does he know that bullying and violence will not work on these strong women. The ensuing feud makes the newspapers and draws the attention of the law.
• Characters: Constance, the eldest sister who tells the story; Norma, the middle sister; Fleurette, the much younger sister; Henry Kaufman, the silk merchant; Robert Heath, the sheriff; various townsfolk, women at the silk factory, a Kopp brother, and gangsters.
• Genre: historical mystery
• Themes: feminism, independent women, family secrets, fairness
• Real life! Stewart wrote her novel based on a true story, which she came across when researching another book. Constance Kopp was one of the first women detectives and worked in conjunction with Sheriff Heath to catch Kaufman and his band of thugs. The incident involved shoot outs, threats, blackmail, and a sting operation.
• Notes on the writing: I've read only the beginning of the book, but I've gotten far enough along to feel confident about Stewart's style and her sense of humor. This is sassy, action-packed, and filled with amazing period details and fantastic characters.
• Some fun things to know: The title of the book comes from a real-life headline about the Kopps. Stewart clothed the sisters and furnished their house with items available in the 1908 Sears catalog. I learned these facts and more from a great NPR interview (click the link to read it yourself). You can see photos of the characters at Amy Stewart's website.
• Bonus! At BEA this past May, Amy Stewart was handing out cards with the Girl Waits with Gun "signature cocktail." It's too fun to keep to myself, so I embedded the PDF here. Click the image to enlarge it or head on over to Stewart's website to download your own copy.

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