Today I took apart what I called the “Book a Week” shelving. I kept both book a week series on this shelving unit since I started the projects in the fall of 2007. Every book was put on that shelf in order as it was read.

So I was a little sad when I took the books out. I was doing my usual summer book purge where I take all the galleys I can’t use and donate them to the Haddonfield Public Library (they have a boffo book sale that this year is on September 12). So it was time to also tackle the book a week series and get rid of everything I didn’t like or couldn’t see myself reading again.

But I didn’t want to leave the shelves blank, so I created this display, which has some book a week books and some favorites that had been shelved in my spare room.

Now, of course this isn’t my entire book collection. I have books in my office, spare room, dining room and living room. They’re part of my life, and I’m trying to use them more as decor. Why not? I like how the colors sort of match up in this display. I have cookbooks out in my dining room, along with a shelf of my grandfather’s books (the matching set looks nice), and then of course magazines and books on my coffee table.

Where do you keep books in odd places?

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Jen Miller

Jen Miller

Jen A. Miller is a an author and freelance writer. Her memoir, Running a Love Story, was a Philadelphia Inquirer best book of the year. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, SELF, Buzzfeed and the Guardian, among others.

2 Comments

  1. Pit Master on August 1, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    "Where the Red Fern Grows" — what an old school classic! I still push that book on my students.

  2. Leslie on August 1, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    Hi Jen,
    I think the bookshelf looks great. I remember reading before where you get the blue pigs from, but I forget. Could you tell me again? They are so cute. I think you get them from a race, but I'm not sure. Just curious~!

    Thanks, and LOVE your blog!

    -Leslie
    http://lovejackson.blogspot.com

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