I have only read the Sue Monk Kidd book and it was not a "keeper".
I have not heard of any of the other books you listed, although of course I have heard of some of the authors.
"Cullng" the shelves is something I also need to do!

Pat

You can definitely chuck Birdsong as far as I'm concerned. There are several better books about the first world war.

The others I'm not competent to judge, having not read them.

Wow! Your local library is about to get a windfall!

Personally, I loved The Egyptologist but that and $1.25 will get you a ride on the bus.

You have better ways to spend your time than by reading The Year of Magical Thinking, but it looks like you've already figured that out.

I agree, The Mermaids Chair isn't worth keeping. I liked her book The Secret Life of Bees but The Mermaid Chair was not so good.

Unless is a thoughtful book and I believe the last one Shields wrote before her untimely death.
Birdsong I always think Faulks 'could do better'. Are you a WWI buff? If not let it go.

I haven't read any of the others.

The only one I read was Year of Magical Thinking; I thought it an interesting look at grief from someone who tends to write unemotionally. I know it put a lot of people off. But if you know you'll never read it, pass it on. There are much better books on the subject.

Well, I like Martha Grimes, but if you don't have time to read the ones that came before that one in the series I would deep-six it. That is one series that is hard to read out of order.

Mermaid Chair is not worth your time. It definitely wasn't worth mine, anyway-but I also hated Secret Life of Bees and only finished it for a discussion group. Gave her 25 pages of Mermaid to redeem herself-she didn't.
Those are the only 2 with which I have personal experience.

I like Martha Grimes, too, but I'm a mystery addict.

I think Unless is worth a read-give away the others

I knew you all could help me with this. Thanks so much.

I suspected Birdsong and The Mermaid Chair should be skipped.

Siobhan  I had actually set The Egyptologist aside because it still intrigues me. IÂve never actually tried to read it, but I think IÂll give it a try.

Bookmom and cindydavid -- Thanks for the input on Year of Magical Thinking. When I tried to read it, I remember thinking it wasnÂt really what I had expected.

Cc and Carolyn  I, too, like Grimes  at least her earlier books. I couldnÂt remember if I had ever read this; but the topic didnÂt appeal to me. So off it goes.

Pam and Vee  IÂm still pondering Unless. I read The Stone Diaries and liked it OK  didnÂt love it.

Thanks again for the input.

I liked Cherry, but then I like memoirs, and I think Mary Karr is a terrific writer.

If they are all available through your library system, let them go without a second thought. If you change your mind, you can always get them at the library. And there are always new books to add to the pile.

It's taken me a long time, but I've learned to let books go without regrets (says the woman who still has way too many books cluttering up the house).

I disagree in that I do do think Didion's "Year of Magical Thinking" is worthwhile. In fact, I read it twice, at one sitting. But some may not be able to identify with any of the author's grief experiences....

I like S. Faulks, but have not read "Birdsong."

I, too, desperately need to purge my TBR pile.

I hated The Mermaid Chair but Birdsong was not hated as much. I only read it because the movie Charlotte Gray (which I loved) was based on it but only loosely. For some reason I felt compelled to read all of Sebastian Faulks books though I don't know why now.

I enjoyed "Unless" but don't remember it being OUTSTANDING or anything. As Merry suggests, if you let them go and get remorseful about it, you could always get some or all of them from your library or through IIL.

May I say good for you for purging your books. I need to do the same thing in my house so I admire your courage!

I'm not sure whether these are, or will be, available through my library or not. Most of the donated books go to the Friends of the Library sales that are held each spring and fall. But that was a good idea, Merry.

It feels like I'm getting rid of lots of books, but it didn't seem to make much of a dent in the shelves. :(

the books that are left slowly spread open their covers to fill up the space-they like it to be full. And they like to have contact with other books-that's why they lean over toward each other-unless there has been a quarrel...then they fall away from each other.

Well, Cece, that's a cleaner version of what I think, which is that books multiply like rabbits as soon as you turn your back.

I have enough trouble managing (or not) the clutter so I seldom buy books for myself, relying on the library instead. When large piles of library books get overwhelming, I can just return them without guilt. It is difficult to cull my children's stuffed-the-gills bookcases, however, since their books have sentimental value to me. Right now, a local children's literacy center has a call out for gently used books so I will make a mighty effort.

A quick look at those titles makes me think they will be available at the library into the foreseeable future if you change your mind. I am trying very hard to either let go of books I know I will be able to borrow, and not to buy any new books if I can borrow it. I only purchase truly outstanding books, and then not on a whim. They sit in my amazon wish list for quite a while.

Anyway, I enjoyed Year of Magical Thinking (well, enjoy isn't really the word, given the subject matter), but I had just suffered a horrendous loss myself and it helped. I would not recommend it to someone unless they specifically asked me, "Will this help me with my grief?" Otherwise I would be afraid of their reaction to it. My mother asked me about it, and I strongly urged her not to read it. After she found out a bit more about the book, she thanked me for warning her off and gave it to the library. So, like most things, it all depends.

I'm guessing that even if you like The Egyptologist, you will give it away after reading it, unless you like to keep everything you've read. I found it very entertaining, and I believe it was, like most of my reading, a recommendation from someone here at RP.

carolyn-no, that's the Fisher-Price plastic people-that's why they are always under the couch.
Geez-as I typed, a pile of PBS books from the dedicated PBS shelf just cascaded on to the floor. They know we are talking about them.

They're everywhere! They're everywhere!

CeCe - What are PBS books?

The Risk Pool was Richard Russo's BEST novel.....absolutely his very best. I'm probably too late but if you like Russo, Risk Pool should not be missed !

Sarah Canary - I'm not CeCe, but I think PBS books are from Paperback Swap.

I could be wrong though.

wijeannie - You're not too late. The books are all in a shopping bag (overflowing) in the middle of my office floor. Maybe I'll rescue that one. I did read and enjoy "Empire Falls," by Russo.

lemonhead - Thanks. To me, "PBS" stands for Public Broadcast Station, and I couldn't get that to make sense. :)

Maybe I have more of a problem than I thought.....I can't get rid of any books! I just can't do it. They're like my babies.

Lemon, you are right-paperbackswap. gotta love it. free books, and your old ones adopted by book loving families.