If you’ve been under a stone this week you may well not have heard that Brexit has caused a bit of stir, Prince Philip took his Range Rover for a roll but the important news is that one woman has been in the news for advising everyone that 30 books are enough!
Who is this woman?
Marie Kondo is the brave woman who has bought decluttering to the world through the Netflix series called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo released in January 2019.
And how is she faring after she has unleashed the fury of booklovers all over the world?
It is, according to some reports a misinterpretation, she doesn’t want to rid the world of books.
After all why else do bookshelves exist?
This swirl design would look pretty stupid if it wasn’t full of books and at a rough estimate it is holding more than 30!
What would the owners of this fancy kitchen bookshelf do if there was no scintillating choice of books? They might have forced to cook!
This delightful offering combining the books with the wood that they originate from is particularly appealing…
Or the metal variation on the theme for a more modern look.
This fabulous flower bookshelf would brighten up anyone’s day but wouldn’t look the same without plenty of books Marie Kondo!
But my favourite bookshelf of all is this delightful chair, just think you don’t even need to move to find a good book to read!
Sadly my own selection of bookshelf is slightly more mundane, however I can confirm it is full of books that I couldn’t bear to part with… tune in soon for more musing on the 30 book issue that is sweeping the globe!
Cleopatra Loves Books 
Very true, none of the above gorgeousness would take place with less than thirty books;) Saying that I have been cutting this week off my Kindle, and it does feel good! Oh and I like your stash!
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I have to admit I prefer reading on my kindle Berni as I can make the font bigger and therefore don’t have to wear my glasses but I can’t imagine not being surrounded by books.
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I would like the tree trunk bookshelf please!
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It does look very effective doesn’t it?
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OMG, I’m surprised that bookish people are not beating her up…LOL. I love those shelves in your post.
I couldn’t restrict myself to such a low number of books, although there was a time when I had one rattan bookshelf with books in it (in the 70s ad 80s). Check out MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOTS , a post in which I am looking back at a home I enjoyed from 1988-1994,
Just out of curiosity, though, I might have to watch her Netflix show. Just so I can validate my own belief that more is better than less. LOL.
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Thank you so much for sharing your pictures – they are brilliant and I love that loft!
I’m sure she’s got lots of useful things to say but I for one could not live with just 30 books (and that’s taking my kindle into account)
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Hi Cleo – oh I feel your wrath. Don’t tell my family that someone is out there saying 30 books is enough! I’ve been forced to pare my collection down, but I could never get it that low. Great bookshelves!
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Oh don’t worry I’ve not told the person I actually share my house with either – we don’t want anyone getting any funny ideas!!
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I love all of those bookshelves, Cleo, including yours! I could never restrict myself to just 30 books! Yikes! The fact is, books nourish my soul. So…I am not ruthless about getting rid of them.
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It horrified me too – somewhere else her philosophy is that every object should bring you joy so I my books easily qualify under that rule
.
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I donated a few books when I moved house but definitely still have an awful lot of them. Some have been read multiple times & others I’ve not even picked up yet. I definitely don’t agree with her sentiment! I however do love the book shelves you’ve shared. I wish I could say mine are as creative haha x
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Aren’t the bookshelves fab?
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Oh yes? I found myself on Pinterest yesterday looking at creative ways to store books haha
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LOL Poor Marie Kondo would have a heart-attack if she came to my house.
I LOVE that flower bookshelf – wish I had one.
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🤣 although I like the chair I think the flower is probably the most aesthetically pleasing
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I love that chair – I want it! A 30 book limit is absolutely, never ever going to feature in my life or home 🙂
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Oh, I’d missed this news! 30 books? My shelves would feel lonely!
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Hahaha – I know I’d have so much space it would be a total waste!
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30 books? OK, we’ve been watching Kondo’s show on Netflix, but I guess we haven’t gotten to that show yet or maybe it’s from the book? Well, Marie, maybe for you – not for me. That being said, I do have a lot of books on my Kindle and they take up less space – ha! But, I also have a large bookshelf in my office and tucked away here and there. I consider myself a minimalist in many regards, but not so much about books. I agree with Margot above – my books nourish my soul. There’s a reason why the saying at the top of my blog is:
“She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.” Annie Dillard
Love the bookshelves you show, Cleo. Love that chair/bookshelf! Maybe a footstool to put one’s feet up. Books could be stored there too. And I love yours most of all. Beautiful!!
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I do have far more books on my kindle than on my real bookshelf but I love them and they make me happy so I guess I get around Marie’s rules that way? But fortunately I don’t need to live by her rules haha – I too love the book seat/shelf although I might never move!
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My books bring me joy. Isn’t that the essence of her message?… if it doesn’t bring you joy, part with it. These shelve are such a joy to behold.
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My books also qualify under that part of her rules too 😊
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With the amount of books I have in my house, I could probably open up a library. I do like the look of that swirl bookshelf.
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I’m all for decluttering but, I think Marie K goes a bit too far!
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She’s not going too far with my books 😉
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My bookshelf is also pretty boring, but filled with so many lovely books just awaiting my attention, it’s my favourite item of furniture, that’s for sure! Great pics.
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Thank you Anne – I love my bookcases too.
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The kitchen bookshelf if gorgeous I’d love that in my kitchen as I’m a little addicted to recipe books. I love books in a home it makes it feel homely.
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I consider myself incredibly lucky in that I’ve always lived in houses with plenty of books!
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I’ve got four bookshelves and quite a few towers of books. I try to cull but then I’ll have blank spaces 😉
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Love those shelves especially the chair!
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I think if I owned the chair I might never move haha!
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I heard about the 30 books and just shrugged it off. I havem’t had less than that since my mother bought me books as a child. I still have so many of those and I love seeing books everywhere I look in my house. I wish I could arrange them as artfully as these wonderful pictures you shared! LOL
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I suddenly have an urge for a fancy bookshelf, if only I had space ☺️ I don’t think I could ever cut down my books to just thirty it’s just not possible
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Those bookshelves are so good aren’t they?
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I have dismissed her as being irrational, impractical, and in general terms, not my kind of woman. I do purge from time to time but there’s no way I could do with just 30.
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Haha you get the prize for the best comment Ann Marie!
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I like your shelf the best. I’ll be uncomfortable sitting on books.
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🙂
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Hahaha! Brilliant post! 30 books?? The woman must be mad! Although I do admit that there really ought to be some kind of limit – it’s getting quite hard to move in my house these days… 😉
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🙂 Thank you!
I know but where is the limit? You need to build pathways, so I’ve heard!!!
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😂
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That flower bookshelf is stunning. I am all for getting rid of stuff but only 30 books is just a bridge too far for me. 🙂
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My bookshelves are pretty boring, but I need that to hold all the books I have. However, I do like the wooden log one, it would mesh well with my basement decor.
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