The Zen of Organising Books

A room without books is like a body without a soul.

-- Cicero

This afternoon I went out and bought a tall bookshelf because I was tired of shuffling boxes around, looking for a book I wanted to read. No, that's a lie. The real reason is I miss the fun of organising my books on a proper bookshelf. That's, IMO, the best thing about having bookshelves. I have two organising systems, which I switch over whenever I feel like it:

1. All books are filed accordingly to authors' names first. Then under each author's name, book titles in alphabetical order.
2. All books are filed accordingly to authors' names first. Then under each author's, book titles are organised chronologically according to a series or author's writing career.

In middle of going with the 1) system, a friend came round for a cuppa. As she admired at my spanking new bookshelf, she said that she'd never organise her books that way. I asked how does she do hers? It's book titles in alphabetical order, regardless who wrote those books. I asked, "Even Stephen King's books?" as I knew she has all his books. Yup, even. Hm, interesting. Do you have an organising system for your books? If so, how do you organise your books? If you don't, how do you find a book you want to read? Or is that what makes it fun for you? The thrill of searching for the book around the house? Be good, be bad & be safe.