The Wine Cellar Versus The Book Shelf

What Prompted This Post?

The prompt:

I was at a party Saturday night when one of my new friends mentioned that she had added My List, My Rules to her 2026 reading list. She explained that she just had too many books to get through first. That’s fair, and I genuinely appreciate that she’s interested enough to add my book to her TBR list. But I can’t help but think—we can do better than that.

We’ve Heard It Before

David and I put a lot of effort into selling our books at markets and events. Most people are pretty great—they engage with us, and we truly appreciate their time, even if it’s just for the chance to practice our pitch. But there’s one line we hear often:

“I have so many books, I can’t buy any more.”

Sorry, what? What does that even mean? How can you have too many books? Outside of being a hoarder to the point where your bathtub is full of novels and you can’t walk through your house, what does “I have too many books” really mean?

The Quote

Luc van Donkersgoed (and what a great name, by the way) once said:

“Think not of the books you’ve bought as a ‘to be read’ pile. Instead, think of your bookcase as a wine cellar. You collect books to be read at the right time, the right place, and the right mood.”

Thank you, Luc! I believe you are absolutely right.

My Personal Experience

Right now, I’m reading The Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach. Back in 1995, a math teacher in training was working at Johnson Collegiate. He was also quite talented in performance and helped with our drama production. We spent a fair bit of time in the theater together, trying to direct teens. One evening, after the kids had left, I confided in him that my marriage was falling apart. He listened empathetically.

When his internship ended, he gave me The Bridge Across Forever, saying he thought it might help. I placed it on my shelf—and there it stayed until last week, thirty years later. I guess it just wasn’t time to take it in, learn from it, or enjoy it—until now. And here I am, finally doing just that.

The Point

Just because I didn’t read that book until now doesn’t mean I was never going to read it. It’s like the wine cellar concept—everything I put on my bookshelf is curated. Whether intentional or not, it’s found a place in my home for a reason.

I wish I could convince everyone to see their book collections this way.

Your books aren’t a burden—they’re a collection of possibilities, waiting for the right moment to speak to you. So go ahead—buy that book that catches your eye. Someday, when the time is right, it will be exactly what you need.

As always, thank you for reading, Lovelies