Don't be embarrassed - the photos show what a great job you did! I didn't get good before photos myself - mostly of my desk which was a good example of the rest of the house! 
I know what you mean about books. I am going to work on the bookshelf in my office tomorrow. It is totally packed, two rows deep of books. About half are still in the to be read pile. One thing that helped me for awhile (though i need to get back into the habit) was to just care out some time each day to read, even if it was 20 minutes. Then I started getting through those books and then passing them on, donating them, selling them, etc. when I finished them.