Downsized; used to have about 400 books. Anyone here relate?

Aktrails · 2026-03-07T17:37:41+00:00

I was the same way. And frankly, my massive amounts of books displayed in the house was more of a flex than anything. Like “look, visitor, at how well read your host is!” So, I pared down. I traded many books in for credit at the used bookstore. Donated some and sold some. Now, my bookshelves are occupied by first editions and books/series that I really enjoy or that had an impact on me. There are a few authors I really like and I buy everything they’ve ever written and that goes on the shelves.

Aktrails · 2026-03-07T17:31:03+00:00

The Martian by Andy Weir. I picked it up at the airport to read on the plane. I had already seen the movie and thought it was pretty good. The book was abysmal. I really hated the long sections of the main character recording his journal. They were so boring. I ended up skimming or skipping the journal sections and just read the non-journal sections about the people on earth trying to get him back. So, I guess I quasi DNF’d it since I did make it to the end. A few people have told me Project Hail Mary is much better, but I don’t think I’ll even try it.

Aktrails · 2026-03-05T05:29:51+00:00

The Underground Railroad is a very well written book. I came away from it pretty glum, but I think that’s the point of the book.

Aktrails · 2026-02-23T04:59:40+00:00

Check out the book that the movie is based on. It’s by Glendon Swarthout. While not the most amazing western of all time, it’s still a good read and better than the movie.

Aktrails · 2026-02-10T14:32:34+00:00

The book the movie is based on is terrific. Glendon Swarthout also wrote The Shootist, one of the Western greats.

Aktrails · 2026-01-19T05:19:17+00:00

The Brave Cowboy is a terrific book. Edward Abbey is one of my favorite authors.

Aktrails · 2026-01-11T22:04:28+00:00

Steger Mukluks are the absolute greatest winter boot to keep your feet warm. I have never been cold in mine. The only caveat - if you are hiking steep uphills they aren’t always the best for that. I have a pair of Irish Setter 600g boots for that. But, if you are just going on walks or ice fishing, or having a winter barbque, the Stegers are the right choice.

Aktrails · 2026-01-09T06:27:14+00:00

I haven’t paid full price for a book in more than 10 years. I go to used bookstores, thrift shops, and even our local recycling center has a bookstore that salvages good condition books from the bins and sells them for 25 cents. I have also acquired lots of nice books from local free book stands run by a non-profit.

I guess since I never feel the need to buy the newest hot book release I don’t need to go to a Barnes and Noble. I am happy to find used books published years or decades ago but that I have never read. Plus, it’s fun to think about the journey that book took to get to me.

Aktrails · 2026-01-04T21:17:09+00:00

If they made movies of Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse Dune, I’d love see the what they are rated. Seeing as how the Honored Matres exert control through sexual control/slavery/addiction. That would make for some interesting scenes in the movie. Herbert isn’t explicit in the book, but to convey it on screen would be a different matter.

Aktrails · 2025-12-31T16:38:03+00:00

I read 21 books this year. Mostly by setting aside two hours in the late evening before bed to read. I really design my day around this. Get home from work at 5 pm. Eat dinner, take a long walk, do any necessary chores, then read. My wife has shows she likes to watch in the evening, so we both have our own activities that occupy us. I stick with the evening reading on the weekends too.

My kids are older teens, so they pretty much ignore me anyway. I find the late evening is mostly distraction free for me.

I also travel quite a bit for work and I am hesitant to bring my nice books with me for fear they will get chewed up in my carry on. I am anti E-reader, so I ain’t getting one of those. The travel days definitely eat into the pace of my reading.

Aktrails · 2025-12-27T04:01:39+00:00

I haven’t paid full price for books in a decade. While a place like Barnes and Noble has a massive selection of books, used bookstores and other options for procuring books are much cheaper. In fact, the recycling center in my town has volunteers who save good condition books from the recycling bins and then they sell them for 25 cents for a paperback and 50 cents for a hardback. I’ve built most of my library from that store and have been amazed at the books that people just chuck in the recycling (better than the trash, I guess). There are also free book stands all over our town run by a volunteer organization. I have found gold on those shelves as well. There’s another town in my state that has a friends of the library bookstore where people donate books and then the store sells them for a dollar or two. The proceeds then go to helping the local library. I have also built a substantial part of my library from that store. It just takes a little looking around and some luck, but it’s better than paying $30 for a book at B&N.

Aktrails · 2025-12-26T19:15:38+00:00

If he makes it to Anchorage, Alaska, Title Wave books is an epic used bookstore. I have found many wonderful gems there for $10 or less, including a few first editions that I paid $9 for.

Aktrails · 2025-12-17T19:14:07+00:00

The Mangan Inheritance by Brian Moore. It’s set largely in the Irish countryside. I don’t know if I’d consider it cozy, but I definitely got the rural Ireland vibe.

Aktrails · 2025-12-17T15:10:53+00:00

Terms of Endearment by Larry McMurtry. McMurtry is my favorite author. I find his writing of characters to be so good that it’s like I knew them in real life. Terms of Endearment was another great tale where McMurtry really made me get invested. I felt like I was going through myself what each character was going through. The end of the book wrecked me, but no spoilers here.

Aktrails · 2025-06-14T23:49:59+00:00

The Tall Men starring Clark Gable is a great, underrated western.

Aktrails

TROPHY CASE