As a horder of far too many books I feel the pain. I personally now have a pile off books (as well as 4 huge bookcases full of them) that I’m wondering what to do with, that perhaps I feel I need to get rid of in some uncertain way I have not quite worked out yet. I would be interested to know how the Amazon trade account goes, is it better than ebay?

What I decided to do was keep all the books which had real sentimental value. I took the rest to charity shops. If you’re looking to raise a bit of cash, Amazon have a trade in programme.

What made it easier for me was replacing the physical books with ebooks. All the fun and memories – none of the physical space.

I have the text (thankfully) via Google reader. Piecing the site back together will take time and I fear kind comments lost. I’m going to trawl cached versions and try to recreate it all. I am very sad, but not quite beaten yet.

Thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. It means a lot. I do my best to carry mum with me and live life for us both.

Judging by your post I take it you have just lost your Mum. I know that it seems a little crass to express emotions like this in a note to a blog post, but please accept my heartfelt and sincere condolences for your loss.

I lost my Grandfather in 1996; he was like a Father to me and everything I am today I owe to him. I miss him but I live my life according to the values he taught me and I like to think that by doing so I keep a part of him with me always.

I am not a religious man but I believe that those we love live on through the influence their love for us has on our lives.

I feel the same way about books as you do. There is nothing like the smell of a second hand bookshop. It instantly evokes the excitement, thrill and wonder of that awe struck moment when one finds something new, or even better, something old that has been lost to us for many years.

I’m afraid I can’t really give you any useful advice. In your place I would probably keep them. I suspect the best thing to do is what you have done. Publish the list online and let them slowly filter off. As your Mothers’ books are spread to the four winds, so her influence will be felt and enrich the lives of people she never even met. Somebody somewhere will experience the breathless joy that comes from starting that first page..and your Mum couldn’t really have a better memorial.

What has happened to Space Kate? The site seems to be down. It would be a great shame and a greater loss if it disappeared.

Best Wishes,

Carl Wilson.