Surfeits, and having too many of them

Coalescent‘s new flat and associated shelving issues have reminded me that I’ve been meaning to post this.

People talk about having a “To read” pile of books. My wife has a “To read” shelf. It’s smaller now than at any time in the last two years but still the idea of her ever getting through them all seems faint at best, not least because new books arrive in the post almost daily.

Here’s a picture:

Legal disclaimer: In order to preserve domestic harmony I am now contractually required to list the books my wife has actually got around to reading this year:

1. The Green and the Grey – Timothy Zahn
2. Calculating God – Robert J. Sawyer
3. Ilario – Mary Gentle
4. Edenborn – Nick Sagan
5. Fragile Things – Neil Gaiman
6. Ring of Swords –Eleanor Arnason
7. A Woman of the Iron People – Eleanor Arnason
8. Deliverer –C.J.Cherryh
9. Port Eternity – C.J.Cherryh
10. Vellum – Hal Duncan
11. World War Z – Max Brooks
12. The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
13. Manta’s Gift – Timothy Zahn
14. Voices – Ursula le Guin
15. Bloodmind – Liz Williams
16. Earth Abides – George R. Stewart
17. Air – Geoff Ryman
18. Everfree – Nick Sagan
19. Shadowmarch – Tad Williams
20. Red Seas under Red Skies – Scott Lynch
21. The Stars My Destination – Alfred Bester
22. Renegade’s Magic – Robin Hobb
23. Voice of the Gods – Trudi Canavan

The “To read” pile has its own shelf because the main shelf is full to bursting:

And this is only one of our many bookshelves, albeit the biggest. I always feel faintly concerned when the only way to fit the books on is to stack them horizontally.