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The clear-out continues. Today it was the turn of the bookshelves.

I can’t bear to throw away books, but I’ve gathered together the useless members of the collection, like 1995 editions of the Writer’s Handbook, and a 1998 Writer’s and Artist’s Yearbook and am slowly shuffling them towards the swing bin.

The ones I want to keep have been neatly filed back on the shelf into collections, and the 31 that I want to neither keep not throw out I will be leaving on random tables in random coffee shops around London.

That’s not an original idea, of course. The people at Book Crossings have been doing it for ages, but I can’t be faffed with signing up for an account, so I’ve printed out a couple of sheets of labels with a note on each one pointing out that the book is free for whoever finds it, and asking them to send an email to say where they got it from, then pass it on when they’re done with it.

Some will probably be dumped right away, or filed straight onto bookshelves, but a few might travel for several months. We’ll see.

Anyhow, the liberated collection is as follows:

The Hotel new Hampshire by John Irving: I had high hopes for this one, but it was actually quite dull. Shame, really, as I enjoed the film.

With Nails by Richard E Grant: Excellent set of film diaries. One of the only books in the liberation pile I’d have considered hanging on to, but I’ve read it twice and not touched it in years.

Not Many People Know That! and And Not Many People Know This Either! both by Michael Caine: Did he really collect all these facts himself, or did he just put his name on the front? Either way, I’ll be glad to get rid of his smug face from my bookshelf.

Iceberg / Deep Six / Sahara / Cyclops / Treasure, all by Clive Cussler: One of the most exciting books I read as a teenager was Dragon by Clive Cussler. Then he wrote Sahara and on, dear, it was dull. So very, very dull. I’ve never been able to pick up one of his books since.

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris: Well-written and intriguing, but I lent someone the sequel, Silence of the Lambs and never got it back, so this one may as well be released, too.

A Doctor’s Occupation by John Lewis: little-known book about life in occupied Jersey during the Second World War. If it had been set in Guernsey I’d have hung on to it.

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People by Toby Young: should perhaps be re-titled ‘Bear with me while I name-drop for the next 300 pages’. Tedious.

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill: Very well written, as you’d expect of a book by Susan Hill, but not so inspiring.

Why I Hate Flying by Henry Mintzberg: It was a freebie from work. It’s a business book. Go figure.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genuis by Dave Eggers: I never did understand what anyone saw in this book. Perhaps whoever picks it up could email and let me in on the secret.

The Beach by Alex Garland: Fantastic book, especially when you consider it was his first. Ruined by the film, though.

Microserfs by Douglas Coupland: Hmmm… an intriguing one. A book about life at (and after) Microsoft. Not one I intend to read a second time, though.

Generation X by Douglas Coupland: A landmark book, apparently. They even used it as a reference work on my degree course. Dull, though.

The Nudist on the Late Shift by Po Bronson: Chapter one is amusing. After that it gets quite tedious.

Diaries by Alan Clark: The first volume of his diaries, hence the rather simple title. Latter editions have made it clear which period they cover.

The Right Way to Improve Your Memory by Geoffrey Budworth: I picked this up for 20p in a second hand book shop once. I’ve learnt the technique it teaches: now it’s someone else’s turn.

Yoga for People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Do It by Geoff Dyer: The worst travel book I have ever read.

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick: I was attracted to this book by the cover - an American flag in which the stars have been replaced by Swaztikas. It’s interesting, and well written. It also has a lot to say about the world in which we live today. It’s ultimately unsatisfying, though.

The Fourth Estate by Jeffrey Archer: Another freebie through work. Never even opened it, so the spine is in perfect condition.

This is Serbia Calling by Matthew Collin: The story of free radio in the warring Balkan states. I enjoyed it at the time, but it was hard going.

Red Dust by Ma Jian: Story of a man who walks right around China. Shockingly basis. At one point he and his friends have no choice but to eat a placenta brought home from the local hospital.

The Dilbert Principle and The Joy of Work, both by Scott Adams: I like Dilbert, but my bookshelves will be none the worse if they lose him.

Hard, Soft and Wet by Melanie McGrath: A book that demonstrates the shocking nievity of its author. I forced myself to finish it, in spite of the fact it was so bad. I hope whoever picks it up can appreciate it more than I did.

Notes from a Big Country by Bill Bryson: Purely because this is the hardbacked version and I have the paperback on my shelf.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: Like 1984, it’s one of those books you should read. It’s not nearly as good as Orwell’s creation, though.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 4th, 2004 at 6:55 pm and is filed under Journal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.