Organizing Crime Classics: Second Edition (2016) takes over 4400 titles in over 260 timeless mystery series and organizes them in handy lists. This Second Edition updates the series that were first organized in Organizing Crime Classics, First Edition (2012). You can read my review of the first volume here. If you’re into lists, you’ll love Organizing Crime Classics, Second Edition. GRADE: A
How do you organize your books?
I no longer do since I only have two bookcases.
Patti, someday I may get down to two bookcases, but in the meantime I’m constantly finding Good Homes for the books that aren’t “essential” to me anymore.
Paperbacks are alphabetically by author. Hardbacks and large trade paperbacks are more haphazard. In general, I try and keep the new unread books shelved separately from the books I’ve read.
Jeff, your methods parallel my organization. New books go into a separate area. Much of my collection is alphabetical by author. But I do have areas of short story anthologies and non-fiction books.
That sound you hear is me laughing.
My old mass market paperbacks are nicely shelved alphabetically.
New stuff is just stacks of separated hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and coffee-table books.
Oddly enough, I usually have a good idea of where stuff is. Go figure.
Beth, I have a Good Idea of where some stuff is, but there’s a lot of “stuff” that I discover rummaging around in my basement that I never knew I had…and have no idea why I bought it…
Fiction is mostly on shelves in our bedroom, alphabetized by author. Other books are scattered hither & yon throughout the house (mostly in the dining room), roughly sorted by subjects: art books here; history there; pop culture somewhere else. I’ve been trying not to add to my physical books (not always successfully, lol), but if I’m looking for a sore ific book, I can usually find it.
Deb, my organization is more “hither & yon” than truly organized. Like you, I can usually find a specific book if I search for it. But, as I mentioned to Beth, I come across books I can’t recall buying.
The signed mystery books I’m keeping are in my “really good glass covered shelved bookcases. But not in alphabetical order. I do have the books in order of publication.
My PG Wide house collection (complete) is in a separate glass covered bookcase, the few trade paperbacks separate from hardcovers. My Nancy Drew books are in numerical order in a bookcase that was built in the house, one of 2 that are on the side of the fireplace. I have another bookcase with signed books I may or may not keep. Un read books are scattered around the house. I had some books I was a character in signed to my parents and they’re in a bookcase at Larry’s, along with 2 advance reading copies his dog Blondie (the shoenapper) “enjoyed “. David Rosenfelt and
SJ Rozan both inscribed to Blondie.
Maggie, Patrick and Katie have urged me to set up some shelves of The Really Good Stuff and I’m considering it.
I thought I’d already sent this one on, but apparently not. (What a waste it is to lose one’s mind, as the great Dan Quayle once remarked.) I have my books roughly grouped by author, but there’s a new stray every time I take out one to read or peruse. I have a lot fewer books than I once did, but even then, I had a pretty good idea where to find a particular title.
Fred, finding that particular title is the Name of the Game!
Since moving into the current digs, and the Two Book/Magazine-Damaging Incidents, I haven’t had the heart, previously the time, nor (too often of late) the energy to properly organize..,I still have furniture to move and at least one bookcase to build. ..and ice to treat with over such utilities as the recycling cans (guess I’ll chop it up with a spade on one of the less-frigid days).
Todd, I’ve had my basement flood in 2006 and the water damaged hundreds of books (on the lowest shelves). It will be a relief when I’m able to find homes for a few more thousand books and store the reminder on high shelves or plastic bins.
Organized? What is this strange word you use? I put things where I can find a flat surface, and there are dang few of them around here!
Bob, your method would not work with my thousands of books…
I’ve also tried to sort my SciFi alphabetically by author but the (not too many …) hardcovers make it difficult because they often don’t fit. Anyway filling a room with bookshelves for more than 10 000 books gets difficult – the walls are just not long enough so I often have the books in two rows which means that I do not see all titles.
Yes, life is difficult …
Wolf, I can relate to your situation…